Husson University sophomore forward Saige Evans from Greenbush had a memorable four-game stretch last week, which landed her two Player of the Week honors — one from the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the other from the North Atlantic Conference.
The award from the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association goes to the player from the state’s small colleges.
It is the third time this season Evans has been picked the NAC Player of the Week.
The former Bangor Daily News Schoolgirl All-State first team selection from Old Town High School averaged 19.75 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.25 steals and 2 assists in four victories for the Eagles.
She shot 50% from the floor (29–for-58) and 75% from the foul line (20-for-25).
She averaged 30 minutes of playing time.
Evans produced 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in a 61-47 loss to Colby College of Waterville on Wednesday. That was her seventh double-double of the season and her fourth in a row.
Evans is Husson’s leading scorer and rebounder on the season, averaging 16.1 points and 8.9 rebounds. She is also the team’s best percentage shooter from the field (43.8%) and is tops in steals (1.7 spg).
She is second in blocked shots with six on the campaign and has also dished out 23 assists.
She has shot 80.4% from the foul line and 30.8% beyond the 3-point arc.
Her 30.6 minutes of playing time per game is second most on the team.
Last season, she was the team’s third-leading scorer (7 ppg) and No. 2 rebounds (5.7 rpg), while averaging 19 minutes of playing time per game.
“We are lucky to have her. She is everything a coach could ask for,” Husson coach Kissy Walker said.
Walker said the 5-foot-10 Evans has to guard the opponents’ tallest player and she more than holds her own.
“She is a really tough girl. She is relentless. She keeps battling,” Walker said. “She worked on her game over the summer and she expanded her outside shooting range. She has developed a really nice stepback [jump shot].”
Walker also said Evans is coachable, a hard worker and a good teammate.
And she noted that the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association award “isn’t easy” to win with so many good small college players in the state.
Husson, 8-6 overall and 7-2 in the NAC, returns to conference play Friday and Saturday when the Eagles host Thomas College at 7:30 p.m. and Lesley University of Massachusetts at 3 p.m.