COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball freshman guard Aijha Blackwell (Berkeley, Mo.) was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. Blackwell was instrumental in leading the Mizzou offense over the past week, as she averaged 14.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in contests against Saint Louis (Dec. 5) and Kansas City (Dec. 8).
The weekly conference honor is the first of Blackwell’s career, and the first of the year for Mizzou.
Blackwell paced the Tigers with 17 points in a 83-58 win over Saint Louis on Thursday. The Tiger freshman helped lead the charge of a strong shooting performance from Mizzou, as she shot 50.0 percent from the field (6-of-12) and from three (1-of-2, while recording a perfect 4-of-4 night from the free throw line. Blackwell stuffed the stat line against the Billikens, as she matched a career-high with six rebounds, and set career-highs in blocks (two) and steals (two).
With 11 points against Kansas City, Blackwell scored in double figures for the third consecutive game and the fourth time in her career. Blackwell also recorded career-highs in rebounds (seven) and assists (six, and matched her career high in blocks (two).
After being held to just one point in her season debut, Blackwell has scored eight or more points in every game since (nine-game stretch). Blackwell ranks second on the team in assists (2.3 apg, and ranks third on the team in scoring (10.7 ppg, rebounding (4.8 rpg).
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