MAC Women's Basketball Plater of the Week
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo
Guard, Sophomore, Rochester, NY (Edison Tech)
Buffalo sophomore Dyaisha Fair led all scorers with a game-high and season-high 30 points to go along with six rebounds, six assists and a steal in an 87-66 win over Western Michigan. It was the fifth 20+ point performance of the season for Fair. The Rochester, NY native leads the Bulls in points (22.3), and assists (5.6) per game. Fair is currently ranked 22nd in the nation in scoring (22.3), ninth in assists (39), 23rd in assists per game (5.6), 11th in free throws made (41) and attempted (53) and final points (156) and 30th in steals (18).
Other Nominees
Ce'Nara Skanes, Eastern Michigan
Forward, Redshirt Sophomore, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Putnam City West)
Redshirt sophomore Ce’Nara Skanes continues to prove herself as one of the very best players in the Mid-American Conference as the 2020-21 campaign rolls on, and that was no different in Eastern’s game against Tarleton State, Dec. 21. The final contest of the team’s appearance at the 2020 Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic saw Skanes break at all-time program record for rebounding as she hauled in an impressive 23 boards against the Texans. That number is the most in a single game by any player in the 45-year history of EMU women’s basketball. For perspective, Skanes nearly outrebounded the entire Tarleton State roster in the game, as the Texans finished with just 31 boards. The effort is the first 20-rebound game for an Eagle since the 2014-15 campaign when Brianna Puni grabbed 20 in a game against Drake, March. 20, 2015. Skanes added 12 points to secure her third double-double of the season, which leads the team and the Mid-American Conference. The 20-rebound performance is the first, and only, by any player in the conference this season. Furthermore, the contest secured Skanes as the only player in the conference that currently averages 10.0 rebounds per game, and the only player in the MAC that is averaging a double-double on the season. Through seven games, Skanes ranks first in the MAC in rebounds (70), rebounds per game (10.0), and double-doubles (3)
Cece Hooks, Ohio
Guard, Senior, Dayton, Ohio (Thurgood Marshall)
In Ohio's only game of the week, Cece Hooks went 10-of-23 from the field for 29 points, three off her season-high of 32. Hooks was 9-of-1 from the free-throw line and added three rebounds, three assists and two steals Hooks is now averaging 25.6 points per game this season.
Lindsey Thall, Kent State
Forward, Junior, Strongsville, Ohio (Strongsville)
Lindsey Thall shot 5-of-6 from long range and finished with 17 points during Kent State’s victory against Duquesne on Monday. Thall added 7 rebounds and 4 blocks against the Dukes to lead the Golden Flashes to their third win in a row heading into 2021.
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green
Guard, Freshman, Cincinnati, Ohio (Mercy McAuley)
Bowling Green freshman guard Lexi Fleming had the highest-scoring game of her young career, leading all players with 26 points in BG’s 71-66 win over Miami. Fleming had her own personal 7-0 run for the second-straight game, scoring seven consecutive points late in the third quarter to give BGSU a four-point lead. She had 17 of her 26 points in the second half, and tied her career high with five steals. Fleming has scored in double digits in each of the first seven games of the season (just the sixth player and the first freshman to do so since 1993), and she has topped the 20-point mark in all four of BGSU’s home games to date. She leads the team with 19.6 points per game, and is also averaging 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 3.0 steals per contest to help BGSU to a 6-1 overall record and a 2-0 MAC mark. Fleming has 23.5 ppg in BG’s two conference games.
Quinesha Lockett, Toledo
Guard, Sophomore, Omaha, Neb. (Benson)
Sophomore Quinesha Lockett tallied 23 points, a season-best seven boards, three dimes and two steals in only 23:09 minutes vs. North Dakota in last Monday's non-conference finale. Lockett shot an efficient 6-of-10 from the field, including a collegiate-best 4-of-6 from three-point land, and a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe, marking the first time a Rocket has registered at least 20 points in back-to-back games since Mariella Santucci did it against Kent St. and Miami on Feb. 1 and Feb. 5, 2020. The 2020-21 team captain has now scored in double figures in nine of the last 10 games dating back to last season, averaging 15.9 ppg. The Omaha, Neb. native has also made 22-consecutive free throws over the last five games.
Maddie Watters, Western Michigan
Guard, Junior, Williamston, Mich.
Watters against Buffalo on Tuesday scored a team-high 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field and from beyond the three-point line. Watters’ 15 points was one shy of her career-high as her five made three-pointers was third most in a single-game in school history. Watters’ knocked down five of WMU’s 14 three-pointers against Buffalo, marking the third most made three’s as a team in a single-game in school history. It was Watters first double digit scoring performance of the season while also having two steals and two assists against the Bulls.
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan
Guard, Senior, Detroit Mich.
Central Michigan senior guard Micaela Kelly continued to put up big numbers as the Chippewas defeated Loyola-Chicago to close out the 2020 schedule. The Detroit, Mich., native put up 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting in the 73-64 victory over the Ramblers. She also chipped in with five boards and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. On the season, Kelly ranks No.3 in the MAC in scoring averaging 23 points per contest.
Kelly McLaughlin, Miami
Forward, Senior, St. Louis, MO
Kelly McLaughlin had a career day last week at Bowling Green. The senior recorded career bests in points (22) and rebounds (18), while also connecting on her first career three pointer.
