TSWA recognizes college players of the week - Dec. 17

December 18, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont senior forward Jonathan Pierre led the Bruins to a big non-conference victory, earning this week’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honor.

Pierre, a Memphis transfer from Hallandale, Fla., has flourished with Belmont this season and put up a strong performance over defending Atlantic 10 champion Richmond as the senior posted one of the top efforts this season by a Missouri Valley Conference player.

In the victory over the Spiders, Pierre collected a career-high 28 points, including a 5-for-9 effort from beyond the arc and a 5-for-5 night at the free-throw line. He also collected seven rebounds and nine assists as he flirted with a triple-double in the victory. It was his seventh double-digit scoring game of the season.

The 6-9 forward is currently averaging 13.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: In a week that saw some amazing women’s basketball performances, the decision went to Vanderbilt sophomore forward Khamil Pierre.

Also named one of this week’s winners of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week, the Phoenix, Ariz., native put together one of the best games in Vanderbilt program history as she broke the Commodores’ single-game scoring record with 42 points, surpassing the previous best of 41 set by Chantelle Anderson (Feb. 8, 2001) and Ciaja Harbison (Jan. 29, 2023).

She accomplished one of the rarest feats in basketball as she outscored Evansville by herself as the Commodores defeated the Purple Aces 106-40. The 42 points is the most scored by a Southeastern Conference player this season and the most since the 2020-21 season. Pierre was 19-for-28 from the field and 4-for-6 at the free-throw line.

She scored 20 points alone in the first quarter, setting the program record for points scored in the opening frame, as well as tied Marnelle Garraud’s record for most points scored in any quarter, set on Jan. 16, 2023, in the fourth quarter at Arkansas.

In addition to her career-high 42 points, Pierre also set a new career high in rebounds as she pulled down 18 boards, along with an assist, a block and eight steals.

Pierre extended her double-digit scoring streak to 13 games and posted her eighth double-double of the season.

College players of the week announced by TSWA

December 10, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman junior guard Jack Browder has been on a tear of late, scoring 30 or more points in three straight games.

As he continues his torrid pace, the Kingsport, Tenn., was selected Tuesday as the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

Despite an 87-81 loss to UVA Wise, Browder put in 36 points and grabbed 16 rebounds – both career highs. The 16 rebounds are tied for the seventh-most in C-N program history and the third-most since the Eagles started play in NCAA Division II.

From the field against the Cavaliers, Browder shot 12-for-18, including 4-for-4 from beyond the arc and connected on all eight of his free throw tries. On the glass, he had five offensive caroms and 11 defensive ricochets, while also blocking two shots.

Browder was efficient in the next game, collecting 30 points in a 98-89 win over Limestone on 9-for-10 shooting, including 4-for-5 from long-range. He was also perfect at the line again, imitating his previous 8-for-8 effort at the stripe. Browder also collected six rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

The Eagles’ junior guard was also announced as the Division II National Player of the Week by the National Basketball Coaches Association on Tuesday.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Tennessee redshirt sophomore guard Talaysia Cooper had a strong week of her own as the Lady Vol extended her streak of scoring 20 or more points to four straight games, posting an average of 22.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 steals in wins over Florida State and No. 17 Iowa to improve to 7-0 on the season.

In a nationally televised game from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Cooper overcame foul trouble to score 19 of her 23 points in the second half to lead the Lady Vols to the 78-68 victory over the nationally-ranked Hawkeyes in the Shark Beauty Women’s Champions Classic. The Turbeville, S.C., native scored 10 of her points in the final 4:26 of the game, allowing Tennessee to overcome a four-point deficit and close out the game on a 16-2 run. Cooper also had six rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals against Iowa.

Earlier in the week, Cooper continued to show her all-around game as she shot 58.8 percent from the field for 22 points against the Seminoles, while also pulling down seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.

TSWA honors college players of the week

December 3, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Chattanooga senior guard Trey Bonham had a great week as he helped lead the Mocs to the Coke Classic MTE title en route to this week’s selection as the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

Bonham, a product of Mobile, Ala., averaged 21.5 points on the week with 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as he shot 51.7 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3-point range with a solid 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.

During the Mocs’ 85-78 victory over in-state foe Tennessee State, Bonham broke past the 1,200-point mark with 28 points on 11-for-18 shooting with three 3-pointers, while also pulling down seven boards and collecting four dimes. Bonham then had 15 points, three assists and two rebounds in an 84-76 victory over Bryant in what was essentially the MTE’s title game to continue the Mocs’ five-game winning streak.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Middle Tennessee senior center Anastasiia Boldyreva was named the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week as the Blue Raiders picked up a pair of wins over Florida A&M and Purdue before falling in a battle to No. 15 Iowa State.

