College players of the week named by TSWA - Jan. 7 — Tennessee Sports Writers Association

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union sophomore forward Parker Applegate had a great week against nationally-ranked competition to earn the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honor from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday.

Applegate, a Murfreesboro native, averaged 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds as he was efficient from the floor, shooting 8-for-9 from 3-point range – including 5-for-5 against Division II No. 6 Alabama-Huntsville in an 82-81 loss – as well as 9-for-10 from the free-throw line and 14-for-17 from the floor.

Against UAH, Applegate scored 23 points and pulled down 12 boards as he shot 8-for-9 from the floor and 2-for-2 at the charity stripe. He also swatted away a shot. He followed that up against West Alabama as he collected 22 points on 6-for-8 shooting and 3-for-4 from long range with a 7-for-8 effort at the line. He also recorded a block in the contest.

For the season, Applegate is shooting .542 from the field, .550 from long-range and .869 from the line as he averages 12.9 points per game.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Vanderbilt freshman guard Mikayla Blakes was named the TSWA’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after two strong performances as the Somerset, N.J., native had an incredible Southeastern Conference debut, setting the program’s 42-year-old freshman scoring record with 36 points in a 108-82 victory over Georgia.

Blakes was 9-for-20 from the field with five 3-pointers – as well as 13-for-14 at the line – in the victory, helping the Commodores set a program record for most points scored in an SEC contest. She also dished out five assists with a block and a steal.

The 36 points are the most scored by a Division I freshman this season and the most scored by an SEC player this week.

Blakes also had 24 points – her 10th game this season with 20 or more points, setting a Vanderbilt freshman record – to go along with three steals and a block in a 96-78 loss to No. 16 Kentucky.