Illinois State's Katrina Beck averaged 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game, securing her 500th career point in a win over Eastern Michigan, earning the first MVC Player of the Week honor of her career. Evansville graduate transfer Hannah Noe averaged 20.0 points and connected on 12 three-point field-goals during the week, collecting her third Newcomer of the Week honor this season.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Katrina Beck, Jr., G, Illinois State
Illinois State junior guard Katrina Beck secured her 500th career point in a 65-56 win over Eastern Michigan on Sunday. She tied her career-high for three-pointers in a game as she netted four out of her six attempts from behind the arc and added a season-high 17 points in the win. Beck averaged 16 points, six rebounds and six assists during the week’s two contests. The Redbirds went 1-1 during the week, dropping a 61-59 decision to Milwaukee in overtime.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Hannah Noe, Gr., G, Evansville
For the third and fourth straight games, Evansville graduate guard Hannah Noe led the Aces in scoring as she averaged 20 points in a pair of non-conference contests. The Dexter, Missouri native poured-in 23 points, hitting six three-pointers, in a 100-62 loss on the road at No. 20 Kentucky. This marked the third time this season that Noe made six triples in a single game. Returning to Meeks Family Fieldhouse, Noe paced Evansville with 17 points in an 82-75 loss to Morehead State on Sunday. Noe continues to lead the MVC in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game, while also leading The Valley in three-pointers made per game with 3.75 per contest, seventh-best in the nation.
Noteworthy - In addition to the league's player and newcomer of the week selections, several conference players had notable performances, and they include:
Anneke Schlueter (BRAD) - Schlueter helped highlight Bradley’s 67-52 road win at Eastern Illinois with a season-high 18 points as she scored in double figures for the first time this season. She scored 13 of her 18 points in the first half to help the Braves to a commanding 37-19 halftime lead as BU won back-to-back games in which it never trailed for the first time since midway through the 2016-17 MVC slate. Schlueter, who was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line, added a career-best eight rebounds and three assists as she moved up five spots on Bradley’s career scoring list into the top 25.
Becca Hittner (DU) - Hittner averaged 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from the floor, 57.1 percent (4-of-7) from beyond the arc and 93.3 percent (14-of-15) from the free throw line … helped Drake go 1-1 … scored 18 points behind 6-of-11 shooting, including two three three-pointers, in just 18 minutes in blowout win over Iowa Wesleyan’s annual Kids Game … added four rebounds and one assist and made all four of her free throws … recorded first double-double of the season in double overtime defeat to Nebraska with 18 points and season-high 10 rebounds … made career-best 10 free throws with just one miss … ranks fifth in the MVC in scoring at 14.9 points per game … averaging 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 44.9 percent from the floor, 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and 79.6 percent from the free throw line … started all 10 games.
Wendi Bibbins (INS) - Indiana State’s Wendi Bibbins averaged 15 points per game and brought down 14 rebounds last week in a pair of tough tasks for the Trees. Bibbins set a career-high with 11 field goals made as she scored 22 points in a 77-67 loss to Central Michigan, leading a rally that brought the Sycamores from down 22 to within five points against a Chippewa team ranked ninth in the Mid Major poll. She was all over the floor with three steals and tied a career-high three blocks in the game, going 11-of-16 from the field.
Liza Fruendt (MSU) - Liza Fruendt averaged 17 points in three games last week, including a 31-point outburst against Oral Roberts on Sunday. She hit eight 3-pointers at a 44 percent clip, went 9-for-9 at the foul line, and added eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. The senior shot 11-for-21 overall against ORU, including 4-for-8 from distance and 5-for-5 at the charity stripe, adding three steals and three boards while becoming the ninth player in school history with multiple 30-point games in a career. Thursday Fruendt finished with 15 points, four rebounds and three assists as the Lady Bears dispatched former MVC rival Wichita State by a 94-71 final, and had five points in Monday’s game at Little Rock.
Megan Maahs (UNI) - Maahs scored in double figures in back-to-back games for the Panthers as she poured in 11 and 15 in UNI’s last two outings. Maahs’ 11-point outing came on the road at Omaha, as the sophomore came a rebound shy of her fourth double-double of the season, while blocking four shots, earning three steals and dishing out two assists. At home this past Sunday, Maahs helped propel the Panthers past UW-Parkside with a 15-point effort, while grabbing six rebounds as UNI scored a season-high 92 points against the Rangers.
