Eastern Michigan Athletics
Colleen Russell Named MAC West Division Player of the Week
2/18/2008 12:33:07 PM | Women's Basketball
Windsor, Ontario native earns weekly honor for first time in her career
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Eastern Michigan University senior Colleen Russell (Windsor, Ontario-FJ Brennan) was named Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, the conference office announced today. It marks the first time she has won the award in her career.
Russell turned in a stellar week as the Eagles split of pair of cross-divisional contests versus Akron, Feb. 12, and Bowling Green, Feb. 16. The MAC’s tallest player averaged 27.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game while notching a 51.5 percent (17-of-33) shooting percentage and a 74.1 percent (20-of-27) clip from the free throw line. Her 54 cumulative points on the week accounted for 45.4 percent (54-of-119) of the Eagles’ total offense.
Russell scored a career-high 36 points as EMU upended Akron, 76-71, at the Convocation Center, Feb. 12. Russell was 11-of-18 from the field and 14-of-20 from the free-throw line, setting a Convocation Center and an EMU team record for free throws made and attempted in a game. Her 36 points were the most since LaTonya Watson scored 36 against Ball State in 1991. Russell’s 36 points are also just one shy of equaling Laurie Byrd’s school-record 37 points in a single-game versus Miami, Dec. 12, 1981.
Russell’s scoring has increased dramatically this year, as she surpassed 400 career points versus Bowling Green, Feb. 16. During her freshman year, the 6-foot-5 senior tallied just 43 points on the season. As a sophomore she accumulated 56 points, followed up with 46 points as a junior. Russell has nearly doubled those first three campaigns this season, pouring in 271 points through 23 games.
The Green and White return to West Division action Tuesday, Feb. 19, traveling to Kalamazoo, Mich. for a showdown with Western Michigan University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at University Area. Brian Nemerovski and Ryan Wooley will call the action on WEMU 89.1 FM beginning at 6:50 p.m.
