WBB: Newcomer of the Year Candidates at Mid-Year
True freshman are carrying the day among the newcomers.
Thursday is the halfway point of conference play and as such it’s time to take a look at the list of candidates for WAC Newcomer of the Year.
They’re listed in no random order and we consider transfers within the conference as newcomers because they are in their first year at their current institution.
Khloe Lemon, CBU, Freshman, G
Lemon’s numbers (11.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in just under 24 minutes of play, shooting 45.8 percent) so far this year are nearly identical to Jordan Harrison (12.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 160 assists while shooting 43.7 percent) from SFA, who won last year’s Freshman of the Year award before moving to West Virginia.
Lemon has scored 20 or more points twice in the last four games with a new career high of 28 points Saturday against Southern Utah and been in double-digits 10 times.
So far, Lemon has been selected Newcomer of the Week three times and Player of the Week once.
CBU is currently one game behind first place GCU.
Payton Hull, ACU, Freshman, G
Hull has made quite the impression so far starting with her 34-point, nine made 3-pointer performance at Navy during Thanksgiving Break.
The true freshman is averaging 15.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 44 percent in total and 36 percent from beyond the arc.
Starting the week, Hull has been selected Newcomer of the Week three times, which is tied for first with Lemon.
ACU is currently fifth in the regular season standings.
Ava Uhrich, SUU, Freshman, F
Uhrich has become the Thunderbirds go-to option in the paint with Megan Smith’s absence due to a recently announced season-ending ACL injury.
While Uhrich hasn’t garnered any Newcomer of the Week selections, her numbers are certainly worthy of inclusion on this list.
In just under 28 minutes per game, Uhrich is averaging 13.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3-point range.
Adela Valkova, UT Arlington, Senior, F
Valkova and Avery Brittingham provide a tough one-two punch down low for the Lady Mavs.
After spending last year at UTEP, Valkova came to the Lady Mavs and is averaging 9.8 points per game but has been in double-figure scoring eight out of her last 10 games with a season-high 21 points just before Christmas.
Gia Adams, UT Arlington, Junior, G
Adams, a transfer from Tennessee Tech, has been in good form recently having scored 17 or more points in four out of her last eight games.
She’s also second on the Lady Mavs in assists.
Inter-Conference Transfers to Watch
Trinity San Antonio - GCU
Taliyah Clark - UT Arlington
Avery Brittingham - UT Arlington
Honorable Mention
Sydney Erikstrup - GCU