SIAC Basketball: Week #8 Player of the Week Honors Announced
Ben Baxter 01/16/12
ATLANTA—Tuskegee University senior Joshua Eichelberger has been named
SIAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week while Miles College senior
Sammeika Thomas and Stillman College senior Jamila McKinnis have been
named SIAC Women’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week. Clark Atlanta
University sophomore Jermille Fluker has been named SIAC Men’s
Basketball Newcomer of the Week while Miles College junior Courtney
English has been named SIAC Women’s Basketball Newcomer of the Week.
Eichelberger, a native of Detroit, MI, averaged 20.5 points and 12
rebounds in two games to earn his second consecutive player of the week
honor in as many weeks. Defensively, the 6-5, 195-pound forward averaged
1.5 steals and one block for the week along with one assist per game,
helping the Golden Tigers defeat in-state conference rival Miles, 82-74,
with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance. Averaging 16.8 points and 9.6
rebounds on the season, Eichelberger is currently the fourth-leading
scorer and second-leading rebounder in the SIAC, including a
conference-leading 3.7 offensive rebounds per game.
Thomas, a native of Birmingham, AL, earns her third player of the week
this season after averaging 12 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in
two games. The 6-1 forward, who was named SIAC Player of the Year after
last season, also averaged three steals and two blocks while helping
lead the Lady Bears to a 2-0 record for the week, including wins over
Clark Atlanta and Tuskegee in conference play. Through Sunday, Thomas is
the only women’s player in the SIAC averaging a double-double with 13.5
points and a conference-leading 10.1 rebounds per contest.
McKinnis, a native of Mobile, AL, followed up last week’s player of the
week performance with another big week, averaging 16.5 points and 11
rebounds in two games. The 5-10 senior also averaged an impressive 4.5
blocks for the week along with 1.5 assists and one steal per game,
helping the Lady Tigers to a 2-0 record for the week with victories over
Tuskegee and LeMoyne-Owen. McKinnis is currently averaging 3.4 blocks
per game this season which currently ranks second in Division II.
Fluker, a guard from Gulfport, MS, averaged 11 points and 3.6 rebounds
in three games. The 6-1 transfer from Dillard University also averaged
1.3 assists and 1.3 steals for the Panthers, who finished with a 2-1
record for the week with wins over Lane and Kentucky State.
English, a forward from Atmore, AL, nearly averaged a double-double for
the week, averaging 12 points and nine rebounds in two games including a
15-point and 10-rebound performance against Clark Atlanta. English also
averaged 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks for the Lady Bears, who
finished with a 2-0 record for the week.
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