NEW ORLEANS - Middle Tennessee freshman forward Ebony Rowe has added yet another Sun Belt Player of the Week honor to her mantle, collecting her fourth accolade of the season for February 14 the league office announced Monday. Her honor is the fifth overall this year for the Blue Raiders, 30th under head coach Rick Insell and 41st since joining the conference in 2000-01.
Rowe's four honors are the most by any freshman in a single-season in Sun Belt history, as she becomes just the sixth student-athlete with at least four in a campaign, regardless of class, and the third Middle Tennessee player among the select group.
The Lexington, Ky., native averaged a double-double this past week in powering the Blue Raiders to a pair of wins, clinching the East Division title. She averaged 21.5 points and 13.0 rebounds, while hitting 57.1 percent of her field goals and 73.3 percent of her free throws as Middle Tennessee knocked off rival Western Kentucky on the road Wednesday and defeated FIU at home Saturday to clinch the crown.
Against the Lady Toppers, she put the team on her back and scored 18 of her 21 points and grabbed nine of her 13 rebounds in the second half as the Blue Raiders rallied for the road victory. She connected on 7-of-9 (77.8 percent) from the floor and 7-of-10 (70.0 percent) at the charity stripe, while adding a career-high tying three blocks, a steal and assist in 40 minutes.
She then converted 4-of-5 at the foul line as part of her game-high 22 points Saturday to set the school single-season freshman record for free throw attempts. Rowe added nine field goals made, two blocked shots, two steals and an assist in only 34 minutes.
The two double-doubles raise her season total to 14, eight of which have come in Sun Belt action.
On the season, her averages of 17.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and a 59.9 field goal percentage rank second, first and second, respectively, among the overall Sun Belt leaders. However, in league action only, she is tops in the conference with averages of 17.5 points and 11.3 rebounds, while her 60.9 field goal percentage is second.
Rowe is the sixth Middle Tennessee player in school history with at least four player of the week honors.
She will join the rest of her Blue Raider teammates for a 5:15 p.m. Thursday matchup with Troy in Troy, Ala.
Single-Season Player of the Week honors in Sun Belt history:
T1. Alysha Clark, Middle Tennessee, 6, 2009-10
T1. Alysha Clark, Middle Tennessee, 6, 2008-09
3. Amber Holt, Middle Tennessee, 5, 2007-08
T4. Ebony Rowe, Middle Tennessee, 4, 2010-11
T4. Crystal Kelly, Western Kentucky, 4, 2007-08
T4. Sonja Tate, Arkansas State, 4, 1992-93
T4. Adrian Vickers, South Alabama, 4, 1989-90
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