Nicole Martin (SIU) - Nicole Martin averaged 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in a pair of contests last week. She began her week with a game-high 16 points to go along with eight rebounds in SIU’s wire-to-wire win over Martin Methodist. She followed with six points and two boards against the defending Conference USA champion Western Kentucky Lady Toppers on Sunday. Martin has scored in double figures in six of SIU’s nine games this season.
Dani Franklin (VALPO) - Turned in her first double-double of the season in Sunday’s win over Chicago State. Also surpassed 500 career made field goals in that game and moved into third in program history in that category. In addition, she cracked the Top 15 in program history in total rebounds and now has 543 for her career.
Jailynn Lawson (BRAD) - Lawson provided a spark off the bench in Bradley’s 67-52 road win at Eastern Illinois, collecting seven points in just 10 minutes of action. She was 4-for-6 from the free throw line and added three rebounds in the victory as the Braves posted back-to-back wins against in-state non-conference opponents for the first time since 2015-16.
Hannah Fuller (DU) - Fuller averaged 11.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists per game … started week in easy win over Iowa Wesleyan with career highs in points (18), steals (6), assists (5) while shooting 6-of-8 from the floor, 2-of-3 from the three-point line and 4-of-4 from the free throw line, also all high career highs, while playing career-high 23 minutes … added then career-high five rebounds … against Nebraska, scored four points and grabbed career-high six rebounds, including career-high five offensive rebounds in 10 minutes … played in nine game this season, averaging 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
Ty Battle (INS) - True freshman Ty Battle made her first career start on the same floor as her two-time All-Big Ten Conference father, scoring seven points and grabbing six rebounds at Illinois last Thursday. In all, Battle tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds in two games for Indiana State, adding four assists, one steal and one block over the week in games at Big Ten member Illinois and against No. 9 (Mid Major) Central Michigan while averaging 29.0 minutes per game.
Abby O’Connor (LUC) - Loyola freshman Abby O’Connor averaged 13 points and just under seven rebounds over the Ramblers’ three games last week. In Monday’s clash with DePaul, O’Connor poured in a team-high 15 points to go along with seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. The South Bend, Ind. product surpassed her scoring total just two days later against Northern Illinois, scoring a team-high 20 points. In Sunday’s weekend finale with No. 23/25 Green Bay, O’Connor posted season-high marks in both rebounds (8) and assists (5). She currently ranks third on the team in scoring (8.4 ppg) and leads the Rambler roster in rebounding (5.1 rpg), blocks (1.0 bpg) and steals (1.0 spg).
Abby Hipp (MSU) - Abby Hipp missed only one shot in three games last week, averaging 5.3 points, 2.7 rebounds with two assists and a steal. She was 6-for-6 from the floor, 1-for-1 on 3-pointers and 3-for-4 at the foul line. Hipp made a 3-pointer and a free throw Monday at Little Rock, and went 4-for-4 with 10 points, three boards and a steal in Thursday’s win against Wichita State. Sunday, the freshman grabbed four rebounds and connected on her only shot attempt against Oral Roberts.
Nicole Kroeger (UNI) - Kroeger earned a career-high 19 points against UW-Parkside as she led the Panthers to their highest point total in over three years. The freshman was 6-of-8 from the floor, while making 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Kroeger also earned two rebounds and dished out one assist against the Rangers. Earlier in the week, Kroeger came a point shy of another double-digit showing as she scored nine points on the road against Omaha, while earning three assists and two rebounds. The starts for Kroeger against Omaha and UW-Parkside were only the second and third of her young career at UNI.
Abby Brockmeyer (SIU) - Brockmeyer averaged 7.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and a block in SIU’s two games last week. The Raymond, Ill. native finished with nine points, seven boards and two blocks in SIU’s win over Martin Methodist on Thursday and followed with six points and five boards against Western Kentucky.
Bryce Blood (VALPO) - Chipped in seven points and seven rebounds on Sunday after contributing eight points and four boards at Big Ten foe Purdue. Blood’s 7.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg led all Crusader freshmen this week.