MVC Release (Jan. 8, 2018)
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (January 8, 2018) – Abby O'Connor (South Bend, Ind./St. Joseph), a freshman guard/forward on the Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team, has been selected as the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, it was announced on Monday afternoon by the league office. The award marks the first weekly honor of O'Connor's career.
The South Bend, Ind. product averaged 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as Loyola split a pair of games against in-state foes over the weekend. O'Connor operated at a 44.8 percent (13-of-29) clip from the field, including a 60 percent (3-of-5) mark from beyond the three-point arc, and finished a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.
O'Connor opened the weekend with a 13-point, four-rebound performance against Bradley on Friday night before turning in the top showing of her young collegiate career as part of a 62-59 win over Illinois State on Sunday, finishing with a career-high 24 points to go along with seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks. The 6-foot guard/forward poured in 17 points in the fourth quarter alone in the Ramblers' victory over the Redbirds.
O'Connor, who has now reached double figures in scoring a team-high eight times this season, currently ranks as Loyola's leading scorer (10.2 ppg) and rebounder (5.5 rpg). She's upped her game to another level during the MVC play, averaging 13.5 ppg, a mark that is tied for sixth overall in the Valley.
O'Connor and the Ramblers are back in action on Friday when they open up a three-game road trip against MVC newcomer Valparaiso at 7 p.m.
