MAC Announces Women's Basketball Players of the Week
MAC East Player of the Week
Deborah Hoekstra, Bowling Green, Guard
Senior, East Lansing, Mich. (East Lansing)
Bowling Green senior Deborah Hoekstra set or matched career highs in multiple categories in the Falcons’ lone game of the week. Hoekstra, making the first start of her collegiate career, scored a career-high 22 points in the Falcons’ 76-62 win over Saint Francis (Pa.). Hoekstra was 8-of-11 from the field, and hit 4-of-6 attempts from three-point range. She tied career highs in field goals made and three-point field goals made, and also tied her career best with six rebounds. Hoekstra had three assists without committing a turnover, and also had a steal in the win. On the season, Hoekstra is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.6 points per game, and she leads the Falcons in three-point field goals made, with 12. The Falcons are 5-2 on the young season.
MAC West Player of the Week
Brenae Harris, Toledo
Junior, Marion, OH/Marion Harding
Junior Brenae Harris averaged a team-high 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, a squad-best 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game at the third-annual Glass City Classic this weekend in Savage Arena. Harris shot 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from the field in the two home contests, including 40.0 percent (6-of-15) from three-point range, and 75.0 percent (6-of-8) from the charity stripe in 31.0 minutes. She was one of two Rockets to score in double figures in both non-league contests. The first-year Rocket totaled 11 points, a career-best five helpers, a collegiate-high two rejections , three boards and two thefts vs. Idaho on Saturday. Harris followed up that performance against the Vandals with a career-high 25 points, five caroms and two steals vs. Detroit on Sunday.
Other Nominees:
Shelbie Justice, Ball State, Guard
Senior, Rushville, Ind./Consolidate H.S.
After a week off for finals, the Ball State women’s basketball team returned to non-conference action Saturday, when it faced its third and final in-state opponent Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Shelbie Justice led the team with a 12-point performance. Justice helped the Cardinals open the second half with a 7-2 run to come within eight (32-24). She also played strong defensively especially in the last 10 minutes of the game holding Butler to only one field goal. Justice hit two key three point baskets, was perfect from the charity stripe and led the team in steals with three.
Jessica Green, Central Michigan, Guard
Jessica Green had a standout performance Saturday as the Chippewas took on Dayton in the team’s lone game of the week. Green scored a season-high 22 points, dished out a game-best eight assists, pulled down seven boards and added a steal. The senior shot 54 percent (7-of-13) from the field, 50 percent from behind the arc (2-of-4) and shot 6-of-8 from the stripe. The senior’s 22 points moved her to 16th all-time in career points at CMU (1,139). On the year Green is averaging 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
Jamaica Bucknor, Eastern Michigan, Forward
Senior, Brooklyn, N.Y.-Weaver-ASA College
Eastern was paced in the win over Madonna by a career night from senior Jamaica Bucknor, who went 10-of-11 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from three-point range for 25 points while also pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. Her 90.9 percent clip ranks third-best in EMU Convocation Center history. She also pulled down eight rebounds in just 21 minutes of work.
Miracle Woods, Western Michigan, Forward
Junior, Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Luers
After a quiet start to the season, Western Michigan junior forward Miracle Woods has reached her last season form ... she scored a team-high 18 points and had seven rebounds, three blocks and a steal Sunday against Ohio State going up against Buckeye 6-6 center Lisa Blair ... Woods made 7 of WMU's 17 field goals in the game, going 7-for-17 from the floor ... Woods also scored 16 points in each of the previous two games and is leading Western Michigan with 12.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 11 blocks ... Woods was a preseason First Team All-MAC selection this season after earning Second Team honors last year.
