Murray State's Katelyn Young averaged 23.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game during a week which saw her record a career-high 32 points as well as help lead the Racers to a win at Kentucky. The award is the second MVC Player of the Week honor of the season.
Missouri State transfer Kennedy Taylor scored 23 points with seven boards and three steals as the Lady Bears earned a win over UT-Martin, earning her first Newcomer of the Week honor.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Katelyn Young, Jr., F, Murray State
Katelyn Young averaged 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists over a two-game week for Murray State that included an upset at Kentucky. On Tuesday, Young scored a career-high 32 points in the loss to Austin Peay and followed that up with 14 points against Kentucky as the Racers beat the Wildcats for the first time since 1973. The junior pulled down seven rebounds in each game and added three assists against the Govs and a block against the Wildcats. She finished the week shooting 14-for-28 from the floor (.500), 2-for-5 from three-point range (.400) and 16-for-19 from the free throw line (.842).
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Kennedy Taylor, So., F, Missouri State
Sophomore and first-year Lady Bear Kennedy Taylor had a career day off the bench in MSU’s lone game of the week, a nine-point victory over UT Martin. Taylor set a career high with 23 points and three steals against the Skyhawks, while going 8-for-13 (.615) from the field and 7-for-10 (.700) from the free throw line in just under 22 minutes on the floor. She also pulled down seven rebounds, including a game-high tying four offensive boards. Taylor was vital for the Lady Bears in a crucial second half that saw MSU extend and maintain its lead over UTM for the victory, as she scored 19 of her 23 points after halftime (6-for-11 FG, 7-for-10 FT in second half). She became MSU’s first 20-point scorer on the season and was responsible for all but four of Missouri State’s 27 points off the bench. Taylor ranks second in the MVC in offensive rebounds per game (3.5) and set career highs in points, steals, field goals, field goal attempts, free throws and free throw attempts versus UTM.
Noteworthy - In addition to the league's player and newcomer of the week selections, several conference players had notable performances, and they include:
Abby Feit (UE) - Senior guard/forward Abby Feit helped power Evansville to a win to open a four-game home stand. On Sunday, Feit recorded her 27th career double-double in a win over SEMO, pouring in 23 points and 12 boards.
DeAnna Wilson (ILS) - DeAnna Wilson gathered her third double-double of the 2022-23 season Sunday in ISU’s 63-49 loss to Green Bay. The Saint Louis native led all scorers with 19 points as she also would grab 10 rebounds on the afternoon. This was Wilson’s first double double effort for the Redbirds since Nov. 15 against St. Thomas.
Grace Boffeli (UNI) - With only one game on the schedule in the past 11 days, Boffeli fought for every point against the No. 12 Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday. Grace recorded 16 points in only 27 minutes of play against one of the best teams in the country. But Boffeli wasn’t just on the offensive side of the ball as she grabbed 7 rebounds, assisted on two baskets, and recorded both a steal and a block. Boffeli’s all-around play helped the Panthers keep close with Iowa throughout 40 minutes on Sunday.
Sydni Harvey (BEL) - Graduate guard Sydni Harvey found her rhythm late in Belmont’s lone game of the week, a Saturday afternoon battle at SEC stalwart Georgia. Scoring all 11 of her points in the second half, Harvey went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and hit a three-pointer with seven minutes to go to get the Bruins within seven. She also pulled down five rebounds and dished out a season-high tying three assists.
Kynidi Mason Striverson (UE) - Continuing an impressive start to her first collegiate campaign, freshman guard Kynidi Mason Striverson came off the bench to help lead UE to a non-conference win. In a 64-53 win over SEMO, Mason Striverson added 10 points and six boards, her fourth double-figure scoring effort of the season.
Chelsea Cain (INS) - Cain produced two of her best games in an Indiana State uniform last week, nearly averaging a double-double for the week. She opened her week with 13 points and a team-leading seven rebounds against Western Kentucky and followed that with a season-high 17 points and nine rebounds in a win over Purdue Fort Wayne. 10 of her 17 points against the Mastodons came in the fourth quarter. Cain also added two assists against WKU and a block against Purdue Fort Wayne. She finished the week with averages of 15 points and eight rebounds per game.
Jordyn Hughes (MUR) - Jordyn Hughes played a key role in the Racers upset of Kentucky Friday, leading the Racers with 15 points, thanks in part to a 3-for-4 performance from 3-point range. The redshirt-senior was 7-for-11 (63.6) from the floor on the week, including a 6-for-8 clip in the win over the Wildcats. She finished the week averaging 9.0 points to go along with 1.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, as well as a 57.1 (4-for-7) 3-point shooting percentage.
Rachel Heittola (UNI) - Heittola was able to take on one of the best forwards in the country during her time guarding Monica Ciznano on Sunday against No. 12 Iowa. Heittola spent her 11 minutes on the floor keeping Ciznano to only 42%, well away from her over 60% average. Along with a solid defensive showing, Heittola put up a season-high, in points for the Panthers with seven, including her first trey with UNI.