Each week, a five-member womenshoopsworld.com panel votes to determine the best collegiate player of the preceding week.
As the heart of conference play begins in earnest, the month of January provides tough match ups and great platforms for performances from some of the country’s best players. One of the most outstanding performances of the week came from the University of Maryland’s Brionna Jones, our player of the week for Jan. 8-15.
Jones, a 6-3 senior center, began with a 42-point, 14-rebound showing against traditional Big 10 power Penn State – a single-scoring performance matched by only one other player in the Maryland program’s long history. Jones also crossed the 1,000-rebound career mark in the process. The Terrapins’ leading scorer continued her efforts verses Iowa, leading the team with 25 points and 10 rebounds in a second half comeback victory. For the week, the Havre de Grace, Maryland native averaged 33.5 points and 12 rebounds per game to lead the Terps to a 17-1 overall and 5-0 conference record.
Her deft footwork in the low post and uncanny ability to create contact to get to foul line has placed Jones squarely in the discussion as one of the best interior players in the nation, and makes one to watch for post season accolades this season in women’s basketball.
Currently, as the focal point of Maryland’s offense, averaging 24.4 points per game and 12.2 rebounds per game in Big 10 play, Jones will look to extend her streak of eight straight double-double performances as the Terps face Michigan at home Thursday.