Zahui B. Named EspnW Nat’l Player Of The Week

MINNEAPOLIS – (GopherSports.com) University of Minnesota sophomore center Amanda Zahui B. today was named the National Women's Basketball Player of the Week by espnW for the second time this season after totaling 66 points, 56 rebounds and nine blocks in victories over No. 13/11 Iowa and Michigan last week.

Along with averaging 33.0 points, 28.0 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game over the two-game span, Zahui also posted a .542 (26-48) field goal percentage, a .923 (12-13) free throw percentage and knocked down each of her two three-point field goal attempts.

She opened the week with a record-breaking performance against No. 13/11 Iowa, in which she scored a career-high 39 points and pulled down a Big Ten and program-record 29 rebounds, while adding four blocks and two steals. With her 32nd point of the game, Zahui became just the 22nd Gopher in program history to join the 1,000-point club and she joined Lindsay Whalen, Laura Coenen and Rachel Banham as the only Gophers to reach the milestone as sophomores.

Zahui nearly replicated her performance Saturday in Minnesota’s double-overtime victory over Michigan with 27 points, 27 rebounds and five blocks in 50 minutes of work. She had 12 offensive rebounds in the game, while shooting .588 (10-17) from the floor. With her second block against the Wolverines, Zahui broke her own program single-season blocks record of 105 that she set as a rookie last season and concluded the contest with 109 blocks for the year.

Zahui also earned espnW National Player of the Week honors on Jan. 5 when she averaged 17.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game in wins over No. 12/14 Nebraska, Purdue and Wisconsin to open the Big Ten season.

The Gophers take their five-game Big Ten winning streak on the road this week for games at Nebraska Tuesday at 8 p.m. and at No. 17 Iowa Sunday at 2 p.m. Both contests will be broadcast live on BTN.