ST LOUIS – For an MVC-leading fifth time this season Illinois State's Elyce Knudsen earned Valley Newcomer of the Week, the league announced Monday. Knudsen averaged 20.5 points per game on 55.6% shooting from the floor and 71.4% shooting from deep across two games for Illinois State last week.
She scored a season-high 28 points in a win over Southern Illinois Sunday, knocking down a career-high seven threes and dishing five assists. It was the most points in a single game by any newcomer last week. She is one of just four MVC players this season, and the only MVC newcomer, to tally 25+ points and make 7+ threes in a single Valley game. It marked her second MVC game this season with 5+ threes, joining a performance of six threes against Valparaiso March 1 . She is the only Valley newcomer with multiple outings of 5+ threes this season.
Knudsen shot 62.5% from the floor and 71.4% from deep in the win, marking the second time in MVC play this year Knudsen has tallied 20+ points on better than 60% shooting from the floor and 60% shooting from deep. She is the only MVC newcomer to score 20+ points on 60% shooting from the floor and 60% shooting from deep in any Valley game this season.
It is the second straight week to close the season Knudsen has earned MVC Newcomer of the Week and the MVC-best eighth time this year a Redbird has earned the award. Addison Martin is a three-time MVC Newcomer of the Week, taking home the honor Feb. 3, Jan. 13 and Nov. 11.
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