St. LOUIS, Mo. -- For the fourth time this season, all coming during Missouri Valley Conference play, Missouri State freshman Jasmine Franklin has been named the league's Newcomer of the Week in women's basketball.

Franklin, who leads all MVC freshmen in rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage, averaged a double-double in wins at Evansville and Indiana State, shooting 67 percent from the floor with 10 points, 10 boards and two blocks per game to her credit, all in just 19 minutes per contest. 

She shot 7-for-11 with 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks at Evansville, and tallied six points on 3-of-4 shooting at Indiana State, adding 11 boards to reach double figures for the eighth time this season and seventh in MVC play. The ISU win gave Missouri State is first ever 9-0 record in conference road games.

The Fayetteville, Ark., native averaged 10.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 18 league games, shooting 59.4 percent from the field with 32 steals and 26 blocks. She has 40 blocks and 39 steals on the full season as the only freshman nationally and only MVC player with at least 37 in each category, and is one steal away from the first 40-block, 40-steal season in MSU history.  

The Lady Bears (20-9, 16-2) are the No. 2 seed at this week's MVC Tournament in Moline, Ill., and open play on Friday at 6 p.m. against the winner of Thursday's game between No. 7 Loyola and 10th-seeded Evansville.