ST.
LOUIS - Sophomore Racheal Mahan led the Indiana State women's
basketball team to road victories over the Evansville Purple Aces and the
Southern Illinois Salukis last week, earning the Missouri Valley Conference
Player of the Week honor as announced today (Feb. 18) by the league office.
Mahan averaged 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in ISU's road wins,
shooting 55.6% (15-for-27) from the field and 75% (9-for-12) from the
free-throw line. This is the second time this season that the Sycamores have earned
a weekly honor from the MVC, as junior Anna Munn was also named the league's
Player of the Week on Dec. 17.
The Indiana State sophomore led the team with 17 points and seven rebounds at
Evansville on Thursday, pacing the Sycamores with 11 points during the decisive
26-0 run that turned a 13-point deficit into a 13-point lead in the second
half. Mahan scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half and seven straight
during part of ISU's lengthy run, assisting the team to a 55-48 victory after
trailing 26-15 at the half.
Mahan came back with another strong performance at Southern Illinois on
Saturday, posting her eighth double-double of the season with 22 points and 10
rebounds. The Mansfield, Ohio, native, once again stepped up her game after
halftime, scoring 16 of her 22 points for the game in just 11 minutes of action
in the second half. Mahan's eight double-doubles this season tie her with Missouri
State's Whitney Edie for the most in the league.
Mahan and the Sycamores secured the team's first winning season since 2009-10
on Saturday against Southern Illinois, as the women's basketball team improved
to 16-8 overall and 8-5 in the conference with their fourth consecutive win on
the season and 10th straight over the Salukis.
Indiana State hosts Illinois State (17-8, 9-4 MVC) on Sunday, Feb. 24, looking
to move into a tie for third place in the conference standings with a home
victory. Tipoff is set for 2:05 p.m. from Hulman Center.
