IRVINE, Calif. – This week’s PacWest Women’s Basketball Players of the Week are
Sandra Ikeora (Dominican),
Rodericka Ware (Academy of Art) and
Destiny Castro (Chaminade). The awards are based on games played Jan. 2-8.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sandra Ikeora (Dominican)
F – Jr. – Valencia, Calif./Valencia
Ikeora earned her fourth conference honor of the season, and second Player of the Week nod. She averaged 27.7 points11.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.0 blocks over three games, shooting 61.8 percent (34-55) from the field. She notched double-doubles against Notre Dame de Namur (17 points, 16 rebounds) and Point Loma (23 points, 13 rebounds) to bring her season total up to nine, the fifth-best in the nation. She scored 43 points against Academy of Art, a Dominican program record and the most in Division II this season. She shot 19-for-29 from the field and had six rebounds, four blocks and two steals, as Dominican gave Art U its first conference loss. It was the first 40-point performance in the PacWest since
Haley Holmstead (Dixie State) scored 42 on Dec. 7, 2013. Ikeora leads the PacWest in scoring (21.5 ppg) and rebounding (12.4 rpg), ranking sixth and third in the nation, respectively. She also leads the NCAA in total rebounds (186).
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Rodericka Ware (Academy of Art)
G – Jr. – Lakewood, Wash./Lakes
Ware totaled 15 steals in three games for Academy of Art, and averaged 22.0 points and 6.3 assists per game. She had 19 points, six assists and four steals in a non-conference win over Sonoma State. She nearly had a triple-double against Dixie State with 25 points, 11 assists and eight steals against Dixie State. She tied the Art U record for steals in a game. She finished the week with 22 points and three steals against Dominican. Ware ranks second in the PacWest in steals per game (2.8 spg).
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Destiny Castro (Chaminade)
G – Fr. – Talofofo, Guam/Notre Dame HS
Castro earned her second honor of the season, averaging 19.0 points on 70 percent (14-20) shooting in two games. She also averaged 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game. She had 17 points, a career-high five assists and two steals against Concordia. She then had 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and a career-best four steals against No. 11 California Baptist. Castro leads all PacWest freshmen in scoring (10.8 ppg).