Pheesa, Williams Win Weekly Accolades

Senior forward Napheesa Collier was tabbed as The American Athletic Conference
Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, and the eight time overall in
her collegiate career.

By Bob Phillips

STORRS—The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly women’s basketball honors, for the week ending Sunday, Feb. 17. UConn senior Napheesa Collier was tabbed Player of the Week, while Christyn Williams picked up Freshman of the Week honors, it was announced on Monday.

This was the second consecutive Player of the Week award for Collier, and the fourth time she has picked up conference-best weekly accolades this season, and the eighth time she has earned the nod in her illustrious career. The 6-2 forward was recognized this week for outstanding performances in wins over South Carolina and UCF.

On Monday, she picked up her second straight 30-plus point scoring outing in a 97-79 victory over the No. 11 Gamecocks. Collier popped in a season-high 31 points, hauled down 16 rebounds and dished out six assists. She followed that with an 18-point performance against Central Florida on Sunday, grabbing 11 boards to earn her 14th double-double of the season. In that game—a 78-41 win for the Huskies—Collier added five assists and four steals to her bottom line. For the week, the O’Fallon, MO, native shot 67.6 from the field (23-of-34) and averaged 24.5 points and 13.5 rebounds.

Cristyn Williams picked up her second Freshman of the Week
Award after two strong outings last week.

This was the second time Williams has been honored as The American’s Freshman of the Week, averaging 15.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. She popped in 19 points, shooting 7-for-8 from the field—including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc—and went 3-for-3 from the charity stripe vs. the Gamecocks. The 5-11 guard from Little Rock, Ark., followed that with a 12-point effort—all coming in the third quarter—in the Huskies’ win at UCF. She also grabbed three rebounds and dished out a pair of assists in that contest

The following is the complete AAC Weekly Honor Roll for the week ending Feb. 17:

• Dorian Branch * Jr. * F * Houston

Tallied a career-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting with three 3-pointers in Houston’s win over ECU, rounding out her line with four rebounds and three assists

• Alana Davis * So. * F * Memphis

Averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the Tigers’ 1-1 week, including a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double in Memphis’ win at Tulane; for the week, shot 56 percent (14-of-25) from the field and 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from the foul line

• Enna Pehadzic * So. * G * USF

Led USF with 20 points in the Bulls’ win over Tulsa, playing all 40 minutes; added five rebounds and two assists while connecting on three 3-pointers

• Alliya Butts * Gr. * G * Temple

Scored a game-high 23 points, with 11 coming in the fourth quarter as Temple downed Cincinnati 78-70 on Sunday; added four assists, three steals and notched a trio of 3-pointers

• Krystal Freeman * So. * F * Tulane

Registered a career-high 25 points and 10 rebounds in Tulane’s 61-59 win over UCF, with 14 of her points and seven of her rebounds coming in the second half; finished the week averaging 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

The Huskies return to action on Wednesday vs. Memphis. Tip-off is at 7 p.m., and the game will be the Huskies’ final appearance at the XL Center this season.

—Colleen White assisted on this report