GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) - Virginia Tech senior guard Aisha Sheppard has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, and Syracuse center Kamilla Cardoso is the ACC Freshman of the Week for the second consecutive week.
ACC women’s basketball weekly awards are voted on by the league’s Blue Ribbon Panel.
Sheppard averaged 22.0 points per game to lift Virginia Tech to a pair of wins last week, including its best victory in program history last Thursday, as the Hokies upset second-ranked NC State in overtime, 83-71. The senior guard led all players with 28 points against the Wolfpack, scoring all her points after halftime.
She scored 18 of her points in overtime, as Virginia Tech set an NCAA Division I record with 26 points in the extra period. Sheppard was 12-for-14 from the free-throw line in overtime to lead the Hokies to the 12-point victory.
On Sunday, the Alexandria, Virginia, native added 16 points and four assists, as Virginia Tech defeated North Carolina, 73-69. For the week, Sheppard connected on nine 3-pointers to increase her season total to 63, which leads the nation.
Cardoso garnered her second consecutive ACC Freshman of the Week honor after averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 blocks per game to lead Syracuse to a pair of victories. The freshman shot an astounding 70.6% from the floor, connecting on 12 of her 17 shots.
In the 80-57 win against Pitt last Thursday, Cardoso scored 11 points with eight rebounds and four blocks. She followed that performance with 18 points and seven rebounds to lead the Orange to an 81-69 win versus Notre Dame.
Hailing from Montes Claros, Brazil, Cardoso had a career-high nine blocks against the Fighting Irish, tied for the most by an ACC player in a single game this season. The freshman is currently the ACC leader in field-goal percentage at 61.2% and blocks (40).
It marks the third consecutive week that a Syracuse player has earned ACC Freshman of the Week, as Priscilla Williams claimed the honor prior to Cardoso earning the award in consecutive weeks.
ACC women’s basketball action returns Tuesday night, as Syracuse travels to Georgia Tech for a 7 p.m. tipoff on ACC Network Extra.
2020-21 ACC Player of the Week Honors
Nov. 30 - Taylor Soule, Jr., F, Boston College
Dec. 7 - Kayla Jones, Sr., F, NC State
Dec. 14 - Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, Jr., G, Georgia Tech
Dec. 21 - Janelle Bailey, Sr., C, North Carolina
Jan. 4 - Jada Boyd, So., F, NC State
Jan. 11 - Ivana Raca, Sr., F, Wake Forest
Jan. 18 - Elizabeth Kitley, So., C, Virginia Tech; Gina Conti, Sr., G, Wake Forest
Jan. 24 - Dana Evans, Sr., G, Louisville
Feb. 1 - Aisha Sheppard, Sr., G, Virginia Tech
2020-21 ACC Freshman of the Week Honors
Nov. 30 - Hailey Van Lith, G, Louisville
Dec. 7 - Maddy Westbeld, F, Notre Dame
Dec. 14 - Loyal McQueen, G, Georgia Tech
Dec. 21 - Gabby Elliott, G, Clemson
Jan. 4 - Maddy Westbeld, F, Notre Dame
Jan. 11 - Hailey Van Lith, G, Louisville
Jan. 18 - Priscilla Williams, G, Syracuse
Jan. 25 - Kamilla Cardoso, C, Syracuse
Feb. 1 - Kamilla Cardoso, C, Syracuse