Women's Basketball

Young and Mangakahia Share Player of the Week Honors

Miami’s Gray collects second rookie honor of the season

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Notre Dame sophomore guard Jackie Young and Syracuse sophomore guard Tiana Mangakahia have been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week, while Miami freshman guard Mykea Gray earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors, as announced Monday afternoon by the conference office and voted upon by the Blue Ribbon Panel. 
 
Young was named the Gulf Coast Showcase Tournament MVP after leading the Irish in scoring during their three straight wins over East Tennessee State, No. 17/16 USF and No. 3/2 South Carolina, averaging 19.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. She posted a career high 23 points against the 17th ranked Bulls, in which she scored nine of her points in the fourth quarter to help seal the Irish victory. The Princeton, Indiana, native followed that performance with her second straight of game of at least 20 points with 22 against the reigning NCAA Champion, and added 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.
 
Mangakahia was named the Paradise Jam Reef Division MVP after totaling 41 points and 41 assists in three wins over Wisconsin, Vanderbilt and George Washington. She set a Syracuse and tournament single-game record with 17 assists against the Commodores. Her 17 assists also tie the second-best single game total in ACC women’s basketball history. The Meadowbrook, Australia, native leads the nation in assists per game (11.8) and total assist (71).  
 
Gray averaged 16.7 points, 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals in a 2-1 week for the Hurricanes. She led Miami in scoring in each game, including 21-point performance against No. 15 Maryland on Nov. 26. The Upper Marlboro, Maryland, native shot 48.7 from the floor, including 42.9 percent from long distance. She was named to the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament All-Tournament Team for her efforts.
 
The ACC has four teams ranked in this week’s AP Top 25 that was released on Monday led by third-ranked Notre Dame. Louisville follows at No. 4, along with No. 13 Florida State and No. 14 Duke. Syracuse is receiving votes in the poll.
 
The 11th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge will be played this week with five games on Wednesday, Nov. 29 and nine on Thursday, Nov. 30. Visit theACC.com for the Challenge schedule.