NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Fordham’s Samantha Clark and Jonquel Jones of George Washington have been named Co-Atlantic 10 Conference Women’s Basketball Players of the Week, while Cierra Dillard of Massachusetts was tabbed as the Rookie of the Week for games played Jan. 5-11.
Clark averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game to power the Rams to a pair of double-digit road victories over La Salle and St. Bonaventure while shooting 72.7 percent (16-of-22) from the field, including 75 percent (3-of-4) from distance. Clark collected her second double-double of the season with a season-high 18 points, with 13 coming after halftime, and a game-high 10 rebounds in the 70-59 win at La Salle. Clark shot even better against the Bonnies (80 percent, 8-of-10) and led the way with 17 points and nine boards, as the Rams won for only the fourth time ever at St. Bonaventure while snapping the Bonnies' 15-game home court win streak.
Jones led GW to wins over Saint Joseph's and Richmond with team-best averages of 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. She shot 59.3 percent from the floor (16-27) and added 2.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. Jones posted her seventh double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds, connecting on 7-of-13 attempts from the field in the Colonials' 83-69 win over the Hawks on Wednesday, then posted her sixth double-double in the last seven games and eighth overall with 21 points and 11 boards on Saturday against the Spiders. The Naismith Trophy candidate from Freeport, Bahamas, made 9-of-14 from the floor and added three assists and three blocks.
Dillard averaged 20.5 points over a pair of games this week, including a 75-67 loss to Saint Louis on Wednesday and 65-47 victory at Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. She shot 12-for-23 on field goals (52.2 percent), including 4-of-8 from three-point land, and went 13-of-18 at the foul line (72.2 percent) combined in those contests. Dillard scored a career-high 23 points versus the Billikens before she led UMass with 18 points at Saint Joseph’s - the first victory on the road in Hagan Arena for the Minutewomen since 2005 and only the third all-time in the series, which dates back to 1977-78.
A-10 Honor Roll
Davidson’s Mackenzie Latt had a strong week at home in games against Dayton and Rhode Island by averaging a double-double on 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Hannah Early averaged a team-best 16 points last week … Dayton’s Andrea Hoover led the team with 15.0 points per game. while also corralling 3.5 rebounds per game and dishing out 2.0 assists per game over two wins for the Flyers this week … Taylor Brown led George Mason to its first ever A-10 road win on Sunday with 22 points against La Salle, including the game-winning buzzer beater … Rhode Island’s Symone Bullard averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 1.5 assists over two games on the week. In Sunday's win at Davidson, Bullard scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half. Rhody’s Charise Wilson averaged 18.0 points, 3.5 steals, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in the two games … Playing every minute of both Saint Joseph’s games on the week, Natasha Cloud averaged 23.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.0 steals per game … Jackie Kemph of Saint Louis had a career-high 16 points in the Billikens' only game of the week, a 75-67 win at UMass, while Jamesia Price scored a season-high 16 points in the win for SLU.