Belmont's Madison Bartley averaged 24.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 60.0% from the field in a pair of wins over Missouri State and Southern Illinois. The award is the first MVC Player of the Week honor of her career.
Missouri State transfer Aniya Thomas averaged 17.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as the Lady Bears split the weekend on the road at Belmont and Murray State, earning her second Newcomer of the Week honor.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Madison Bartley, Jr., F, Belmont
Junior forward Madison Bartley was sensational for the Bruins over the weekend, averaging 24 points and six rebounds in 23.7 minutes. Shooting 60 percent (18-of-30) from the field and going 11-for-12 (.917) at the free-throw line, Bartley led all scorers in both of Belmont’s victories. In the Bruins’ Friday night win over Missouri State, Bartley scored 14 of her season-high 26 points in the fourth quarter. She went 8-for-8 at the foul line and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, scoring eight-straight points in the closing minutes to seal the triumph. On Sunday, Bartley was ultra-efficient in Belmont’s home blowout of Southern Illinois. In only 15:49 on the court, Bartley scored 22 points on 9-for-10 shooting and collected four boards.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Aniya Thomas, Sr., G, Missouri State
Fifth-year senior Aniya Thomas led the way for Missouri State last week, averaging 17 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as Missouri State split contests at Belmont and Murray State. Thomas tallied six assists, four steals and a block on the week, while shooting 43 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. In Friday night’s matchup at Belmont, Thomas had a team-high 21 points for her third 20-point performance in conference play this season. She pulled down five rebounds, dished out four assists, tallied three steals and went 6-for-9 from the free throw line in 39 minutes on the floor against the Bruins. On Sunday, in MSU’s victory at Murray State, Thomas logged 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds on 6-for-11 (.545) shooting from the field. She also added two assists and a steal on the road against the Racers. Thomas is pacing the Lady Bears in conference play with 16.5 points per game against MVC foes, and she ranks tops The Valley in steals per game (2.4) and ranks second in assists per game (4.7), both of which also rank top 50 nationally. She has also turned in nine consecutive double-digit scoring performances.
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) - Back in her home region, senior guard/forward Abby Feit turned in a pair of impressive performances to lead the Aces. On the weekend, Feit averaged 24 points and nine boards, helping Evansville to a split of two rod MVC contests. Feit hit eight three-pointers across the two games, and recorded a massive 28-point, 12-rebound double-double in UE’s win over Bradley on Friday.
DeAnna Wilson (ILS) - Wilson played a massive role for Illinois State in a pair of home wins this week for the Redbirds, averaging 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and a steal against Indiana State and Evansville. The senior would shoot 63.6-percent (14-of-22) from the field and 80.0-percent (8-of-10) from the free-throw line while averaging 26 minutes of action in the pair of home wins for ILS. As Illinois State returned home after their four-game road trip, Wilson finished with 11 points off 4-9 FG (44.4-percent), 6 rebounds, a steal, and a crisp 3-of-4 from the charity stripe in the 78-68 win over the Sycamores. Following that up, the St. Louis native had a career-night on Sunday against the Purple Aces, as she would tie a career-high in points with 25 off 10-of-13 (76.9-percent) shooting, adding 8 rebounds, a steal, and shooting 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in her time on the court.
Del’Janae Williams (INS) - Williams nearly recorded the second triple-double in program history in Sunday’s win over Bradley, while also leading Indiana State in scoring Friday at Illinois State. She opened her week with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists against Illinois State, knocking down four 3-pointers against the Redbirds. Williams followed that with eight points and career-highs of nine rebounds and nine assists in a win over Bradley, finishing just two points, one rebound and one assist shy of a triple-double. She also had a steal in both games last week and recorded a block in the win over Bradley. Across two games last week, Williams averaged 12 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and one steal per game.
Maya McDermott (UNI) - It was another big week on the floor for sophomore guard Maya McDermott. She led the Panthers in points the past week, averaging 13 a game with two assists. McDermott was an offensive firepower for UNI against UIC, putting up a team-high 12 points in only 18 minutes on the floor. McDermott also hit double figures against Valparaiso earlier in the week, as she made 14 points with one three pointer and her only rebound of the week.
Kendal Cheesman (BEL) - Sophomore forward Kendal Cheesman provided a huge spark off the bench for the Bruins in both of their weekend wins. Nearly averaging a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds in only 18.5 minutes, Cheesman shot 50 percent (7-of-14) from the floor and went 5-for-12 (.417) from beyond the arc. In only 15:24 of play in Belmont’s win over Missouri State Friday evening, Cheesman scored 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting, pulled down four rebounds, made a pair of blocks and distributed an assist. All of her points came in the second quarter against the Lady Bears where she went 3-for-4 from distance. Cheesman nearly notched her first double-double Sunday in the dominant win over the Salukis, totaling nine points and a career-high 14 boards. She completed her stat line versus Southern Illinois with an assist, a steal and a block.
Chelsea Cain (INS) - Cain notched a double-double in both of Indiana State’s games last week, leading the Sycamores in rebounds in both games while also leading the team in scoring at Illinois State. She opened her week with 16 points and 11 rebounds at Illinois State, setting a season-high in rebounds while also tying her season-high of seven field goals against the Redbirds. Cain followed that with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in Indiana State’s win over Bradley, knocking down 7-of-8 attempts from the free throw line against the Braves. The seven free throws made also tied a season high. Across two games last week, Cain averaged 13.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Ryley Goebel (UNI) - Goebel continues to be a defensive star for the Panthers in her first year of collegiate action. Goebel currently leads UNI in steals and blocks after having a career-high seven steals against Valparaiso on Thursday. The freshman forward averaged 5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks in two games against Valpo and UIC. Goebel is also the only underclassman in the Top 6 in the Missouri Valley in both blocked shots and steals.