Gophers Center Zahui is Big Ten Player of the Week

MINNEAPOLIS (Gophersports.com)– University of Minnesota sophomore center Amanda Zahui B. today was named the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after securing her ninth double-double of the season with 20 points and 15 rebounds in the Gophers’ come-from-behind victory over No. 12/14 Nebraska Monday night. It is the fifth player of the week honor for Zahui and her first this season.

Along with her double-double, Zahui also had four blocks and three steals in 36 minutes of work. She connected on seven of her 11 attempts from the field and on six of her seven free throw attempts, including two in the final seconds of the game to put Minnesota ahead by three points.

Zahui scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half to lead the Gophers’ comeback, while adding eight rebounds and two blocks in the final 20 minutes of play. Her block with time expiring sealed the win for the Maroon and Gold.

The center’s nine double-doubles rank third in the NCAA this season, while she also ranks fifth with a 4.08 blocks-per-game average and ninth with an 8.0 defensive rebounds-per-game average.

The Gophers return to action Thursday for a New Year’s Day showdown at Purdue beginning at 1 p.m. CT.