The opening weekend in MVC women's basketball was filled with outstanding individual efforts from veterans and newcomers alike. Illinois State's Jamie Russell set or tied a career high in five different statistical categories en route to the league's first Player of the Week honoree in 2012-13. Her Redbird teammate, sophomore transfer Janae Smith, just missed a double-double in her second Illinois State performance, pouring in 17 points and nine rebounds at Iowa, to capture the conference's initial Newcomer of the Week honor.
Much like last season, again in 2012-13 the Missouri Valley Conference will release its players of the week on Mondays, with the full women's basketball notebook available on Tuesdays, beginning tomorrow (Nov. 13).
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jamie Russell, Sr., G, Illinois State
Russell set or tied a career high in five categories, including points, rebounds and steals and recorded the first double-double performance of her career in the Illinois State’s women’s basketball team’s second round game against Iowa Sunday. Despite Russell’s stellar performance, the Redbirds fell to the Hawkeyes, 74-64. In the game, Russell tied a career-high 30 points in the contest, a feat she also accomplished last season against Eastern Illinois (Nov. 21, 2011). The Rock Falls, Ill., native brought down 12 rebounds, including seven in the second half, and recorded eight steals, just missing a triple-double. In ISU’s win over Morehead State, 62-45, Russell netted 20 points, shooting 50 percent from the field. The guard also dished out six assists and recorded three rebounds and three steals. After two games, Russell is averaging 25 points per game with 46 percent shooting from the field. She is perfect from the charity stripe (9-of-9), has 15 rebounds, eight assists and 11 steals.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Janae Smith, So., F, Illinois State
Smith just missed a double-double in her second performance as a Redbird, as the forward poured in 17 points and brought down nine boards, including five on the offensive end, in ISU’s 74-64 loss at Iowa in the second round of the Preseason WNIT. Smith was 7-of-14 from the field in the game and recorded a block, steal and assist in 31 minutes, the second most minutes played by a Redbird. On Friday, in the Redbirds’ game against Morehead State, Smith recorded seven points and six rebounds. She also added two blocks, two steals and one assist to her stat line in the 62-45 victory. Smith is the second-leading scorer for ISU after two games. She is averaging 12 points per game and has brought down 15 boards, with six being offensive. Smith is leading the team with three blocks and is third on the team in steals with three.
Noteworthy - In addition to the league's player and newcomer of the week selections, several conference players had notable performances, and they include:
Catie O’Leary (BU) – O’Leary scored a game-high 17 points and added nine rebounds, two assists and a steal to lead Bradley against 2011-12 WNIT participant Central Michigan in the season opener. O’Leary scored 10 of her game-high 17 points in the opening half as the Braves trailed 27-26 at the break and collected seven points, five boards and two assists in the second half.
Ally Jensen (CU) – Jensen led Creighton with 12 points in the Jays, 69-48 loss to No. 12 Oklahoma. She finished the game 5-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-8 from three point land. Jensen also led the Jays with four assists and three steals and added four rebounds in 27 minutes.
Liza Heap (DU) – Heap, a sophomore forward from Highlands Ranch, Colo. came off the bench Sunday and scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds in 28 minutes played. 10 of those points came in the second half and helped Drake nearly rally from a 16-point deficit against South Dakota. Heap knocked down 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-3 from the free throw line. She appeared in 24 games with three starts last season, averaging 1.4 points per game.
Khristian Hart (UE) – Hart led Evansville offensively with a career performance at Ball State, scoring a career-high 19 points and becoming the first UE player to hit five three-pointers in a game since Courtney Felke in 2008. The redshirt sophomore also pulled down four rebounds, dished out four assists and recorded a pair of steals in her 36 minutes on the floor. The Evansville, Ind., native once again led the Purple Aces in scoring at Illinois, tying Samantha Heck with a team-high 12 points. Hart finished 8-for-9 from the foul line and grabbed three rebounds to go with an assist and a steal. Hart leads the Aces in minutes played (71) and scoring (15.5 ppg), and is tied for the team lead with five assists after the first weekend of play.
Taylor Whitley (INS) – Whitley turned in an all-around performance in Indiana State’s season-opening 69-39 victory over Eastern Illinois on Friday, totaling 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals in 34 minutes of action. The lone senior for ISU, Whitley moved into the Top 10 in Indiana State history for career assists on Friday, as her five assists pushed her career total to 282. All four of Whitley’s steals came in the opening half, as Indiana State allowed Eastern Illinois to score just nine points. For the game, Whitley shot 5-for-10 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe.
Jacqui Kalin (UNI) – Kalin returned to the McLeod Center after redshirting due to injury, helping the UNI Panthers to an almost upset of the No. 25 Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix. She finished the game leading UNI in points with 17 and shot 4-9 from the three-point line. She also notched seven assists and five rebounds.
Jessica Diamond (WSU) – Diamond led the Shockers with 13 points and six assists in Wichita State’s season opener at LSU. The senior hit a three at the end of the first half to pull the Shockers within 35-34 then used that momentum to lift WSU to a six-point second-half lead. Diamond shot 6-of-13 from the floor and added three rebounds, a blocked shot, and a steal in 36 minutes against the Tigers, a team receiving votes in the national polls.
Marina Laramie (INS) – Laramie made her collegiate debut on Friday against Eastern Illinois, tossing in six points and pulling down two rebounds in five minutes off the bench. Laramie was a perfect 2-for-2 from the field and also 2-for-2 at the free-throw line, as the Sycamores picked up a 30-point win over Eastern Illinois inside Hulman Center.
Jen Keitel (UNI) – Keitel made her collegiate debut against Wisconsin-Green Bay in the Panthers heartbreaking home opener where they were defeated 54-53. Keitel led the team in rebounds with nine, along with notching eight points, one block, one assist and one steal. She finished 4-5 shooting during her 24 minutes of playing time.