MAC Announce Women's Basketball Players of the Week
MAC East Player of the Week
Anita Brown, Akron, Guard
Junior, Warren, Ohio/Warren Harding HS
Anita Brown went on a tear to lead UA to a pair of victories last weekend in the Akron Classic. Named the tournament MVP, Brown made her first career appearances in the starting lineup and averaged 25.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg. In the Zips' season-opening win over Binghamton, Brown poured in a career-high 29 points and pulled down 11 boards (tying a career high) for her first double-double of the year. She connected on 14-of-22 attempts from the field without committing a turnover in 33 minutes on the floor. In Akron's victory over Northern Kentucky, Brown led all scorers with 22 points, reaching double figures at the 6:52 mark of the first half. She finished three boards shy of her second double-double with seven.
MAC West Player of the Week
Nathalie Fontaine, Ball State, Forward
Junior, Stockholm, Sweden
The Ball State women's basketball team hosted Purdue Friday night in front of 4,012 fans, which was the third largest crowd in program history. Junior Nathalie Fontaine led all players in scoring and became the 23rd member of the Ball State women’s basketball 1,000 point club after tallying 21 points on the night and 12 rebounds. She now has 1,018 points for her career and reached the 1,000 point club faster than any player in Ball State history except for Hall of Famer Tamara Bowie. Fontaine would score her 1,000th point after back-to-back layups at the 10:56 and the 10:52 mark in first half. She was the lone player to earn a double-double on the night. Fontaine now has 10 double-doubles for her career.
Other Nominees:
Rachael Gregory, Buffalo, G/F
Redshirt Sophomore, Indianapolis, IN / North Central
In her first game back since the 2012-13 campaign, redshirt-sophomroe Rachael Gregory posted 12 points, including a 3-for-6 performance from beyond the arc, in 33 minutes of play. Her 12 points were the second-most on the team. Gregory shot 40.0 percent from the field in the season opener for the Bulls.
Hannah Boesinger, Ohio, Forward
Sophomore, Hudson, Ohio/Hudson
In the season opener against Murray State Boesinger set a career high in points with 25 off the bench, 20 of which came in the first half. She also 6-of-8 from three point range and connected on eight field goals as well. She also recorded two blocks and a steal in the 111-60 win at Murray State.
Crystal Bradford, Central Michigan, Guard
Senior, Detroit, Mich. (Inkster HS)
?Crystal Bradford made her debut Sunday in the Chippewas season opener after suffering a season-ending injury last year. The senior recorded a game-high 17 points in CMU’s 72-70 win over UMass. Bradford also contributed seven steals, five rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes of play. Bradford provided a spark for the Maroon and Gold shooting 3-of-6 from downtown and a perfect 2-of-2 from the stripe.?
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Sasha Dailey, Eastern Michigan, Guard
Freshman, Toledo, Ohio / Rogers
In the Eagles 127-40 win over Kent State–Tuscarawas, Nov. 14. Dailey went a cool 15-for-20 from the floor, while racking up 31 points, nine rebounds, nine steals, six assists and one block in her NCAA Division I debut. In addition, her nine steals tied for the second-most in EMU history, while it was tied for the most in Convocation Center history. She followed it up with four point, four rebound, two assist day against No. 14 Michigan State University.
For the week she averaged 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.5 steals and 4.0 assists in 25.0 minutes of work.
Kelly Smith, NIU, Forward
Freshman, Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead
In her collegiate debut, freshman Kelly Smith accounted for 17-points to lead the Huskies in scoring. Shooting from the inside and out, Smith was 6-for-14 (.429) and added five rebounds with three on the offensive glass. It was the first time a freshman had ever led NIU in scoring in a season opener, as well as the first time a Huskie team had defeated Illinois State twice in a row.
Sophie Reecher, Toledo, Center
Sophomore, Byron, IL/Byron H.S.
Sophomore Sophie Reecher posted career highs in points (14), rebounds (15), assists (3) and minutes played (31) at Cleveland State in Friday’s season opener. Reecher shot an efficient 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from the field and posted her first collegiate double-double versus the Vikings in her second career start.
Michelle O'Brien, Western Michigan, G/F
Senior, Buffalo Grove, Ill.Stevenson
Senior Michelle O'Brien helped lead Western Michigan to a 63-41 victory over visiting UMass Friday at University Arena. O'Brien tallied her eighth career double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. She accounted for over one-third of WMU's offensive rebounds, pulling in five of the team's 13 on the offensive glass. O'Brien added a career-high four steals and had two assists and one block, as well as no turnovers.
