Missouri State's Jasmine Franklin averaged 15.5 points, 15.0 rebounds to go along with four blocks and six steals as the Lady Bears split a pair of Power Five games against Oklahoma State and Southern California during the week, earning the 6th MVC Player of the Week honor of her career, including second-straight to open the season.
Bradley junior Sierra Morrow helped the Braves to a 2-0 week, averaging 10.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 blocks, earning her first Newcomer of the Week honor.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Jasmine Franklin, Sr., F, Missouri State
Franklin once again averaged a double-double last week for the Missouri State Lady Bears. In two games against Power Five opponents Oklahoma State and USC, Franklin averaged 15.5 points and 15.0 rebounds to go along with four total blocks and six steals. In the matchup with OSU on Wednesday, Franklin grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds which was also the fourth-most rebounds in a single game in program history. On Saturday against the Trojans, Franklin was 10-for-19 from the field and dropped 23 points while securing 11 rebounds. With her second basket at USC, Franklin became the 30th Lady Bear in program history to eclipse 1,000 career points. The senior paces Missouri State with an average of 15.5 ppg and 14.5 rpg in four games this season.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Sierra Morrow, Jr., F, Bradley
Bradley’s first-year forward helped the Braves to a 2-0 week by averaging 10.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 blocked shots least week. Morrow opened the week by posting 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in Monday’s 83-53 win against Upper Iowa. She followed with nine points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots in Friday’s 64-57 win against Wisconsin. Through three games, the two-time junior college All-American is averaging 9.0 points, a team-best 7.0 rebounds and a team-best 2.0 blocked shots, while sharing the team lead with 3.7 assists per game.
Noteworthy - In addition to the league's player and newcomer of the week selections, several conference players had notable performances, and they include:
Gabi Haack (BU) - It was an emotional week for Bradley’s fifth-year senior guard, who squared off against her younger sister Monday night against Upper Iowa, then set the program’s all-time scoring record Friday while leading the Braves to a win against Big Ten Conference member Wisconsin … Haack opened Monday’s 83-53 win against Upper Iowa by converting two free throws on the game’s opening possession to break Bradley’s career record for free throws made … Entering Friday’s game against Wisconsin in need of 18 points to break Bradley’s career scoring record (the longest-standing program scoring record in The Valley), Haack scored a game-high 24 points to lead the Braves to the 64-57 win against the Badgers … She scored 14 in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a personal 8-0 run early in the fourth to give the Braves the lead for good and a 6-for-6 effort at the free throw line in the final 1:43 to put the win away … Haack banked in a 35-foot bomb to beat the shot clock and forge a 48-48 tie, sank two free throws to put the Braves ahead for good, 50-48, then sank a wing trey to break the program career scoring record and put the Braves up 53-48 … Haack made 6-of-11 (.556) 3-point tries and 12-of-14 free throw attempts in the two games, averaging 16.0 ppg and 4.5 rpg in the two wins. Haack broke previous Bradley scoring record of 1,679 points by Karen Anderson (1979-83), pushing her total to 1,686 points entering Monday’s game at Northern Illinois.
Grace Berg (DU) - Combined for 26 points, nine rebounds, and six steals during last weeks games. Her three steals against Iowa State helped the Bulldogs in the second half to minimize the scoring deficit. Her steal with 1:48 left in the game led to a three-pointer from Katie Dinnebier and Megan Meyer with the assist.
Abby Feit (UE) - Continuing her streak to open the season, junior guard/forward Abby Feit led the Aces twice more in a split on the week. Against EKU, Feit scored a team-high 18 points in 29 minutes, helping lead the Aces to a 67-57 win over EKU inside the Ford Center. On Saturday, in a double-overtime thriller, Feit tied a career-high with 29 points, adding 13 rebounds in a 85-74 loss. On the season, Feit is fifth in the nation in double doubles, sixth in points per game, 13th in total points, and 14th in made field goals.
Bre Hampton-Bey (LUC) - Loyola graduate student guard Bre Hampton-Bey averaged a team-best 9.5 points in addition to 5.5 rebounds as the Ramblers split a pair of games against local rivals last week. After chipping in seven points (2-5 FGs 3-3 FTs) and seven rebounds in Wednesday’s road clash with Northwestern, Hampton-Bey was one of three Ramblers to finish in double figures against Chicago State, closing her afternoon with 12 points (4-4 FGs, 1-1 3FGs, 3-4 FTs) and four rebounds to help propel the Maroon & Gold to a 71-59 triumph. Out of Toledo, Ohio, Hampton-Bey, a member of the MVC All-Newcomer Team in 2020-21, ranks fourth on the Rambler roster in scoring (7.8 ppg) and second in rebounding (4.3 rpg).
Kam Finley (UNI) - Finley posted double digits in both of the Panthers wins this week against North Dakota State and Wichita State. She also contributed 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 42 minutes across both games. Finley had a season high game against Wichita State with 6 field goals made and 4 assists and helped lead the Panthers to an overall +32 game.
Katie Dinnebier (DU) - Started against South Dakota and Iowa State and shot 5-10 from the arc. Dinnebier helped Drake rally in the final quarter against Iowa State, to finish with a career high 19 points, four rebounds, and five assists. She drew a charge early in the second half to help the Bulldogs minimize the scoring deficit to seven.
Je’Naiya Davis (UE) - In her Evansville debut, junior guard Je’Naiya Davis opened with an impressive effort. On the road at EIU, Davis finished tied for second on the team with 14 points in 26 minutes of action. Davis opened the game with six of the team’s first 10 points in the first quarter.
Jada Stinson (ILS) - Stinson averaged 8.0 points and 5.5 rebounds over a pair of tough contests versus Big Ten opponent Purdue and UT Martin last week, putting up a season-high 12 points versus the Skyhawks on Saturday. The graduate student went 4-of-6 (66.7%) from behind the arc in Saturday’s game and was a huge part of the Redbirds’ late surge against UT Martin. The four triples were the most by an Illinois State player this season.