The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) has announced its men’s and women’s basketball Players of the Week.
For women, Ciara Hardy (Central State) was named Player of the Week, while Takya Bennett (LeMoyne-Owen) earned Newcomer of the Week.
For men, Malachi McCoy (Benedict) was named Player of the Week, while Kimani Binder (Edward Waters) earned Newcomer of the Week, released by the league office on Tuesday.
Women’s Basketball
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ciara Hardy, Central State, Guard | Freshman | Inkster, MI
CSU freshman Ciara Hardy led her team to two wins this week which included a season-high 35 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday against Spring Hill. Hardy’s 35 points is the most scored by a CSU player since February of 2017.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK – Takya Bennett, LeMoyne-Owen, Forward | Senior | Memphis, TN
In Saturday’s 69-62 win over Lane, Bennett dominated for the Magicians with a double-double posting 17 points shooting 7-of-15 (.466) from the floor and grabbing 15 rebounds. She also added one steal against the Dragons.
OTHER PLAYERS NOMINATED
| WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK | Amil Mitchell (LeMoyne-Owen); Ayanna Armstead (Benedict); La’Quanza Glover (Edward Waters); Ashiala Jackson (Tuskegee) |
| WOMEN’S NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK | Christmas Taylor (Benedict); Ciara Hardy (Central State); JuToreyia Willis (Tuskegee) |
Men’s Basketball
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Malachi McCoy, Benedict, Forward | Junior | Berry Islands, Bahamas
McCoy came off the bench to score 13 points and grab a game-high 14 rebounds in Monday’s 61-58 loss at Fort Valley State. In Saturday’s rematch, came off the bench again to 17 points and grab a team-high 9 rebounds in an 80-75 victory over the Wildcats. For the week, McCoy shot 11-of-17 (.647) from the floor and had three blocked shots.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK – Kimani Binder, Edward Waters, Forward | Senior | Orlando, Florida
In three performances last week against Miami-Middletown, Wilberforce, and Trinity Baptist, Binder led the Tigers to three straight wins. In two road wins, the senior forward scored 26 points and two rebounds against Miami-Middletown and added ten points, four rebounds, and two assists against Wilberforce. In a home win against Trinity Baptist, Binder posted 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists.
OTHER PLAYERS NOMINATED
| MEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK | Elias Harden (Edward Waters); Beril Kabamba (Spring Hill); Devin Booker (Tuskegee) |
| MEN’S NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK | K. J. Doucet (Fort Valley State); Deveraux Davis (Tuskegee) |
