Another Highlander takes the award.
UC Riverside’s Jannon Otto was named the Big West Player of the Week for games played last week. It is the second time this season that Otto has taken home the weekly honors. It’s also the second consecutive time UC Riverside has had a player win the award as Marina Ewodo won last week.
In in the Highlanders two games last week, both wins, Otto averaged 24.0 points per game on 67.4 percent shooting, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. In UC Riverside’s 60-55 win over Hawaii, Otto finished with 22 points on 57.9 percent shooting from the field, nine rebounds, and four assists. She followed that up with 26 points on 76.9 percent shooting from the field, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots in the Highlanders 73-60 win over UC Santa Barbara.
It’s been a breakout season for Otto. On the season, she is averaging 14.7 points per game on 46.0 percent shooting from the field, 80.0 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.
She’s reached the 20 point mark in five out of the Highlanders seven conference games so far, and seven of their last nine.
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This is Otto’s second season seeing action with the Highlanders. She originally started at the University of New Mexico during the 2015-16 season when she was named the Mountain West Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year.
She transferred to UC Riverside and redshirted the following season. She made an immediate impact last season, her first in uniform for the Highlanders, averaging 8.7 points per game. This season has been a big one for her, however, as she’s been key in the Highlanders turnaround in conference play.
Although UC Riverside holds an overall record of 10-11, they are 4-3 in conference play largely in part to Otto’s play. They will continue conference play this week at home against Cal State Fullerton.