ST. LOUIS -- Missouri State women’s basketball freshman Casey Garrison has been named the Missouri Valley Conference’s Newcomer of the Week for the second time in 2008-09. The Bolivar, Mo., product’s 33-point performance Sunday (Dec. 7) in MSU’s near-upset of Western Kentucky represented the second-highest point total in school history for a Lady Bear freshman.

 

Garrison averaged team highs of 26.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals, 1.0 block in losses to Green Bay and Western Kentucky this past week. She played a career-best 37 minutes and went 11-of-19 from the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, and 7-of-8 from the foul line. Her performance also marked the best single-game offensive production for a Lady Bear since Tahnee Balerio’s 35-point effort at Bradley on February 15, 2007. The 5-11 guard also handed out four assists, registered three steals and grabbed 11 boards versus the Lady Toppers to record her first career double-double in the 77-70 loss. That effort followed a 19-point, eight-rebound showing at Green Bay Wednesday (Dec. 3) in which she was a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe.

 

For the week, Garrison went 16-of-29 (.552) from the field, including 6-of-12 from beyond the three-point arc, and converted 14-of-15 (.933) free throw attempts.

 

Bradley’s Skye Johnson was chosen as the MVC’s Player of the Week after scoring 13 points, handing out nine assists and recording four steals and four blocks in BU’s 71-53 win over Illinois on Saturday (Dec. 6).

 

The Lady Bears will be back in action Wednesday (Dec. 10) evening when they welcome DePaul to JQH Arena. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.