ST. LOUIS – Missouri State junior forward Alize Johnson (Jr., Williamsport, Pa.) has earned Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week honors for the third time this season, the league announced Monday.
 
Johnson, a transfer from Frank Phillips (Texas) College, has been honored by the MVC as its top newcomer three times this season – previously on Nov. 24 and Dec. 12 -- in addition to earning MVC Player of the Week honors once (Nov. 24).
 
He earned all-tournament honors at the Las Vegas Classic last week after leading the Bears with 17.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in two games at the event. Johnson led MSU's valiant comeback against No. 23 USC in the semifinals with three 3-pointers late in the game and posted a team-high 17 points against the Trojans to go with game highs 9 rebounds and 5 assists. He followed that effort with game-highs 17 points and 12 rebounds in the Bears' double-figure win over Big East foe DePaul in the third-place game of the tournament.
 
Johnson's sixth double-double of the season in the DePaul game matched the most by any MSU player in a single campaign in the last 15 years. He currently ranks 19th nationally in double-doubles and leads the MVC in that category as well as rebounding (9.2).
 
He and the Bears (9-4) return to action on Wednesday for an 8 p.m. (Central) matchup against Northern Iowa in the MVC opener for both clubs. The game will air live on FOX Sports Midwest and the MVC Television Network.
 
Missouri State returns to JQH Arena on Saturday at 11 a.m. to square off with Indiana State in another FOX Sports telecast.