Coppin State senior Keena Samuels and Delaware State sophomore NaJai Pollard were selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week, the conference announced today. Coppin State’s Chance Graham earned Rookie of the Week honors, while Tiyonda Davis, of Savannah State, and Khalilah Ali, of Norfolk State were named Co-Defensive Players of the Week.
Pollard (F, 5-11, So., Richmond, Va.) shot 60.8 percent (14-of-23) from the floor to record 44 points, 20 rebounds, two assists, four blocks and one steal against North Carolina Central and Hampton. She posted her ninth double-double of the season, with 27 points and 13 rebounds, against North Carolina Central.
Samuels (G, 5-7, Sr., Upper Marlboro, Md.) averaged 22 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.5 blocks against Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T State. She recorded a career-high 27 points, on 10-of-25 shooting, against Bethune-Cookman. Samuels also tied a career-high eight rebounds in the win over North Carolina A&T State.
Graham (C, 5-11, Fr., Upper Marlboro, Md.) totaled 14 points, 17 rebounds, one assist and one steal in a pair of games against Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T State. She registered a season-high 14 rebounds, while scoring nine points, in a win over North Carolina A&T State.
Davis (C, 6-4, Sr., Athens, Ga.) averaged 8.3 rebounds and four blocks against Hampton, Norfolk State and Florida A&M. Thirteen of Davis’ 25 rebounds came off the defensive glass. She led the team with 14 rebounds, with five blocks and two steals, against Norfolk State. Offensively, she finished with nine points.
Ali (F, 6-0, Sr., Suffolk, Va.) finished with 11 rebounds, 11 blocks and one steal in wins over Savannah State and North Carolina Central. She registered a career-high nine blocks, the second most in Norfolk State history, against North Carolina Central. Offensively, she scored a career-high 19 points, in 29 minutes of action, against North Carolina Central.
Other Top Performers
Ashley Bates (HAM) notched season highs in points (13) and steals (3) in the win at Delaware State.
Sarah Edmond (HOW) scored 14 points, including a career-high four three-pointers, against Maryland Eastern Shore.
Chanel Green (HAM) registered a career-high six steals, with eight points, three rebounds, two assists and one block, in a win at Delaware State.
Kala Green (NCAT) totaled 17 points, four rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals against Maryland Eastern Shore and Coppin State.
Kenyata Hendrix (SSU) recorded a season-high 20 points, including three, three-pointers, against Norfolk State.
Te’Shya Heslip (HOW) led the team in points (16), rebounds (6), assists (8) and steals (5) in the win at Maryland Eastern Shore.
Ashanti Hunt (B-CU) shot 77.8-percent (7-of-9) from the field, for a career-high 18 points, in the win over Coppin State.
Alexus Lessears (NCAT) scored a season-high 12 points, with six rebounds and one assist, at Coppin State.
Mariah McCoy (MDES) notched a team-high 13 points against Howard, in 34 minutes of action.
Malia Tate-DeFreitas (HAM) broke the 2,200 career-point mark during a win over Savannah State.
Kailyn Williams (B-CU) blocked five shots in the first quarter during BCU’s win at South Carolina State.