This week saw several outstanding performances across the country from mid-major women’s basketball players. The week was highlighted by a pair of program-record 40-plus point scoring efforts and a career-high
32 points to lead a 26-point comeback.
The nominees are the following: Abby Cater (Wichita State), Lydia Melashenko (Merrimack), Megan Norris (UC Davis), Tristen Taylor (Temple) and Riley Weiss (Columbia).
Below is a snapshot of the five finalists for Mid-Major Madness player of the week for Jan. 19-25.
Abby Cater, Wichita State
Cater dropped 42 points in the Shockers’ win over Memphis. That point total is tied for the second-most in American Conference history and broke the program record. She poured in 63% of the Shockers’ 66 points as they snapped their seven-game losing streak. The guard shot 15-for-29 from the floor, 4-of-6 from deep, and converted all eight of her free throw attempts. She also pulled down seven rebounds, blocked two shots, and registered two steals.
Lydia Melashenko, Merrimack
Melaschenko was on fire from downtown. She buried 16 3-pointers over two MAAC wins on her way to averaging 26 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. The Canadian came one triple short of tying the Merrimack single-game program record by sinking eight 3-pointers in each game. She scored a career-high 28 points to go along with five rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in a win at Saint Peter’s. The senior followed it up with a 24-point, six-rebound performance in a win at Mount St. Mary’s while playing all 40 minutes once again.
Megan Norris, UC Davis
Norris notched a pair of 20-point double-doubles as the Aggies picked up two Big West wins. She finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds as UC Davis overcame a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit for a win at UC San Diego. She shot 9-of-13 from the field and added three assists, three blocks, and three steals. The redshirt senior then notched 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting (including 3-for-5 from 3-point land) and 12 boards in a win at UC Riverside. Those were her 12th and 13th double-doubles of the season, which rank fourth in the country. The center is fifth nationally in rebounding at 11.9 per game.
Tristen Taylor, Temple
Taylor’s week was highlighted by a career-high 32 points to lead the Owls to an 83-82 massive come-from-behind win over Charlotte as they overcame a 26-point hole – the biggest comeback in program history. She scored 17 of her 32 points in the fourth to spearhead the comeback. She shot 10-for-13 from the floor and was a perfect 6-of-6 beyond the 3-point line and at the free-throw line. The junior from Dallas also dished out six assists. Taylor opened the week with 16 points (on 6-of-10 shooting) and five assists in a win over South Florida.
Riley Weiss, Columbia
Weiss scored a program-record 40 points as she single-handedly outscored Dartmouth in the Lions’ 89-32. The Hewlett, N.Y., native went 15-of-23 from the field and 9-for-13 from 3-point range. The 15 baskets break the single-game record, and nine triples tie the record. She poured in 26 in the first half. That was the 12th 40-point game in Ivy League women’s basketball history. Weiss leads the league at 18.6 points per game. The 57-point win was Columbia’s largest ever against a Division-I opponent.
