ST. LOUIS - Maria Schroeder of Bradley and Ben Richardson of Loyola have been selected Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Week, presented by Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today. The two athletes were honored for their performances during the period of March 19-March 25.
To qualify for Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing.
Redshirt freshmen and first-year junior college transfers are not eligible. In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes are evaluated on their athletic performance during the one-week period.
Ben Richardson, Loyola, Sr., Basketball, Finance, 3.41 GPA
Richardson helped Loyola make history last week by leading the Ramblers to their first NCAA Final Four appearance since winning the 1963 National Championship. The senior guard averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, while shooting 64.7 percent (11-for-17) from the field, 60 percent (6-for-10) from three-point territory, and 100 percent (3-for-3) from the foul line, in NCAA South Regional victories over No. 24 Nevada and Kansas State in Atlanta last weekend. Richardson, who was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA South Regional, tallied eight points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal in a 69-68 victory over Nevada in the semifinal round, then erupted for a career-best 23 points, while also adding six rebounds and four assists, hitting 6-of-7 shots from beyond the arc, to spark Loyola to a 78-62 pasting of Kansas State on March 24 as the Ramblers won their 14th game in a row, the longest streak since 1984-85.
Maria Schroeder, Bradley, Sr., Softball, Marketing (Social Media), 3.86 GPA
Schroeder hit .700 for the week, going 7-for-10 at the plate with two doubles, six runs and three RBI as she scored or drove in over 40 percent of Bradley’s runs for the week. She helped highlight a 12-0, five inning victory over Western Illinois, by doing 3-for-3 with a double, three runs and two RBI. In the weekend series against Loyola, Schroeder was 4-for-7 with a double, three runs and one RBI. She was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs and one RBI in a 7-5 loss to the Ramblers, before going 1-for-3 with a run and a double in a 5-4 victory. Schroeder, who is now hitting a team-best .400 on the year, moved into seventh in career hits at Bradley in addition to climbing into third all-time on The Hilltop with 114 career RBI.
About Enterprise Bank and Trust Company
Enterprise Bank & Trust was founded nearly 30 years ago on the idea of serving the lifetime financial needs of privately-held businesses, their owner families and other success-minded individuals. That concept for Enterprise Bank & Trust has remained its unwavering and guiding vision. Enterprise Bank and Trust tailors its services to fit the needs of our clients and has all the capabilities of the largest financial companies with the personal relationship orientation of a community bank. Enterprise Bank and Trust offers a comprehensive array of banking, trust and financial advisory services. Member FDIC.