Mahan named MVC Player of the Week

Sophomore Racheal Mahan led the Indiana State women’s basketball team to road victories over the Evansville Purple Aces and the Southern Illinois Salukis last week, earning the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honor as announced Monday by the league office.

Mahan averaged 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in ISU’s road wins, shooting 55.6% (15-for-27) from the field and 75% (9-for-12) from the free-throw line. This is the second time this season that the Sycamores have earned a weekly honor from the MVC, as junior Anna Munn was also named the league’s Player of the Week on Dec. 17.

The Indiana State sophomore led the team with 17 points and seven rebounds at Evansville on Thursday, pacing the Sycamores with 11 points during the decisive 26-0 run that turned a 13-point deficit into a 13-point lead in the second half. Mahan scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half and seven straight during part of ISU’s lengthy run, assisting the team to a 55-48 victory after trailing 26-15 at the half.

Mahan came back with another strong performance at Southern Illinois on Saturday, posting her eighth double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Mansfield, Ohio, native, once again stepped up her game after halftime, scoring 16 of her 22 points for the game in just 11 minutes of action in the second half. Mahan’s eight double-doubles this season tie her with Missouri State’s Whitney Edie for the most in the league.

Mahan and the Sycamores secured the team’s first winning season since 2009-10 on Saturday against Southern Illinois, as the women’s basketball team improved to 16-8 overall and 8-5 in the conference with their fourth consecutive win on the season and 10th straight over the Salukis.