GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Syracuse junior guard Tiana Mangakahia has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Boston College freshman guard Marnelle Garraud is this week’s ACC Rookie of the Week, as announced Monday afternoon by the conference office and voted upon by the Blue Ribbon Panel.
Mangakahia averaged 18.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists in a 3-0 week for the Orange that included wins against Kansas State (70-62), Princeton (92-61) and No. 16/16 DePaul (83-81 in overtime) en route to the Mayan Division title at the Cancun Challenge. Her late-game heroics lifted the Orange past the 16th-ranked Blue Demons in overtime for Syracuse’s fourth win in a seven-day span and second win over a top-25 opponent this season.
Mangakahia began the week with 18 points and six assists against Kansas State, contributed 14 points and 11 assists against Princeton and capped the tournament with 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists against DePaul. The Brisbane, Australia, native poured in 16 points during the final four minutes of regulation and overtime, including the game-winning basket as time expired against DePaul. She was named the Mayan Division MVP for her efforts in Cancun. This is her first ACC Player of the Week honor of the season and the third of her career.
Garraud averaged 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in a 2-0 week for Boston College as it defeated Loyola (73-47) and Rider (112-61) at the 25th annual Hawks Classic last weekend. Against the Greyhounds, Garraud contributed 10 points, six rebounds and three assists as the Eagles cruised to victory. She followed that performance with a career-high 28 points, on 8-of-12 shooting, including four 3-pointers, and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line against Rider. She also added six rebounds, four assists and three steals in the win. Garraud was named the Hawks Classic MVP for her efforts. Boston College is 6-0 for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
Up next for ACC teams is the 2018 ACC/Big Ten Challenge, which will be played on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 28-29.
Week 1 – Nov. 12
ACC Player of the Week: Asia Durr, Sr., G, Louisville
ACC Rookie of the Week: Valencia Myers, Fr., F, Florida State
Week 2 – Nov. 19
ACC Player of the Week: Arike Ogunbowale, Sr. G, Notre Dame
ACC Co-Rookie of the Week: Elizabeth Dixon, Fr., F, Georgia Tech and Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi, R-Fr., F, Syracuse
Week 3 – Nov. 26
Player of the Week: Tiana Mangakahia, Jr., G, Syracuse
Rookie of the Week: Marnelle Garraud, Fr., G, Boston College