BIG EAST Player of the Week
Kelly Jekot, Villanova, So., G
With a career-high 23 points, including a career-best seven three-pointers, Villanova sophomore Kelly Jekot led the Wildcats to a banner win over No. 11/12 Duke, 64-55, on Sunday at Jake Nevin Fieldhouse. Jekot made 8-of-14 attempts from the field, including 7-of-9 from deep, while adding three rebounds and two assists. The victory over the 11
th-ranked Blue Devils matches the highest ranked team a BIG EAST team has beaten since conference realignment after DePaul knocked off No. 11/18 Syracuse on Nov. 27, 2016, and Villanova’s best since topping No. 4 Notre Dame on Jan. 9, 2005. Of Jekot’s game-high 23 points, 17 came in the second half as the Wildcats erased a six-point halftime deficit to lead by as many as 15 down the stretch. Villanova opens the year 3-0 for the first time since 2013-14, when the Wildcats won their first seven.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Lauren Van Kleunen, Marquette, R-Fr., G
In her first week of college basketball, the Marquette redshirt-freshman averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, .591 shooting and a 50-percent clip from deep. Surrounded by All-BIG EAST players, Van Kleunen made her presence felt in her first collegiate game, going for a team-high 23 points while grabbing eight boards at New Mexico on Monday. She followed that up with 12 points, off 5-of-7 shooting, and seven boards in Sunday’s win over Loyola (Md.).
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Ashton Millender, DePaul, Jr., G
In a 3-0 week highlighted by a victory over No. 21/21 Oklahoma, Millender averaged 22 points off .550 shooting, to go along with 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists. The junior guard was tabbed the MVP of the Maggie Dixon Classic after scoring 27 points against Delaware State and 18 points against Saint Louis in a pair of games at Wintrust Arena.
Jovana Nogic, Providence, Jr., G
Nogic averaged 23.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals in a 1-1 week for the Friars, highlighted by a 31-point career-high outing as Providence erased a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to win at Northeastern on Tuesday.
Cynthia Petke, Georgetown, Sr., F
Petke notched three straight double-doubles to open the year, starting with 14 points, 14 rebounds in a win over Howard, 17 points, 10 boards in a win at Loyola (Md.) and 14 points 16 rebounds at George Washington. The senior averaged 15 points, 14.3 rebounds in the Hoyas’ 2-1 week.
Tori Schickel, Butler, Jr., F/C
Butler jumped out to its first 3-0 start since 1990-91 after a pair of Schickel-led wins last week. The junior averaged 22.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals, including 29 points at Murray State and 17 rebounds against Lipscomb.
Akina Wellere, St. John’s, Jr., G
Wellere led the Red Storm to a win over William & Mary on Friday with 21 points, six assists and four rebounds, knocking down 6-of-12 attempts from the field. Seventeen of Wellere’s team-best 21 came in the second half as St. John’s used a 36-point third quarter to run away from the Tribe.