NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Atlantic 10 Conference distinguished Duquesne sophomore Megan McConnell as the league’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week while Saint Joseph’s freshman Laura Ziegler claimed her second consecutive Rookie accolades. The awards were announced Monday following the conclusion of the 15th week of contests played Feb. 13-19.
 
McConnell, a local product of Pittsburgh, Pa., averaged an 18.0-point, 12.5-board double-double across a perfect 2-0 stretch for a surging Duquesne squad, pacing the Dukes in key victories over St. Bonaventure and Richmond. During Wednesday’s win against Bona, the sophomore guard contributed 13 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, notably tacking on two of the team’s 20 three-point field goals en route to a new single-game A-10 record. Later, in Duquesne’s weekend clash versus Richmond, McConnell posted career highs in both points (23) and rebounds (18) while tallying another eight assists for a near triple-double, helping the Dukes hold off an attempted Spider rally.
 
Ziegler, a now seven-time winner of the weekly rookie honors, concluded the week averaging 13.5 points and 11.0 boards for a double-double of her own, consistently offering key contributions as Saint Joseph’s fought to a 1-1 mark. The Herlev, Denmark, import initially put up seven points with nine rebounds in a win against Davidson before turning around for a critical 20-point, 11-rebound performance in the Hawks’ last-second loss to Rhode Island, good for her seventh double-double of the season. Overall, Ziegler shot 11-21 (.524) from the floor and 5-of-9 (.556) beyond the arc, adding a total four blocks with two assists and two steals as well.
 
HONOR ROLL
Anyssa Jones tallied 18 points with six boards as Dayton downed VCU on the road … George Mason’s Paula Suarez averaged 12.0 points while dishing out 11 total assists en route to back-to-back road victories for the Patriots … Mason freshman Nalani Kaysia contributed 15.0 points and 9.5 rebounds across a 2-0 week for the Patriots, powering past both Loyola Chicago and Fordham on the road … Nya Robertson dropped 25 points in George Washington’s weekend victory over Loyola Chicago … La Salle’s Kayla Spruill racked up 19.5 points with 7.5 rebounds per game throughout a split week for the Explorers … Sitori Tanin posted a double-double average of 16.5 points and 11.0 boards as Loyola Chicago dropped contests to George Mason and GW … Ramblers’ freshman Kira Chivers contributed 5.0 points per game with four total assists as well … Massachusetts senior Sydney Taylor logged 19.0 points per game, including a vital 18-point, 10-board double-double against Rhode Island, as the Minutewomen surged to a pair of key victories … Grace Townsend notched 12.5 points with 13 total assists as the Spiders initially knocked off a streaking Saint Louis back home before falling short in a road clash at Duquesne … Richmond freshman Maggie Doogan added 13.5 points per game with three blocks and three steals during the Spiders’ split week … St. Bonaventure’s Nikki Oppenheimer averaged 20.0 points as the Bonnies earned a split 1-1 mark on the week, taking down VCU on Saturday … Bonnies’ freshman Breauna Ware tacked on 15.5 points with 5.0 rebounds per game throughout the 1-1 week as well … Talya Brugler racked up 22.5 points per game, including a career-high 34 at Davidson, with six total assists as Saint Joseph’s concluded the week with a 1-1 record, dropping Sunday’s afternoon matchup to Rhode Island on a last-second shot … Saint Louis’ Brooke Flowers impressed behind a 16.5-point, 12.5-board double-double average on the week, leading the Billikens in a key win over La Salle after dropping a tight loss at Richmond.



PREVIOUS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
 

DATE	PLAYER	ROOKIE
Nov. 14	Asiah Dingle, FOR	Laura Ziegler, SJU
Nov. 21	Kaitlyn Downey, FOR	Laura Ziegler, SJU
Nov. 28	Sydney Taylor, UM	Laura Ziegler, SJU
Dec. 5	Sam Breen, UM	Laura Ziegler, SJU
Dec. 12	Addie Budnik, UR	Rachel Ullstrom, UR
Dec. 19	Asiah Dingle, FOR	Mia Nicastro, SLU
Dec. 27	Mackenzie Smith, SJU	Mia Nicastro, SLU
Jan. 2	Kyla McMakin, SLU	Mia Jacobs, LAS
Jan. 9	Mayé Touré, URI	Laura Ziegler, SJU
Jan. 16	Julia Martinez, SLU	Nya Robertson, GW
Jan. 23	Issy Morgan, DAV	Maggie Doogan, UR
Jan. 30	Sam Breen, UM	Maggie Doogan, UR
Feb. 6	Brooke Flowers, SLU	Nalani Kaysia, MASON
Feb. 13	Ber'Nyah Mayo, UM	Laura Ziegler, SJU
Feb. 20	Megan McConnell, DUQ	Laura Ziegler, SJU