GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) - For the first time in league history, Boston College swept
the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball weekly awards as senior guard Cameron Swartz is the ACC Player of the Week, and center Maria Gakdeng earns her third consecutive ACC Freshman of the Week honor.
The duo led the Eagles to a perfect 2-0 week with a 95-71 win against Syracuse last Thursday and an 80-74 victory at Clemson on Sunday.
ACC women’s basketball weekly awards are voted on by the league’s Blue Ribbon Panel.
Swartz turned in a pair of stellar performances to lead Boston College in scoring (25.0 ppg) and field goal percentage (.642) while ranking second on the team in rebounding (7.0) last week. She recorded a career outing against Clemson, scoring a personal-best 39 points on 14-of-20 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Her 39 points tied the Eagles’ single-game program record, are the most in an ACC game since 2019 and are the second most by an NCAA Division I WBB student-athlete in a road game this season.
The Marietta, Georgia, native’s 14 made field goals are the most in an ACC game this season and tied for the second most in a single game in BC history. Swartz also grabbed nine rebounds and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line in the win against the Tigers.
Swartz scored 11 points with five rebounds and four assists in Boston College’s victory over the Orange.
Gakdeng continued her strong play to become the first ACC player to garner three consecutive weekly honors this season. She tallied career highs in points (21) and rebounds (9) in the win against Syracuse. Gakdeng scored 15 of her points in the second half, including nine in a dominant third quarter to help Boston College pull away.
Hailing from Lanham, Maryland, Gakdeng shot 9-of-12 (.750) from the field against Syracuse to become one of just four true freshmen nationally this season to post at least 20 points, nine rebounds and shoot 75% in a game. Her 21 points are tied for the most by a freshman in a conference game this season.
Gakdeng set a career high with five blocked shots in the road win at Clemson, tying for the most in a single game in ACC play this season. She finished with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting with eight rebounds. For the week, Gakdeng averaged 15.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
ACC women’s basketball action returns Tuesday evening, as Pitt hosts No. 15 Georgia Tech at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
2021-22 ACC Player of the Week Honors
Nov. 15 - Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C | Jewel Spear, Wake Forest, So., G
Nov. 22 - Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C
Nov. 29 - Diamond Johnson, NC State, So., G
Dec. 6 - Teisha Hyman, Syracuse, R-So., G
Dec. 13 - Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, 5th Year, F
Dec. 20 - Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C
Dec. 27 - Maya Dodson, Notre Dame, Gr., F
Jan. 3 - Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, Jr., C
Jan. 10 - Cameron Swartz, Boston College, Sr., G
2021-22 ACC Freshman of the Week Honors
Nov. 15 - Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, G
Nov. 22 - Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, G
Nov. 29 - Shayeann Day-Wilson, Duke, G
Dec. 6 - Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, G
Dec. 13 - Lashae Dwyer, Miami, G
Dec. 20 - Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, G
Dec. 27 - Maria Gakdeng, Boston College, C
Jan. 3 - Maria Gakdeng, Boston College, C
Jan. 10 - Maria Gakdeng, Boston College, C