ST. LOUIS – After helping the Redbirds to a pair of wins last week, Illinois State's Doneelah Washington and Kya Hurt both earned weekly player honors from the Missouri Valley Conference on Monday. Washington was named the MVC Player of the Week, while Hurt was tabbed as the MVC Freshman of the Week by the league office.
Washington delivered a dominant two-game stretch last week, averaging a double-double with 13.0 points and 13.5 rebounds to lead Illinois State to a pair of wins. The sophomore forward from Lincoln, Nebraska, opened the week with 11 points and a season-best 13 boards against Loyola Chicago, then followed it with a career-high 14 rebounds and 15 points in a victory over Saint Louis. With her performance against the Billikens on Friday, Washington became just one of three Division I players this season to record a 15+ point, 10+ rebound, 5+ steal, 4+ assist performance joining UConn's Sarah Strong and Texas' Madison Booker.
Hurt made a major impact off the bench, averaging 11.5 points while shooting 50 percent from the field in two Illinois State victories. The freshman guard from Indianapolis posted seven points and a career-high five rebounds in the win over Loyola Chicago, before erupting for a career-best 16 points and three assists against Saint Louis.
The Redbirds are back in action on Wednesday, November 26, when they take on Rice on the first day of the Puerto Rico Shootout in San Juan.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Â Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
Â
