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Player of the Week: Ava Learn, Murray State
Newcomer of the Week: Gift Uchenna, Southern Illinois            
Freshman of the Week: Avery Kelley, Evansville



PLAYER OF THE WEEK: AVA LEARN, MURRAY STATE
6-1 | Sr. | Forward | Pleasant Valley, NY
Murray State’s Ava Learn shined for the Racers, posting back-to-back double-doubles in the Racers’ first-ever wins against Northern Iowa and Drake. The senior forward averaged 16.5 points and 16.0 rebounds in the wins. Learn started the week with 14 points and a career-high 19 rebounds against the Panthers before following up that performance with a 19-point, 13-rebound outing against the Bulldogs. She was the only player to record double-figure numbers on the glass in the win over Drake while her 19 rebounds against the Panthers are tied for the third most in a game this season in the league.



NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK: GIFT UCHENNA, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
6-3 | Jr. | Forward | Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Southern Illinois’ Gift Uchenna averaged an impressive 23.0 points, 18.0 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per contest as the Salukis went 1-1 last week. Uchenna shot 54.0% from the field, starting the week with a 20-point, 17-rebound outing in SIU’s first Conference win of the season against Indiana State. The junior capped off the week with 26 points, 19 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks against the Purple Aces on Sunday. The forward has a league-leading 10 double-doubles this season and is the only player in the country averaging at least 15.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.



FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: AVERY KELLEY, EVANSVILLE
5-6 | Fr. | Guard | Evansville, Ind.
Freshman point guard Avery Kelley was an offensive force over the weekend for the Purple Aces. Kelley had back-to-back 18-point games against Missouri State and Southern Illinois to lead Evansville to its first conference victory. Against Missouri State on Friday, she scored over 30% of Evansville’s points while grabbing five rebounds and two steals. Kelley then had another big offensive game against the Salukis with another 18 points, including a season-high three made treys. She also added four assists, three rebounds, and a steal in 26 minutes of play. Over two games, Kelley averaged a season-high 28.5 minutes, 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals.