Women's Basketball

MVC Women's Basketball Weekly Notebook (Dec. 8)

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Valley Conference named its women's basketball weekly award winners on Monday. UNI's Ryley Goebel has been tabbed the MVC Player of the Week, while Murray State's Sharnecce Currie-Jelks has earned the MVC Newcomer of the Week award for the second-straight week. Bradley's Maya Foz has been named the MVC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season.

Conference News & Notes
  • Northern Iowa picked up its first MVC win of the season on Wednesday, outlasting Illinois State at home, 68-54. Four Panthers finished in double figures, led by Jenna Twedt’s 16 points. Ryley Goebel nearly logged a triple-double, finishing with 13 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high seven steals.
  • UIC earned the 61-44 victory over Valparaiso on the road Sunday to start MVC play with a win. It marked the second-straight year the Flames have opened Conference play with a victory. Crystal Ortiz led the Flames with 17 points off the bench. 
  • Three matchups against ranked opponents await MVC programs on Sunday (Dec. 7). UNI and Illinois State will hit the road to face No. 10 Iowa State and No. 24 Nebraska, respectively, while No. 15 Kentucky travels to Belmont.
  • In Monday morning’s issue of the NET, four programs found themselves inside the Top 150, with Murray State (90) and Belmont (92) inside the Top 100. 
  • Murray State’s Sharnecce Currie-Jelks was tabbed a National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) on Dec. 2 for her performances against George Mason and Boston College. The league newcomer averaged 27.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in a pair of wins by the Racers during Feast Week.
  • Currie-Jelks is tied with Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers and South Carolina’s Madina Okot for the nation’s lead with seven double-doubles on the year.
  • The Racers enter the week on a league-best five-game win streak. Murray State is 7-2 overall and one of five Valley teams that are undefeated at home this season.
  • Indiana State matched its entire 2024-25 win total with Wednesday’s win over Northern Illinois. The Sycamores’ three home non-conference wins this year are the program’s most since the 2022-23 season.
  • Bradley bounced back in the win column and opened its three-game homestand with an 85-57 win over Chicago State. Rookie Maya Foz posted a career-high 19 points on 57.1% shooting from the floor.
  • Illinois State snapped its four-game losing skid with a dominant 64-46 win over Eastern Illinois at home. Jaeden Pratt notched a career-high 15 points while adding nine rebounds to lead the Redbirds in scoring for the first time this season.
  • Belmont earned its fourth-straight win over Middle Tennessee on Wednesday. Jailyn Banks recorded her seventh double-digit outing in eight games, while Avery Strickland posted a career-high 20 points to lead the Bruins.
  • Southern Illinois earned its second win of the season on Saturday, utilizing a late 6-0 run to overcome SEMO, 76-71. Newcomer Alayna Kraus continued to lead the Salukis in scoring, finishing with 18 points, including 13 in the second half.
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PLAYER OF THE WEEK: RYLEY GOEBEL, NORTHERN IOWA
Senior | Forward | Urbana, Iowa | Center Point-Urbana HS
15.0 PPG | 58 FG% | 9.5 RBG | 5.5 SPG
Senior forward Ryley Goebel powered UNI to a perfect 2–0 week with dominant two-way performances. Goebel totaled 30 points, 19 rebounds, 11 steals, and four blocks while shooting an efficient 58 percent from the field. She posted a near-historic line against Illinois State with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven steals, then followed it up with a team-high 17 points against Toledo. Goebel led the Panthers in scoring, rebounding, and defensive disruption in both victories, anchoring UNI on both ends of the floor.

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK: SHARNECCE CURRIE-JELKS, MURRAY STATE
Junior | Forward | Jackson, Tenn. | Indiana University
24.5 PPG | 61% FG | 13.0 RPG | 87% FT
Junior forward Sharnecce Currie-Jelks delivered an outstanding week, averaging 24.5 points and 13.0 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the floor in two Murray State wins. She opened the week with a 20-point, 14-rebound effort against Morehead State, then erupted for 29 points and 12 rebounds against Austin Peay, going 10-for-12 at the free throw line.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: MAYA FOZ, BRADLEY
Freshman | Guard | Ontario, Canada | Fort Erie International Academy 
14.0 PPG | 3.00 RPG | 7 AST | 4 STL
Freshman guard Maya Foz turned in one of the Valley’s top rookie weeks, averaging 14.0 points per game while shooting 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from three. She bounced back from a tough outing at Nebraska with a breakout 19-point performance against Chicago State, hitting three triples and adding five rebounds and five assists.