2024-25 MVC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL QUICK LINKS -- #ValleyHoops
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Player of the Week: Katie Dinnebier, Drake
Newcomer of the Week: Gift Uchenna, Southern Illinois
Freshman of the Week: Ellie McDermid, Bradley

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: KATIE DINNEBIER, DRAKE
5-8 | Sr. | Guard | West Des Moines, Iowa
Senior guard Katie Dinnebier averaged 27.5 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game as the Bulldogs faced Creighton and Iowa, who were both receiving votes in last week’s AP Top 25 poll. She started with a solid 15-point effort at Creighton before pouring in a career-high 40 points against Iowa, marking the first 40-point outing for a Bulldog since 2015 and the first 40-point showing in The Valley since Murray State’s Katelyn Young dropped 43 in the same building two seasons ago. Dinnebier scored 28 of Drake’s 38 points in the second half and she made 17 free throws, which tied for the most by a player in the NCAA this season, on 20 attempts, which is tied for the second most by a player in the NCAA this season. Her 40 points are the second-most recorded in a game in Division I this year.

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK: GIFT UCHENNA, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
6-3 | Jr. | Forward | Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Gift Uchenna averaged 25.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in two outings for the Salukis last week. Uchenna posted 34 points, 17 rebounds, two blocks and four steals in an 85-80 win over IU Indy on Saturday. The 34 points are tied for the sixth most all-time in a single game for SIU, and are the second most scored in a game by an MVC player this  season. The 17 rebounds are the second most by an MVC player so far in 2024-25, while the 13 field-goals made are a conference-best. In terms of steals, Uchenna’s four steals are tied for second in a game by a Valley player. Uchenna also scored 16 points with five rebounds, two blocks, and two steals earlier in the week against ULM.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: ELLIE MCDERMID, BRADLEY
6-1 | Fr. | Forward | Green Bay, Wis.
Bradley’s Ellie McDermid went 7-for-11 (64%) from the floor while averaging 8.5 rebounds per game in two outings for the Braves this week. She started the week with 13 points and 11 rebounds against Lindenwood marking the first double-double by a rookie in the league this season. She made the lone shot she took in Bradley’s win over Central Michigan, while grabbing a team-high six boards and tied a game-high three blocks. On the year, she leads all rookies with 23 total rebounds.

For the full weekly notebook, click the image below.