GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Louisville senior forward Emily Engstler has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, and Boston College center Maria Gakdeng earned Freshman of the Week honors. Engstler earned the distinction for the first time this season, while Gakdeng was honored for the fifth time.
ACC women’s basketball weekly awards are voted on by the league’s Blue Ribbon Panel.
Engstler averaged 17.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.0 blocks and 2.0 steals and finished with two double-doubles in road wins at Pitt and No. 14 Notre Dame. In the win at Pitt, the New York City native finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds, while recording three blocks, two assists and two steals in 35 minutes. In the 86-64 win over No. 14 Notre Dame, she recorded her third straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Engstler shot 8-for-11 from the floor against the Irish and added a team-high six assists along with three blocks and two steals.
Gakdeng helped BC go 2-0 on the road with victories against Duke (67-51) and Syracuse (91-75) and close out the regular season on a three-game win streak. A native of Lanham, Maryland, she averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.5 steals while hitting 14-for-18 (77.8%) from the field. Gakdeng scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds Thursday at Duke and followed it up with a 14-point, eight-rebound effort Sunday at Syracuse, marking the first time this season she scored in double figures in back-to-back ACC games. She also blocked a season-high six shots against Duke, breaking the program’s single-season record in the process. Gakdeng became just the fourth ACC freshman since 2016-17 to post a game of at least 15 points, five rebounds, five blocks and shoot 70% from the field. She leads all freshmen in the ACC and is second in the country in blocks (63) and blocks per game (2.17).
The 45th annual ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament begins Wednesday (March 2) and runs through Sunday (March 6) at Greensboro Coliseum. The tournament will feature all 15 ACC teams and 14 games, beginning with three first-round matchups on Wednesday. Four second-round games are scheduled for Thursday, followed by the quarterfinals on Friday, semifinals on Saturday and the championship game on Sunday at noon.
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
Jan. 17 - Dara Mabrey, Notre Dame, Sr., G
Jan. 24 - Taylor Soule, Boston College, Sr., F
Jan. 31 - Olivia Miles, Notre Dame, Fr., G
Feb. 7 - Delicia Washington, Clemson, Gr., G | Kianna Smith, Louisville, R-Sr., G
Feb. 14 - Delicia Washington, Clemson, Gr., G | Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech, So., G
Feb. 21 - Deja Kelly, North Carolina, So., G
Feb. 28 – Emily Engstler, Louisville, Sr., F
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
Jan. 17 - Maria Gakdeng, Boston College, C
Jan. 24 - Shayeann Day-Wilson, Duke, G
Jan. 31 - Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, G
Feb. 7 - Shayeann Day-Wilson, Duke, G
Feb. 14 - Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, G
Feb. 21 - Ja’Leah Williams, Miami, G
Feb. 28 - Maria Gakdeng, Boston College, C