Courtesy the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Feb. 8, 2022—Coppin State redshirt graduate guard Jaia Alexander and Howard sophomore guard Destiny Howell were selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, the conference office announced today. North Carolina Central guard Diamond Thomas was named Rookie of the Week, while Norfolk State senior guard Camille Downs and North Carolina Central redshirt sophomore forward Tianna Carter earned Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Alexander (5-11, Gr., G, Baltimore, Md.)dropped a career-high 35 points and added 12 rebounds against Delaware State, while also dishing out three assists as she went 14-for-27 from the floor. For the week, Alexander averaged 24.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, and on Saturday, she had a 14-point, 7-rebound, 2-assist effort in a win over South Carolina State.
Howell (5-11, So., G, Queens, N.Y.) keyed the Bison to a 2-0 week, averaging 21.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while shooting a combined 47% (14-for-30) from the floor, 44% (7-for-16) from 3-point range and 88% (7-for-8) from the free throw line. She opened with 19 points, six rebounds and two steals against Maryland Eastern Shore before going for 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting against Delaware State, hitting five 3-pointers.
Thomas (5-4, Fr., G, Knightdale, N.C.)averaged 19.5 points and 3.5 steals per game this past week, going a combined 16-for-38 (42%) from the floor. She opened with a 19-point, 3-rebound, 2-steal, 2-assist effort against Morgan State, before going for 20 points and five steals in a non-conference win over St. Andrews.
Downs (5-10, Sr., G, Fredericksburg, Va.) averaged 5.5 steals per contest in two games this past week for the Spartans – including a game-high eight against Delaware State. She added three more steals against Maryland Eastern Shore and has racked up at least three steals in her last four games.
Carter (6-1, r-So., F, Tucson, Ariz.) was a defensive force against St. Andrews, grabbing 10 rebounds (six defensive) to go along with six steals and five blocked shots. Her six steals were a career high and part of the Eagles’ modern-era program-record 30 steals as a team.
Other Top Performers
Mossi Staples (Coppin State) grabbed five steals against South Carolina State.
Jewel Watkins (Coppin State) scored nine points against South Carolina State and blocked three shots against Delaware State.
Nyla Cooper (Howard) had 11 points and five assists against Delaware State.
Ariana Seawell (Maryland Eastern Shore) recorded a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds) against Norfolk State after dropping 20 points against Howard.
Adia Brisker (Morgan State) had 21 points and seven rebounds against North Carolina Central and 16 points and nine rebounds against South Carolina State.
Deja Francis (Norfolk State) dropped 21 points against Delaware State to go along with seven assists and five steals.
Kira Lowery (North Carolina Central)scored 16 points against Morgan State before turning in a 14-point, 9-assist, 7-rebound, 5-steal effort against St. Andrews.
Nicole Gwynn (South Carolina State)had 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals against Morgan State.
Trinity Klock (South Carolina State)scored 14 points against Morgan State, and grabbed nine rebounds in both games of the week.
