NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 16, 2018—Howard sophomore Ayonna Williams was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, the conference office announced today. Maryland Eastern Shore’s Bairesha Gill-Miles earned Rookie of the Week honors, while North Carolina Central sophomore Paulina Afriyie was named Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Williams (G, 5-4, So., Washington, D.C.) keyed Howard to a 2-0 week, picking up road wins over South Carolina State and Savannah State. She averaged 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per contest in displaying an all-around game, while also going a combined 8-for-15 (.533) from the floor. Against Savannah State, she had 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals, while going 6-for-10 from the floor and hitting three of her four 3-pointers. That came after a 12-point, nine-rebound, three-assist performance against South Carolina State.
 
Gill-Miles (F, 6-0, Fr., Lexington, Ky.) averaged 14.0 points per game as Maryland Eastern Shore went 1-1 this past week, going a combined 12-for-18 (.667) from the floor. In a 12-point win over Savannah State, Gill-Miles dropped 13 points on 6-for-10 shooting, while grabbing nine rebounds and two steals. She followed that up with 15 points and nine rebounds against South Carolina State, going 6-for-8 from the floor.
 
Afriyie (F, 5-11, So., Bronx, N.Y.) averaged 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals per game as North Carolina Central went 2-0 this past week. She grabbed 12 rebounds in a win over Morgan State, while also blocking three shots and grabbing three steals (in a game where she also scored 13 points for a double-double). Against Coppin State, Afriyie had eight rebounds and a blocked shot.
 
Other Top Performers
Brianna Battle (B-CU) dropped 12 points and hit four 3-pointers in a win over rival Florida A&M.
 
Ashanti Hunt (B-CU) had 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals against Florida A&M.
 
Genesis Lucas (CSU) had 22 points, nine assists and six rebounds at North Carolina A&T State.
 
Oluwadamilola Oloyede (CSU) had double-doubles against North Carolina Central (10 points, 11 rebounds) and North Carolina A&T State (11 points, 10 rebounds).
 
Ryan Jones (DSU) had 13 points and three steals against Hampton.
 
NaJai Pollard (DSU) dropped 23 points against Hampton to go along with seven rebounds and four blocks.
 
Ashley Bates (HAM) had 22 points, seven steals and five rebounds in a win over Delaware State.
 
K’lynn Willis (HAM) had 11 points and eight rebounds against Delaware State, before adding 10 points and three steals against Old Dominion.
 
LaShayla Wright-Ponder (HAM) had 12 points and six rebounds against Delaware State.
 
Curstyn Moore (HOW) dropped 19 points and grabbed five rebounds in a blowout win over Savannah State.
 
Jayla Myles (HOW) averaged 3.5 blocks per game, racking up four against Savannah State and three against South Carolina State.
 
Adre’onia Coleman (MSU) had 14 points and nine boards against North Carolina A&T State.
 
Tykyrah Williams (MSU) recorded a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) against North Carolina Central.
 
Jade Scaife (NCAT) had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Coppin State.
 
Alyssa Thompson (NCCU) had 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists in a win over Morgan State.