BIG EAST announce honors for opening week

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 18: A Nike-branded basketball during the Big East Conference media day at Madison Square Garden on October 18, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 18: A Nike-branded basketball during the Big East Conference media day at Madison Square Garden on October 18, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Porter Binks)

Today, the BIG EAST weekly honors for the 2017-18 season were announced. The conference named a Player of the Week, Freshman of the Week, and a five-player weekly honor roll for opening week of the 2017-18 women’s basketball season.  St. John’s University was the only school to have multiple players named, led by freshman guard Qadashah Hoppie. Here is a recap of the awards.

Player of the Week: Donnaizha Fountain, Seton Hall

The Seton Hall Pirates went 2-0 opening weekend behind the performance of graduate transfer, Donnaizha Fountain. She averaged 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, including 18-points and 13-rebound against Wake Forest. In her Seton Hall debut, she tallied 22 points and six rebounds in 15 minutes on Friday’s win over Saint Peter’s.

Freshman of the Week: Qadashah Hoppie, St. John’s

Hoppie scored 16 points in 27 minutes in Friday’s win over visiting St. Francis of Brooklyn. The rookie made 6-of-13 attempts from the field while dishing three assists and grabbing two boards.

The BIG EAST Conference also highlighted five other performances from week one:

BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll

Jada Byrd, Xavier, Sr., G

Byrd posted 13 points, five rebounds and three assist in a comeback win over New Hampshire.

Mary Gedaka, Villanova, So., F

Gedaka recorded 15 points and 11 rebounds versus Hartford on Friday night.

Whitney Jennings, Butler, R-Jr., G

Jennings scored a game-high 30 points in a 75-54 Bulldogs win.

Sydney Lamberty, Creighton, Sr., G

Lamberty started her senior campaign with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists against Wichita State.

Maya Singleton, St. John’s, Sr., F

The senior holds the first double-double of the season, as she posted 10 points and 11 rebounds against St. Francis of Brooklyn.