Missouri State's Liza Fruendt averaged 31.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in wins over Loyola and Valparaiso, earning her third career MVC Player of the Week honor. Southern Illinois freshman Makenzie Silvey averaged 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as the Salukis earned home wins over Loyola and Valparaiso, earning her first Newcomer of the Week honor.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Liza Fruendt, Sr., G, Missouri State
Missouri State senior Liza Fruendt averaged 31 points on 22-for-37 (.595) shooting overall and 9-for-19 (.474) from three-point range, adding 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in two MSU wins. Friday, the senior poured in a season-high 33 points against Valparaiso, going 11-for-19 with four three-pointers, three rebounds, three steals, and five assists against one turnover in 28 minutes. In Sunday’s win over Loyola, Fruendt shot 11-for-18 with five treys to finish with 29 points and three boards, becoming the first MSU player with 29-plus points in consecutive games since Jackie Stiles in 2001.
MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Makenzie Silvey, Fr., G, Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois freshman Makenzie Silvey averaged 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals in a pair of MVC wins over the weekend. The Glen Carbon, Ill. knocked down 48% (12-of-25) of her shots from the field, including 56.3% (9-of-16) of her attempts from three-point range. Silvey finished with 16 points, three assists and two steals in SIU’s 62-46 win over Loyola and followed with a career-high 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting from three-point range in the Salukis’ 74-63 win over Valparaiso on Sunday. Silvey also set career-bests in rebounds (6) and three-pointers made (5) in the victory over the Crusaders and has now reached double figures in 11 of SIU’s 19 games this season.
Noteworthy - In addition to the league's player and newcomer of the week selections, several conference players had notable performances, and they include:
Gabi Haack (BRAD) - Haack averaged a team-best 17.0 points on 67 percent shooting in a pair of road games and also collected 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per outing for the week. The freshman tied for game-high honors with 14 points at Indiana State, also notching six boards, one assist and two steals against the Sycamores. Haack followed it up with a team-high 20 points in just 21 minutes at Evansville, making 7-of-9 from the field including 4-of-6 from three-point range. She tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds and dished out four assists as Bradley improved to 4-1 on the road in Valley play to match the team’s highest Valley road win total since 2009-10 with the 117-59 victory at Evansville which ranks as the highest point total for a team in MVC play. Haack was 6-for-10 from three-point range for the week and 4-of-5 from the free throw line, helping Bradley hit a school record 17 three-pointers at Evansville. The only player to rank in the top 10 in the MVC in rebounding and three-point field goal percentage, Haack now owns the third best three-point total by a Bradley freshman (35) and is shooting 47 percent from three-point range against Valley opponents while scoring 11.9 points per game.
Becca Hittner (DU) - Hittner helped Drake defeat in-state rival, UNI, 81-64, in team’s only game of the week … Hittner scored a team-high 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including knocking down 2-of-3 from behind three-point line … made 6-of-6 from the free throw line … added four assists and zero turnovers with three rebounds in 26 minutes … averaging 15.4 points per game, which ranks fourth in the MVC along with 4.8 rebounds per game (17th in MVC) … shooting impressive 48.0 percent from the floor (4th in MVC), 85.6 percent from free throw line (4th in MVC), 36.8 percent from behind the three-point line (8th in MVC) … 2.7 assists per game (11th in MVC) … scored double figures in 16 of 19 games and hasn’t been held below eight points all season … in MVC play, has the second-best scoring average in the league at 15.6 points per game … in MVC play, has the second-best shooting percentage in the conference at 57.9 … third-best assists mark at 3.9 … best free throw shooter in the MVC during league play at impressive 97.0 percent (32-of-33).
Hannah Green (ILS) - Hannah Green set a new career high of 22 points in the 67-43 victory over Evansville on Friday night. This is the third time the senior forward has set a career high in points alone. Green also denied a total of four shots this weekend, keeping her at the top of the MVC with 2.1 blocked shots per game. Green also had a combined 12 rebounds this weekend, keeping her in the top ten of the MVC with 6.1 rebounds per game.
Ashley Taia (INS) - Led Indiana State to its first weekend sweep in MVC play in over a year … Shot 55.6% from beyond the arc, better than her 53.3% from the field overall … Averaged 32.0 minutes, 11.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game … Credited with 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.
Rose Simon-Ressler (UNI) - Simon-Ressler matched her career-high in points, after scoring 18 against Drake in defeat last Friday night. The game marked her third game in double figures. Simon-Ressler also made a career-high four 3-pointers to lead the Panthers on the offensive end, while going 7-of-13 from the floor. The sophomore also dished out two assists and collected one steal.
Nicole Martin (SIU) - Martin averaged 14.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in a pair of MVC wins over the weekend. The sophomore forward scored 11 points and added three rebounds in SIU’s 62-46 win over Loyola on Jan. 19. She followed with 18 points and eight rebounds in SIU’s 74-63 win over Valparaiso. Martin was particularly effective at the charity stripe in the win over Valpo, as she knocked down 12-of-13 from the free throw line, including 6-of-6 in the fourth quarter. She has now scored in double figures in five-straight games and in 13 of SIU’s 19 games this season.
Paige Saylor (ILS) - Paige Saylor captured a career high of six assists in the second straight MVC victory for the Redbirds on Friday night. The point guard also continued to be a key component to the Redbird defense, sneaking away with five steals this weekend. Saylor has led the conference all season, averaging 2.6 steals per game. Saylor put up double digits on Sunday, scoring 11 points for the Redbirds, shooting 2-for-5 behnd the arc and went 3-for-3 at the charity stripe. Despite her efforts, the Redbirds fell to Indiana State 52-49 on Sunday.
Ty Battle (INS) - Recorded an impressive six blocks in Sunday’s win over Illinois State, the most by any single Missouri Valley Conference player in a single game this year and clinching the Sycamores’ first weekend sweep in over a calendar year … Shot 46.7% from the field, averaging 7.5 ppg … Credited with 4 assists and 3 steals on the weekend.
Brice Calip (MSU) - Brice Calip posted averages of 5.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals without committing a turnover in two victories. Friday, Calip grabbed a career-high nine rebounds against Valpo, adding six points and four assists. Sunday versus Loyola, Calip again filled the stat sheet with six boards, three assists, three steals and four points.