CO-EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Theresa Onwuka, Buffalo
Guard, Senior, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria (Lake Forest Academy)
Senior guard Theresa Onwuka led the Bulls to victories over Drexel and American at the Hawks Classic. The senior averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks on the weekend while shooting 83.3% from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line. On Saturday, Onwuka scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a win over Drexel. On Sunday, Onwuka led all scorers with 18 points, including a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. The senior is averaging 20.0 points per game on the season while leading the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.
Amani Burke, Ohio
Guard, Senior, Columbus, Ohio (Eastmoor)
Amani Burke was stellar for Ohio at the Daytona Beach Invitational. Burke started the weekend by helping Ohio pick up its second Power Five win of the season after hitting three three-pointers and dropping 13 points, six rebounds and two steals. In Ohio's game against Butler, Burke was 11-of-22 from the field and knocked six from deep for 30 points, three behind her career record of 33 she set last season. Burke also added six steals, six four rebounds and two assists against Butler.
WEST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kyra Bussell, Central Michigan
Forward, Junior, Grand Rapids, Mich. (Grand Rapids Catholic Central)
Central Michigan junior forward Kyra Bussell turned in another impressive week in the post as the Chippewas went 2-0 at home with a pair of non-conference victories over Northeastern and Marist. On Wednesday's 79-63 victory over the Huskies, the Grand Rapids, Mich., native posted a team-high 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting and also paved the way on the glass bringing down seven boards. She followed it up with an 18-point performance to go along with another seven rebounds in Saturday's 77-54 win over the Red Foxes. Through the first few weeks of the season, Bussell is second on the team and ranks No.6 in the conference averaging 16.5 points per contest. She leads the team and ranks No.5 in the league in field goal percentage (.513).
Other Nominees
Haliegh Reineohl, Akron
Forward, Senior, Westfield, Ind. (Westfield HS)
Senior captain Haliegh Reineohl paced the Zips offense against Cleveland State posting team-highs in points (16), rebounds (10), blocks (2), and minutes played (38). The Zips forward notched her team-best third double-double and led Akron in scoring for the fourth time in six games.
Angela Perry, Bowling Green
Center, Junior, Rochester, Ill. (Rochester)
Bowling Green junior center Angela Perry led the Falcons in scoring and shot better than 73% from the field in the Falcons’ three games last week. Perry averaged 15.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest, and she also had 2.0 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game as BG participated in the Greater Victoria Invitational in Victoria, B.C., Canada. Perry had a career-high five blocks, just two shy of the school single-game record, against San Francisco. Then, the next day, Perry exploded for 36 points, the third-highest total in school history, in BG’s 98-60 win over California Baptist. Perry was 16-of-22 from the field, tying the BG single-game record for field goals made, against the Lancers. She was a perfect 2-for-2 from three-point range, and also had five rebounds and a career-high five assists vs. CBU. On the season, Perry is averaging 14.3 ppg and is shooting 70% from the floor. She ranks sixth in the nation in FG pct..
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State
Forward, Junior, Chillicothe, Ohio (Chillicothe)
Brown had another impressive week helping the Cardinals to a victory in the opening game of The Bahamas Hoopfest. Brown went 3-of-4 (.750) from the field for Ball State against Lehigh and led defensively with eight rebounds. She also dished out two assists and registered two steals as well. Brown had scored some key baskets and her strong defense at some pivotal moments helped the Cardinals to a 54-52 victory over the Mountain Hawks. Brown then had another quality performance against Big Ten foe Wisconsin Friday keeping the Cardinals in contention of winning the game the entire 40 minutes of action. Brown was named to the the All-Classic Bahamas Hoopfest Team at the conclusion of the tournament.
Areanna Combs, Eastern Michigan
Guard, Redshirt Junior, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Redshirt junior Areanna Combs was unstoppable for the Green and White in her Eastern Michigan playing debut. The Oklahoma State transfer notched 29 points in her first-ever game for EMU, leading all scorers in the team’s game against Binghamton, Dec. 1. Combs’ 29 points, 10 made field goals, and nine made free throws are all season-highs by any player from EMU this season. In addition to her stellar offensive debut, Combs showed aggressiveness on the boards, where she hauled in a team-best seven rebounds against the Bearcats. With only one game of work, Combs is already in the top-seven of any EMU player in total points, and has the fourth-best shooting percentage on the team (47%).
Chelby Koker, NIU
Guard, Freshman, Racine, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran
Chelby Koker was named the Sixth Woman of the South Point Shootout after averaging 15.5 points and shooting 46.2 percent from the three-point line against Tennessee Tech and South Dakota. Koker had 14 points, three rebounds, and three steals in NIU's 82-74 win over Tennessee Tech on Friday afternoon. She followed that up with a season high 17 points against South Dakota on Saturday, making five three-pointers against the #1 team in the CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid Major Top 25.
Leighah-Amori Wool, Western Michigan
Forward, Junior, Evanston, Ill. (Evanston)
Junior forward Leighah-Amori Wool had a weekend of career milestones at the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic in El Paso for the Broncos. On Friday against host school UTEP, she recorded a team-high 11 points, adding six rebounds and two assists. She truly shone on Saturday in the win against New Mexico State as she tallied 22 points and 15 rebounds, good for her second double-double of the season and new career-highs in points and rebounds. Additionally, she went 8-for-10 at the free throw line against NMSU, another career best for Wool. This weekend's action brought Wool to second on the team in points per game with 13.0, and rebounds with 8.7. She has seen action and started in all six games so far this season, playing a team high 192 minutes total, and carries an additional team-high 18 assists.
