The national player of the week in women’s basketball for the seventh week of the season has been awarded to JuJu Watkins from USC.
The sophomore guard had an outstanding performance in the Trojans’ thrilling 72-70 win against UConn, where she registered 25 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks.
Watkins contributed significantly in the first half with 15 points and delivered a pivotal assist during the closing moments of the game, helping USC secure the lead permanently.
As a runner-up, Aneesah Morrow from LSU made a notable impact, averaging 21.5 points, 16 rebounds, and 3.5 steals across two wins against Seton Hall and UIC.
The game against Illinois-Chicago was particularly special for Morrow as it marked a homecoming for her.
She is currently leading the nation with an impressive record of 12 double-doubles and an average of 14 rebounds per game.
Honorable mentions this week include Haley Cavinder from Miami, Sammie Puisis from South Florida, and Emma Ronsiek from Colorado State.
One player to watch closely is Gardner-Webb’s Ashley Hawkins, who set a Big South single-game scoring record by scoring 47 points in a triple-overtime thriller against Queens.
Hawkins also contributed six rebounds, five assists, and six steals during the match.
She made an incredible 35 points in regulation and added 12 points during the three overtime periods, managing to play 52 out of a possible 55 minutes, including all 15 minutes of overtime.
Additionally, she converted two crucial free throws just five seconds before the end of regulation, putting the Runnin’ Bulldogs ahead by two points.
Hawkins also nailed a buzzer-beater layup in the first overtime to extend the game further.