For the third time in seven weeks, a Northwestern State women’s basketball standout has claimed the Southland Conference Player of the Week honor.
After sophomore Vernell Atamah won it twice, newcomer Nya Valentine was this week’s recipient.
Valentine, a graduate student from Mobile, Ala., helped lead the Demons to a pair of big wins this past week at McNeese and at home against Lamar, two of the top teams in the SLC. Those outcomes moved NSU to its first 3-0 start in league play since 2014-15.
The point guard scored 16 points per game in the three games this week, but in the two conference contests, she averaged 19.5 points per game, making 9-of-19 from 3-point range.
If that wasn’t enough, she also recorded 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and one steal per contest against McNeese and Lamar.
For as terrific as she played throughout the week, she turned it up a notch during crunch time.
In the final minutes to open the week at McNeese, Valentine drove the baseline with just over two minutes remaining and dumped it off to Clarence Djuela for the go-ahead layup.
If that wasn’t enough, she buried a triple from the right wing with 19.8 seconds to go to seal up the big road victory.
Against Lamar, she scored seven points and dished out two assists in the final four minutes, leading the Demons from nine points down to a 60-57 come-from-behind win.
Down 54-51 with less than two minutes left, Valentine buried a game-tying triple before recording a nice backdoor pass to Atamah for a go-ahead layup and foul to go up 57-56. Following a free throw from Lamar, Valentine calmly drained a pair of free throws to give the Demons a lead they never relinquished.
For the season, Valentine averages 9.9 points, 3.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game and 13.7/5.0/4.3 in SLC play.
The Lady Demons jump back in the deep end of SLC play with a home test on New Year’s Eve against rival Stephen F. Austin, last season’s conference tournament winner.
