Monday, November 21, 2005

Macon, Ga. -- In the first week of the season, there were several great performances around the league, but two stood out as Belmont's Alysha Clark (Mt. Juliet, Tenn./Psychology) and ETSU's B.J. Banjo (Baltimore, Md./Public Health) were named Co-Players of the Week today by the conference office.

Banjo scored a game-high 21 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished out five assists in 38 minutes of work in a 78-53 victory over SEC stalwart Mississippi State on Sunday night. The senior guard made a career-best five threes on 5-of-10 shooting beyond the arc.

In the first game of her college career, Clark led the Bruins to an 86-82 overtime victory over OVC defending champion Eastern Kentucky. The rookie recorded her first double-double with a game high 29 points and 18 rebounds. Clark shot nearly 70 percent from the floor and just over 68 percent from the charity stripe (11-of-16).

The Lady Bucs and Bruins will be back in action next week when Belmont hosts Tennessee State Tuesday evening and ETSU heads to Cincinnati Wednesday.

The Atlantic Sun Conference announces the Player of the Week every Monday during the 2005 women's basketball campaign.

The 11-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Florida Atlantic, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Florida and Stetson.

Other Top Performers

Letitia Dickson, CAM (So. - G - Smithfield, N.C. - Undecided) -- Dickson averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.5 steals as the Campbell Lady Camels opened the season at the Carolina First Classic in Asheville, N.C.

Sequenta Blackman, GWU (Sr. - G - Raleigh, N.C. - Finance) -- Blackman earned a spot on the Longwood Lancers Invitational All-Tournament team by posting consecutive 19-point efforts against Florida International and Maryland-Eastern Shore over the weekend.

Shavonder Clarke, KSU (Sr. - G - Euxema, Bahamas. - Sport Management) -- Clarke scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a 98-95 loss at Furman. The senior also saw her game-tying three pointer rim out as time expired. Clarke was 12-for-22 on the night with three steals, three assists and a block.

Jackie Beik, UNF (Sr. - F - Longwood, Fla. - Political Science) -- Beik turned in a career night to help the Lady Ospreys open play in the Division I era. The senior scored a career high 27 points and pulled down a career high 10 rebounds, while recording her first double-double in UNF's 73-48 win at Winthrop.