Lamberty Claims Third Straight BIG EAST Freshman of the Week Honor
12/22/2014 3:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Creighton newcomer Sydney Lamberty became the season's first three-peat honoree by being recognized as the BIG EAST Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week for the third consecutive period on Monday, Dec. 22. Creighton senior Alexis Akin-Otiko also earned her third straight spot on the BIG EAST Honor Roll.
Lamberty was recognized along with St. John's Aliyyah Handford, who led the league in scoring against a pair of formidable opponents.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week: Sydney Lamberty, Creighton, Fr., G
Lamberty claims her third straight honor after going for 20 points, three rebounds and two assists in the Bluejays' win over Omaha on Saturday. The rookie recorded the best field goal percentage by a BIG EAST player this season with her 8-for-9 clip en route to her career-high total for points. Lamberty is the first three-peat weekly honoree of the season and first since 2013-14 BIGE AST Freshman of the Year Natalie Butler went back-to-back-to-back Feb. 3 through Feb. 17 last season.
BIG EAST Player of the Week: Aliyyah Handford, St. John's, Jr., G
Handford averaged a league-best 24.5 points per game to go along with 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals, while shooting .469 from the floor. Handford helped the Red Storm fend off Auburn on Saturday with a 22-point showing before helping to force overtime against Indiana State on Sunday with her game-tying layup with 22 seconds left. The junior guard matched her season high of 27 points in St. John's double-overtime setback against the Sycamores. Handford entered the week ranked fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring at 18.1 points per game and after the weekend double-header moved into a tie for first with teammate Danaejah Grant, averaging 19.3 points per game.
Weekly Honor Roll
Alexis Akin-Otiko, Creighton, Sr., F
Akin-Otiko recorded 12 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and three steals in Creighton's lone game of the week, a home win over crosstown rival Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday.
Bra'Shey Ali, Seton Hall, RS-Jr., F
Ali led the Pirates to another 2-0 week by averaging a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, making 52.9 percent of her attempts from the floor. Ali's double-double of 13 points and 14 boards against NJIT was her fourth of the year.
Kenisha Bell, Marquette, Fr., G
Bell led the Golden Eagles to their first set of back-to-back wins of the season, averaging 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 2.3 assists in a 2-1 week, which included a win over Vanderbilt.
Alexis Harris, Providence, Sr., F
In the Friars' win over Duquesne on Sunday, Harris totaled 19 points and three rebounds while making 80 percent of her shots from the field.
Jessica January, DePaul, So., G
January led the Blue Demons in a 1-1 week with a 19.0 scoring average to go along with 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.0 steals per contest. Her 25 points against Loyola marked a career high.
Akin-Otiko, Lamberty and the Bluejays battle Kansas tonight at 6 p.m.