On the week, the Moscow, Russia, native collected 52 points, 23 rebounds and seven blocks.

She scored a season-high 19 points with seven boards and a block in the 80-54 victory over FAMU as she went 8-for-9 from the field, including a 3-pointer in 22 minutes of action. She tied that season-high and pulled down 10 caroms to get the double-double in the 54-49 win over Purdue.

Boldyreva finished the week with 14 points, six rebounds and a steal against the Cyclones and was named to the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
11/12 | Jacob Ognacevic (Lipscomb)
11/19 | Doyel Cockrill III (Fisk)
11/26 | Russ Marr (Sewanee)
12/3 | Trey Bonham (Chattanooga)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
11/12 | Jennifer Sullivan (Carson-Newman)
11/19 | Ni’Kiah Chesterfield (Tusculum)
11/26 | Molly Heard (Lipscomb)
12/3 | Anastasiia Boldyreva (Middle Tennessee)

College players of the week announced - Nov. 26

November 27, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Chattanooga wrapped up its regular season with a victory over Austin Peay and took both Tennessee Sports Writers Association Football Players of the Week honors as senior quarterback Chase Artopoeus and junior linebacker Alex Mitchell were selected for the awards.

Artopoeus had missed the last three games due to an injury and came into Saturday’s game against the Governors as a backup. He entered the game in the first half, then was involved in three touchdowns to lead the Mocs to the 24-17 victory.

The Orcutt, Calif., native threw for 161 yards as he completed 15-of-21 passes with two touchdowns. His first pass of the game was a nine-yard scoring strike to Javin Whatley, then threw a seven-yard touchdown to John McIntyre for the game-winning score early in the fourth quarter. Artopoeus also ran for a three-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

On the defensive side of the ball, Mitchell led the Mocs with nine tackles, with a sack for a TFL, a forced fumble, an interception and two pass breakups. It was his third career interception – and the first not against Samford.

The win gave Chattanooga its ninth road win in its last 11 Football Championship Subdivision road trips.

VOLLEYBALL: Tennessee Tech senior outside hitter continued to rack up accolades as this week’s Volleyball Player of the Week. Isringhausen was a beast for the Golden Eagles over the final two matches of the regular season, helping Tech extend its winning streak to seven straight matches by averaging 5.17 kills, 1.00 blocks, an absurd 2.17 service aces, and 7.92 points per set while hitting .403 from the outside.

The senior opened the week with 13 kills on a .367 attack, four blocks, and 13 digs for her ninth double-double of the year. The highlight came from the service line, as the Edwardsville native set a new rally-scoring era program record with eight aces, including six alone in the first set. She followed it up with a whopping 18 kills and .432 hitting percentage on Wednesday, adding five more aces, two blocks, and 15 digs for her 10th double-double on the year.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Sewanee’s Russ Marr hit a milestone en route to the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honor as he scored a career-high 50 points in the Tigers’ road win over McMurry.

He shot an impressive 64-percent from 3-point range as he drained seven of 11 long-range tries and was 65-percent from the field overall as he was 15-of-23 in just 28 minutes of action. Marr also collected two rebounds, two assists and two steals in the game.

A day earlier, Marr scored 18 points with two rebounds, three blocks, an assist and a steal against LeTourneau, then had 20 points, four steals, four rebounds, four assists and a block against Piedmont.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Lipscomb junior guard Molly Heard earned the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honor after she collected 32 points in Lipscomb’s 86-79 victory over Evansville.

In the contest, she was 10-of-19 shooting, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range and added 8-for-11 at the free-throw line.

Heard, from Pisgah, Ala., scored 11 points in the first half, then shot 6-for-10 on the court and 7-for-9 at the stripe for 21 points over 18 minutes in the second half. She put the game away in the fourth quarter with 12 of Lipscomb’s final 24 points.

She set new career-highs in points scored, free throws made and attempted and matched her career high in 3-pointers made. It was the first 30-point game of her career and the ninth in Lipscomb program history and tied for the third-most points scored.

TSWA names college players of the week - Nov. 19

November 19, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Memphis senior quarterback Seth Henigan had an impressive game in the victory over UAB, earning this week’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Football Offensive Player of the Week.

