BIG EAST Player of the Week
Unique Drake, St. John’s, R-Sr., G
Drake had the top scoring performance over the shortened week of play, dropping 30 points at Yale on Thursday. The redshirt-senior guard was 10-19 from the field (.526) while snagging three rebounds and claiming one steal. It marks her second 30-point game of the season and is one of just two BIG EAST players with multiple 30-point showings this year (Lucy Olsen, Villanova). Drake is the Red Storm’s first BIG EAST Player of the Week since Feb. 1, 2021. St. John’s has won three in a row and five of its last six games.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Ashlynn Shade, Connecticut, Fr., G
Shade claims the top freshman honor for the second time this season after averaging 21.0 points, 3.5 assists and .680 shooting in a 2-0 week for the Huskies. The rookie guard started the week with 22 points, four assists and one steal in Monday’s win over Butler. She followed that with 20 points, three assists and 80-percent shooting at Toronto Metropolitan on Wednesday. She finished third among all BIG EAST scorers last week and tops among those with multiple games. UConn has now won five in a row and six of its last seven.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Liza Karlen, Marquette, Sr., F – game highs of 17 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, two blocks in Thursday’s win over Bucknell; Golden Eagles remain undefeated on the year at 12-0
Emma Ronsiek, Creighton, Sr., F – game highs of 19 points and seven blocks along with six rebounds as the Bluejays defeated South Dakota State on Thursday night; seven rejections are the most by a BIG EAST player this season
Lucy Olsen, Villanova, Jr., G – game-high 23 points along with four rebounds and three assists as Villanova won at La Salle on Thursday
Anaya Peoples, DePaul, Grad., G – game highs of 15 points and eight steals along with seven rebounds and three assists in Wednesday’s win at Xavier; eight thefts are the second-most in the BIG EAST this season
Aaliyah Edwards, Connecticut, Sr., F – 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists in a 2-0 week; back-to-back double-doubles beginning with 12 points, 12 rebounds against Butler, followed by 26 points, 10 rebounds at Toronto Metropolitan