MAC WBB PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cece Hooks, Ohio
Guard, Senior, Dayton, Ohio (Thurgood Marshall)
Cece Hooks was absolutely phenomenal in both of Ohio come-from-behind victories last week, averaging 34 points, 7.5 rebounds, four assists and four steals per game. In Ohio's win at WMU, Hooks had the fourth-highest scoring output in program history after scoring 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting. Hooks also added eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 32 minutes on the floor. On Wednesday against Buffalo, Hooks posted 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Those 28 points pushed to second in Ohio history in career scoring.
Other Nominees
Ce'Nara Skanes, Eastern Michigan
Forward, Redshirt Sophomore, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Putnam City West) (Florida International)
Redshirt sophomore Ce’Nara Skanes was again outstanding in both of Eastern’s games last week. She notched another pair of double-doubles, and now has four in her last five games. Her eight double-doubles this season leads all MAC players and ranks eighth in the nation.
Skanes most important performance came Wednesday, Jan. 20, at Central Michigan. Undeterred by pressure, she put up an incredible 19 points and 10 boards. Her rebounding effort led the team and helped Eastern secure a 70-67 victory over the Chippewas. Skanes’ effort helped EMU end a 13-game skid at the hands of Central Michigan, a feat made even more impressive given that it was on the road. She followed up that performance with another double-double effort against Ball State, Jan. 23. Although Eastern fell, 68-64, Skanes scored six of her 14 points in the fourth quarter to help Eastern close a 17-point deficit to just one point as the clock wound down. In addition to being the league’s best shot-blocker (17) and double-double candidate (8), she is top-five in numerous other areas, including FG% (48.9 - No. 2), free throws made (65 - No. 3), rebounds (ranked first – 146), and rebounds per game (ranked first – 10.4).
Thelma Dis Agustsdottir, Ball State
Forward, Junior, Keflavik, Iceland
After the Cardinals hadn’t played a couple of games due to guidelines and safety protocols of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ball State returned to the court Saturday in a big way without three of their four coach which included ninth-year head coach Brady Sallee. So naturally, like any junior would ,Thelma Dis Agustsdottir stepped up to the plate in a major way for the Cardinals with a 16-point performance to help Ball State move past Eastern Michigan, 63-64, Saturday in the Convocation Center. Agustsdottir came on strong in the second frame with some clutch 3-point baskets, helping the Cardinals go on a 23-7 scoring spree in the second frame that helped BSU build a 36-29 edge over the Eagles at intermission. Agustsdottir not only hit her shots from behind the arc she also played well inside the paint allowing Ball State never to lose the lead the remainder of the contest. For the game, Agustsdottir shot a staggering 64 percent (7-11) from the field and 50 percent from the 3-point line. She also totaled her second best rebounding performance of the season with eight.
Kadie Hempfling, Bowling Green
Forward, Junior, Ottawa, Ohio (Ottawa-Glandorf)
Bowling Green’s Kadie Hempfling led the Falcons to a pair of wins last week and reached a career milestone in the process. On Wednesday night, Hempfling had 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in BG’s win over Akron. Her final assist of the night was the 300th of her BGSU career. Hempfling, just a junior and not the team’s point guard, now ranks 10th in school history in assists. She also became just the second player in school history – joining BGSU Hall-of-Famer Kate Achter – to record both 500 career rebounds and 300 career assists. Then, on Saturday, Hempfling had a team-high 16 points in just 22 minutes, going 7-for-9 from the field and adding six boards and four assists in the Falcons’ 35-point win at Miami. Hempfling is averaging 12.3 points and a BG-best 6.7 rebounds per game this season. In MAC games, she has an even 12 ppg and a team-leading 7.1 rpg. Hempfling is now tied for ninth in BGSU history in career assists, with 304, and she is sixth on the school career lists for both assists per game and rebounds per game.
Molly Davis, Central Michigan
Guard, Sophomore, Midland, Mich. (Dow)
Central Michigan sophomore guard Molly Davis had a stellar week on the court as the Chippewas split their games with a loss to Eastern Michigan and a win over Akron. The Midland, Mich., native finished the two-game stretch averaging 26 points per contest while shooting 59.4 percent(19-of-32) from the floor and 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from three-point range. She also chipped in on the boards averaging 5.5 rebounds and dished out 3 assists per game. In a narrow 70-67 home loss to the Eagles on Wednesday, Davis posted a team-high 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting and went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. In Saturday's 92-69 road win over the Zips, she went off for career-high 32 points on 12-of-18 from the field which included a 6-of-11 mark from behind the arc. She also tallied six assists, six rebounds, a block and a steal in the win. On the season, Davis ranks No.4 on the MAC with a 48.9 field goal percentage and is No.8 in scoring averaging 18.8 points per game.
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo
Guard, Sophomore, Rochester, NY (Edison Tech)
Buffalo sophomore guard Dyaisha Fair continued her stellar play as she averaged 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game in the Bulls' two games this week. Fair recorded a double-double at Ohio on Wednesday with 21 points and 11 rebounds and then backed that up with a game-high 25 points to go along with nine assists, five rebounds and two steals in a win over Toledo on Sunday. The Rochester, NY native leads the Bulls in scoring (24.6) and assists (5.5) per game and currently sits at 980 career points. She is currently ranked eighth in the nation in scoring (24.6) while also ranking in the top 20 nationally in free throws made (84) and attempted (107), three point field goals made (38), assists (71) and final points (320).
Chelby Koker, NIU
Guard, Sophomore, Racine, Wis. (Shoreland Lutheran)
Chelby Koker had a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds at Toledo on Wednesday. It was her seventh 20-point effort of the year. Koker is averaging 21.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in MAC play this year.
Taylor Williams, Western Michigan
Forward, Redshirt Freshman, New Baltimore, Mich
Redshirt freshman Taylor Williams helped WMU go 1-1 on the week with a 70-54 win over Miami on Wednesday. Williams averaged a double-double last week leading the Broncos with 16.0 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. Williams also shot a staggering 70.6 percent from the field and was 8-of-13 from the free-throw line. Of Williams 27 rebounds, nine came on the offensive glass. Williams also had seven blocks in two games, averaging 3.5 blocks per game. Against Miami, Williams posted her second double-double of the season with 19 points and 14 rebounds. The 19 points were one shy of her career-high with 13 of the 19 coming in the second half. Williams’ 14 rebounds matched her career-high while also posting a career-high six steals and four blocks. On Saturday against Ohio, Williams earned her second straight double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 75 percent from the field. Of Williams’ 13 rebounds, five came on the offensive glass against the Bobcats.