Henigan threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns, completing 23-of-34 passes. The four touchdowns gave him 100 for his career and made him one of three active quarterbacks – joining Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Washington’s Will Rogers – to reach the century mark. Henigan is also the only active Football Bowl Subdivision quarterback to post four 20-plus touchdown pass seasons at the same school.

On the defensive side, Tennessee Tech junior defensive lineman Daniel Rickert added to his hardware for the week as he was also named the Stats FCS National Defensive Player of the Week and the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association Defensive Player of the Week after helping lead the Golden Eagles to a 10-9 upset victory over No. 18 UT Martin -- Tech’s first win over a ranked opponent since the Spring 2021 campaign – and claim the Sergeant York Trophy outright for the first time since 2009.

The Nolensville, Tenn., native finished the game with nine total tackles – three solo and six assisted – while collecting 3.5 sacks for 18 yards and 4.0 tackles-for-loss for 21 yards. One of those sacks included a forced fumble, while he also broke up a pass and had three quarterback hurries.

VOLLEYBALL: Middle Tennessee libero Alivia Bronner posted one of the best weeks of her college career as she earned Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week honors in addition to this week’s TSWA nod. Bronner recorded 41 digs across the two matches, averaging 5.13 per set.

In the Blue Raiders’ sweep over New Mexico State, Bronner had 17 digs, averaging 5.67 per set. Then, in the second match, she hit a career-high with 24 digs. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native has recorded at least 17 digs in four of her last five matches and completed the regular season with 265 digs and 28 service aces.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Fisk sophomore point guard Doyel Cockrill III continues to get stronger through the start of the campaign as the Nashville native has surpassed his career high for the second time in as many weeks.

Following a 22-point game at Alabama A&M, Cockrill scored 21 in a win at Oakwood as he went 11-for-12 at the free-throw line. He surpassed his career best at Stillman College, collecting 37 points, including six 3-pointers and a 12-for-24 effort in the field.

For the week, he averaged 26.7 points, shooting 42.9 percent from the field and 80.0 percent at the line.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Tusculum sophomore Ni’Kiah Chesterfield took home the women’s weekly honor as she averaged 28.5 points and 7.5 rebounds to lead the Pioneers to wins over North Greenville and USC Aiken.

In the 92-75 victory against North Greenville, the Murfreesboro native recorded a game-high 23 points with eight rebounds and four blocked shots. In the 95-78 win over USC Aiken, Chesterfield scored a career-high 34 points as she hit her first 13 straight shots and finished the game 15-for-16 from the field. She also had seven rebounds.

Chesterfield became the first Tusculum player in nearly two years to score 30 points in a game and the 15-for-16 effort is the best in the Division II ranks this season and second all-time in Tusculum history.

2024-25 TSWA College Players of the Week
FOOTBALL
9/3 | Offensive: Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt); Defensive: Bryan Longwell (Vanderbilt)
9/10 | Offensive: Sam Phillips (Chattanooga); Defensive: Elijah Herring (Memphis)
9/17 | Offensive: Dylan Sampson (Tennessee); Defensive: Alex Mitchell (Chattanooga)
9/24 | Offensive: La’Vell Wright (Austin Peay); Defensive: Major Williams (Carson-Newman)
10/1 | Offensive: Chase Artopoeus (Chattanooga); Defensive: Theron Gaines (Tennessee Tech)
10/8 | Offensive: Jayden Sullins (Carson-Newman); Defensive: Bryan Longwell (Vanderbilt)
10/15 | Offensive: Dylan Sampson (Tennessee); Defensive: James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee)
10/22 | Offensive: Mario Anderson Jr. (Memphis); Defensive: Will Brooks (Tennessee)
10/29 | Offensive: Dawson White (Sewanee); Defensive: Chandler Martin (Memphis)
11/5 | Offensive: Dylan Sampson (Tennessee); Defensive: Cayman Spaulding (Tennessee Tech)
11/12 | Offensive: Bryson Rollins (Maryville); Defensive: Chandler Martin (Memphis)
11/19 | Offensive: Seth Henigan (Memphis); Defensive: Daniel Rickert (Tennessee Tech)

MEN’S BASKETBALL
11/12 | Jacob Ognacevic (Lipscomb)
11/19 | Doyel Cockrill III (Fisk)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
11/12 | Jennifer Sullivan (Carson-Newman)
11/19 | Ni’Kiah Chesterfield (Tusculum)