EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo
Guard, Freshman, Rochester, NY (Edison Tech)
Dyaisha Fair continues to impress as she led the Bulls to a 2-0 record on the week, averaging 24.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals. On Tuesday, Fair recorded 24 points while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out four assists. The Rochester, NY native turned in her fourth straight 20+ point performance on Friday night as she scored 25 points while adding five rebounds, five assists and five steals in a come-from-behind win over Columbia. Fair is now averaging 26.0 points per game, which is currently tied for seventh in the nation.
WEST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Riley Blackwell, NIU
Forward, Junior, Plainfield, Ind. (Plainfield)
Riley Blackwell scored a career-high 18 points and had eight rebounds as NIU won it's second straight road game in overtime, 80-75, at Colorado State on Nov. 17. Blackwell was 8-for 11 from the field with two three-pointers.
Other Nominees
Haliegh Reinoehl, Akron
Forward, Senior, Westfield, Ind. (Westfield HS)
Haliegh Reineohl was a key contributor to the Zips' success during the 2019 Akron Classic. The senior captain nearly averaged a double-double on the weekend averaging 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while also shooting at a 50-percent clip from the floor, registering three assists and three steals. Against Purdue Fort Wayne, Reinoehl scored a game-high 19 points and 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the campaign. From the field, Reinoehl went 8for-14 (.571), 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, and knocked down a triple. The following day versus No. 24 Michigan, the Zips forward scored a team-high 14 points and pulled in six rebounds.
Anna Clephane, Ball State
Guard, Redshirt Freshman, Taylor Mill, Ky. (Scott)
Clephane has been a spark off the Cardinals bench so far this season. The redshirt freshman who sustained a season ending injury last December has proven to be a force to be reckoned with in her comeback this November. Clephane led the Cardinals in scoring against Purdue Fort Wayne after registering a 16-point performance while shooting 86 percent (6-of-7) from the field. Clephane helped the Cardinals to an impressive 83-52 victory over the Mastodons. On Saturday, the Cardinals closed out a three-game road swing at Cincinnati. Clephane kept the Cardinals in the game offensively with some key baskets at some pivotal moments during the contest, especially in the fourth frame of action. Clephane led the Cardinals again in scoring with 15 points off of 6-of-10 shooting from the field. For the week, Clephane averaged 15.5 points per game while shooting 71 percent.
Jenna Annecchiarico, Eastern Michigan
Guard, Sophomore, Baldwin, N.Y. (Baldwin)
Sophomore Jenna Annecchiarico was outstanding for Eastern Michigan in its game at Youngstown State, Nov. 16. A back-and-forth affair, Annecchiarico notched a team-best 19 points, while adding four assists, five rebounds, and three steals in her effort. Her 19-point showing included a 3-of-7 (42.8%) clip from downtown. Through three games, she leads Eastern in points per game (tied with one other at 11.0), steals (tied with one other at six), assists (tied with one other at 15), and three point shooting percentage (players with more than one attempt) (42%). Annecchiarico ranks fifth in the league in three point shooting percentage, and third in assists. She also ranks inside the top-10 in steals.
Lauren Dickerson, Miami
Guard, Senior, Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence North)
Senior guard Lauren Dickerson led the Miami offense in both games as the RedHawks earned back-to-back wins to conclude play in the Preseason WNIT. Dickerson averaged 20.0 points per game this week as she recorded the 40th 20-point game of her career with 21 points at Alabama A&M. Against Alabama A&M, Dickerson's trio of three-pointers moved her into second in program history with 239 three-pointers made. Her 14 points in the second half against Alabama A&M led the RedHawks comeback as they trailed by 13 at the half. Against Prairie View A&M, Dickerson shot 50 percent both from the floor and from long range in addition to being perfect from the charity stripe. Miami (2-1) wrapped up play in the Preseason WNIT with two wins.
Amani Burke, Ohio
Guard, Senior, Columbus, Ohio (Eastmore)
Senior guard Amani Burke had a game-high 23 points in Ohio's 74-68 win over Ohio State on Sunday. Burke knocked down three from behind the arc in her hometown, and was 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Burke hit four threes earlier in the week against Marshall and had 12 points in Ohio's win.
