WASHINGTON — The Atlantic 10 Conference has named George Mason redshirt junior Zahirah Walton as the Under Armour Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. Rhode Island freshman Vanessa Harris was chosen as the league’s Rookie of the Week. The awards were announced on Monday for games played from Dec. 29 - Jan. 4.

Walton put together a tremendous performance on Wednesday, leading the Patriots to a 74-59 New Year’s Eve Victory over Dayton at EagleBank Arena. The forward from Seattle, Wash. picked up right where she left off before the holiday break, scoring 25 points on a 7-of-10 shooting day in just 29 minutes of action. Walton knocked down 10-of-13 attempts at the free throw line, adding four assists, four rebounds, and a block as well while recording just one turnover. Walton currently ranks second in the A-10 with 20.4 points per game this season, averaging 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest as well.  

Harris continues to play a pivotal role in Rhode Island’s hot stretch, helping push the Rams’ winning streak to six games with a pair of conference victories last week. The guard from Glenarden, Md., averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across both games, shooting 39.1 percent from the field. Harris guided Rhode Island to a crucial 73-61 conference win over Richmond on Tuesday, recording 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists without posting a single turnover. She helped Rhode Island defeat Loyola Chicago 70-58 on the road Saturday, tallying 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.

HONOR ROLL
Davidson center Edina Strausz helped lead the Wildcats to wins against Loyola Chicago and Saint Louis, tallying 17 points and two assists in the latter contest … Wildcats freshman Elena Alvarez Castellanos provided a spark to the backcourt in the first two starts of her career, averaging 10.5 points per game including a 17-point outing against the Billikens … Dayton’s Molly O’Riordan averaged 19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game over two matchups, shooting 76.2 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from behind the arc … Fordham junior Alexis Black recorded 21 points in a loss to La Salle, dishing six assists and nabbing three steals … Rams rookie Carryn Easley contributed seven points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal against the Explorers … George Mason freshman Mary Amoateng posted a career-high 14 points in a Sunday win over VCU, adding six rebounds and three assists … La Salle’s Aryss Macktoon helped the team start league play 3-0 for the first time since 2013-14, recording 18 points, eight rebounds, and six steals in a win over George Washington on Saturday … Explorers freshman Kiara Williams posted 14 points in a win at Fordham, adding seven rebounds and four steals as well … Rhode Island guard Sophia Vital tallied 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and five steals in the Rams’ win over Richmond … Richmond’s Maggie Doogan averaged 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game across two contests, including a 26-point showing at Rhode Island … Saint Louis freshman Jahda Denis averaged 17.0 points per game across the week, shooting a perfect 14-of-14 at the free throw line … St. Bonaventure guard Laycee Drake poured in 21 points in a win over George Washington to go along with six rebounds and three steals … Bonnies freshman chipped in nine points on a trio of 3-pointers against Richmond.
 

DATE		OFFENSIVE	ROOKIE
Nov. 10	Zahirah Walton, GM Maggie Doogan, UR		Alexis Bordas, DUQ
Nov. 17	Maggie Doogan, UR		Patricia Augustin, VCU
Nov. 24	Maggie Doogan, UR Alexis Black, FOR		Vanessa Harris, URI
Dec. 1	Zahirah Walton, GM		Alexis Bordas, DUQ
Dec. 8	Katie Donovan, DAV		Jahda Denis, SLU
Dec. 15	Maggie Doogan, UR		Jahda Denis, SLU
Dec. 22	Maggie Doogan, UR		Alexis Bordas, DUQ
Dec. 29	Alexia Nelson, SLU		Alyssa Koerkenmeier, SLU
Jan. 5	Zahirah Walton, GM		Vanessa Harris, URI