We are nearly a month into the MVC women's basketball non-conference schedule and the league continues to churn out standout individual performances. Missouri State's Jasmine Franklin averaged 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 75.0% from the field, as the Lady Bears beat South Dakota and Kansas City during the week, earning her first career MVC Player of the Week honor. Valparaiso sophomore transfer Carie Weinman scored 20 points, shooting 6-for-8 from behind the arc, in Valpo's win at Toledo, collecting her first Newcomer of the Week honor.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Jasmine Franklin, So., F, Missouri State
Jasmine Franklin averaged 18 points on 75 percent shooting, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.0 blocks in two Missouri State wins last week. Franklin recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 boards in Monday’s win at a South Dakota team that was ranked one spot outside the AP Top 25. She added four assists, two blocks and two steals against the Coyotes. Franklin posted a historic shooting day Sunday versus Kansas City, going 11-for-12 from the floor for the third-best percentage ever (and best since 1992) for an MSU player with at least 10 makes in a game. That resulted in a career-high 24 points to go with five boards, three steals and two blocks.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Carie Weinman, So., G, Valparaiso
Weinman led Valpo in its lone game last week, scoring a game-high 20 points as Valpo earned a 61-54 road win over Toledo, which advanced to the second round of last year’s WNIT. Weinman was on fire from the three-point line, finishing the night 6-of-8 from downtown - tied for the sixth-best single-game three-point percentage (minimum seven attempts) in program history and the best percentage by a Valpo player since 2011. The sophomore scored 11 of her 20 points in the third quarter as part of a 16-6 period which turned a one-point halftime deficit into a nine-point lead with 10 minutes to play.
Noteworthy - In addition to the league's player and newcomer of the week selections, several conference players had notable performances, and they include:
Chelsea Brackmann (BRAD) - Brackmann turned in her first two double-doubles of the season, averaging 16.0 points per game on 61.9 percent shooting and pulled down 12.5 rebounds per outing to help Bradley win the Coastal Carolina Thanksgiving Classic. She also averaged 1.0 assist, 1.0 block and 2.0 steals per game. In Friday’s win against George Mason, Brackmann was 7-of-10 from the field and collected 15 points, 13 boards, one assist, one block and two steals. In fact, she hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to cap a second half performance in which she had 11 points and nine rebounds. Brackmann had 17 points and 12 rebounds to help Bradley rally from as many as 13 down to defeat Richmond 61-57 Sunday in the title game of the Coastal Carolina Classic. Brackmann also had an assist, one block and two steals against the Spiders, who fell to #10 in the latest warrennolan.com RPI with the loss. Brackmann had 10 points and five rebounds in the second half, including nine points in the third quarter. She moved into a tie for second in Bradley history in career rebounding at 799 and also cracked the top 25 in career scoring at Bradley in the outing against Richmond.
Sara Rhine (DU) - Sara Rhine averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 60.0 percent (18-of-30) and 84.2 percent (16-of-19) from the free throw line helping Drake go 2-1 and claim fifth-place at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Fla. Rhine started the tournament against Purdue with 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting and pulled down six rebounds in 27 minutes. In the Bulldogs’ blowout victory over Maine, she scored 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting and snagged four rebounds in 19 minutes. Rhine closed the tournament in the exciting 83-82 win over Auburn with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting with six rebounds in 28 minutes. Her two free throws with 7.8 seconds left won the game for Drake. This season, Rhine is second in the league in scoring at 19.4 points and 10th in rebounding at 6.1 per game while shooting a league-best 67.0 percent from the floor.
Lexi Wallen (ILS) - Lexi Wallen led the Redbirds in scoring for the third time this season, recording her first career double-double to pace Illinois State in its commanding 70-47 home win over UT-Martin. The fifth year senior recorded 20 points and grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds in her 31 minutes on the court. Wallen also added an assist and a block in the winning effort.
LeAndra Echi (INS) - LeAndra Echi was the unquestioned leader during the Sycamores’ three-game west coast trip last week. The junior averaged 9.3 points, 10 boards, one block and one steal during the trip, including a double-double against CSUN on Saturday with 11 points and 10 boards. In the first game of the Tiger Turkey Tipoff against Pacific, Echi ended just shy of a double-double with 10 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Against PAC-12 foe Colorado, the guard again recorded impressive numbers with seven points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Echi is currently fourth in the conference in rebounds-per-game, pulling down nine on average.
Ellie Rice (LUC) - Loyola junior guard Ellie Rice posted her first career double-double as the Ramblers moved to 6-0 for the first time in program history following a thrilling 78-64 overtime road win at Portland on Sunday afternoon. Rice finished with a season-high 17 points (3-8 FGs, 11-15 FTs) and a career-best 12 rebounds, leading a quartet of Ramblers to score in double figures in the victory. The Austin, Texas native also dished out five assists, marking her second game this season with at least five helpers.
Nicole Martin (SIU) - Nicole Martin scored a team-high 18 points on 50-percent (7-for-14) shooting in SIU’s win over St. Louis on Wednesday. The two-time All-MVC first team selection added seven rebounds, two assists and a block in 31 minutes of work to help lead Southern to its first win over the Billikens since 2008. Martin’s 15.5 points per game ranks eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Kierra Collier (DU) - Kierra Collier averaged 8.3 points and 2.0 assists per game in helping Drake go 2-1 at the Gulf Coast Showcase. In the blowout win over Maine, she scored 10 points and snagged four steals in 23 minutes. In the win over Auburn, Collier scored 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, added three assists in 27 minutes. In her first season as a Bulldog, Collier is averaging 10.0 points per game.
Mary Crompton (ILS) - Mary Crompton continues to heat up from behind the arc, as the redshirt-freshman recorded a career-high four three-pointers in Illinois State’s commanding 70-47 win over UT-Martin on Saturday afternoon, the team’s only game of the week. Crompton was instrumental in switching the momentum to favor the Redbirds after trailing at halftime, draining three triples in the third quarter alone to help collectively outscore the Skyhawks, 18-7, in the quarter and give the ‘Birds an eight-point lead heading into the final period. The redshirt-freshman totaled 12 points on the day, making 4-of-7 three-point attempts and grabbing four boards.