Westfield State's Valley Named USWBA National Player of the Week
Westfield State University's senior guard Jill Valley has been named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Player of the Week, as well as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) player of the week, and the New England Women's basketball Association (NEWBA) Player of the Week honors.
WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State University's senior guard Jill Valley (Orange / Mahar Regional) has been named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Player of the Week, as well as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) player of the week, and the New England Women's basketball Association (NEWBA) Player of the Week honors.
Valley averaged 32 points, six rebounds, seven steals and 2.5 assists while shooting 61 percent from the field (11-18) in a 2-0 week for the Owls to that clinched the MASCAC regular season title.
Valley scored a school-record 52 points in the 102-82 win over Worcester State. Her point total broke a 42-year old university record and is the highest total in DIII women's basketball this season. She shot 19-27 (70%) from the floor, 2-5 from beyond the arc and 12-14 at the line. Valley scored 21 points in the fourth quarter as the Owls broke open a five-point lead with six minutes left in regulation. She made her final 11 shots from the floor, consecutively, to set another Westfield State record. She also grabbed eight steals, six rebounds and three assists. Had 12 points, six rebounds, six steals and two assists in the 77-68 win over Bridgewater State.
It is the fifth time this season that Valley has earned the MASCAC player of the week, and the second time this season she has earned the NEWBA honors.
Averaging 21.9 points per game, Valley currently leads the MASCAC in scoring. Valley leads the nation by averaging 4.6 steals per game, and added 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Westfield State finished the 2017 regular-season with a 17-8 overall record, and posted an 11-1 mark in the MASCAC. The Owls have won three straight conference regular-season championships outright, and shared the title the year before.
The Owls have earned the number-one seed in the MASCAC Tournament for the third straight year, and will open their defense of the title with a home game in the semifinal round on Thursday, February 23rd at 7:00 p.m. at the Woodward Center. Westfield awaits the winner of the #4/#5 game, where Bridgewater State will host Salem State on Tuesday, February 21st for the right to play the Owls.
Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information