WBB EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Amani Burke, Ohio
Guard, Senior, Columbus, Ohio (Eastmoor)
Amani Burke had her second-highest scoring output of the season in Ohio's game against TCU. Burke posted 26 points, going 10-of-19 from the field while knocking down four threes. Burke had a career-high seven assists against the Horned Frogs and added three steals, three rebounds and one block.
WBB WEST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan
Guard, Junior, Detroit, Mich. (Martin Luther King)
Central Michigan junior guard Micaela Kelly put on a show this past weekend as the Chippewas collected their fifth-straight victory edging South Dakota State on the road, 79-74. The Detroit, Mich., native erupted for a career-high 38 points on a 12-of-18 shooting performance including a career-best 7-of-8 clip from behind the arc. Kelly, who had 23 points in the first half alone, went 7-of-8 from the charity stripe and matched a season-high with four steals in the win. On the season, Kelly leads the team and ranks No.2 in the MAC in scoring averaging 22.6 points per contest.
Other Nominees
Kadie Hempfling, Bowling Green
G/F, Sophomore, Ottawa, Ohio (Ottawa-Glandorf)
Bowling Green sophomore Kadie Hempfling scored a game- and season-high 18 points in the Falcons’ lone game of the week, a 63-51 win at Milwaukee. Hempfling’s point total was just one off of her career high. She made a career-best eight field goals and also had six rebounds and a pair of assists in the victory. Hempfling had a plus/minus rating of +16 in the win over the Panthers, the highest rating of any player who saw action. With the Panthers within seven points in the fourth quarter, Hempfling scored the game’s next five points, blowing past her defender for a layup, then hitting a three-pointer from the top of the arc for a 12-point lead with just under two minutes to go. It was Hempfling’s fourth double-digit scoring game of the season, matching her total for all of last year. This season, she is averaging 9.9 points and leads the team in both rebounds (8.2 rpg) and assists (4.3 apg).
Mariella Santucci, Toledo
Point Guard, Senior, Bologna, Italy (Liceo Scientifico A.B. Sabin)
Senior Mariella Santucci had 13 points, a career-tying best 10 boards, a season-high seven dimes and one steal to post her fourth-career double-double at Detroit Mercy on Saturday. Santucci shot an efficient 5-of-7 from the field against the Titans, including 1-of-1 from three-point range, and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe in a contest-tying best 34 minutes to score in double figures for a third-straight game. The 2019-20 team captain also pulled down 10 rebounds at Miami on Feb. 7, 2018. She has now dished out at least seven assists on 17 occasions as a Rocket. With Saturday’s effort, Santucci moved into sole possession of sixth place in school history with 491 career dimes.
Jordan Walker, Western Michigan
Guard, R-Sophomore, Muskegon (Mona Shores)
Jordan Walker tallied a season-high 27 points on Saturday's 90-69 win against Chicago State, just five points shy of setting a new career high. She scored 13 points total in the game's first quarter including 11 straight points for the Broncos. Jordy also added 16 points and a season-high eight assists in the game against UIC on Sunday (12/8), falling just shy of a triple-double with eight rebounds as well. She maintains her spot as the Bronco's leading scorer with 16.1 points per game, averaging 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists on the year.
