Welch Earns SEC Freshman of the Week Honors
COLUMBIA,
S.C. – University of South Carolina forward Aleighsa Welch (Goose
Creek, S.C./Goose Creek) was named SEC Women’s Basketball Freshman of
the Week, the league office announced today. Welch led the team with
14.5 points per game while pulling in 6.5 rebounds per game in wins
over then-No. 24/21 Vanderbilt and Florida last week as the Gamecocks
extended their win streak to eight games, including their first three
SEC contests.
“I’m very happy for Aleighsa, who has been very
consistent all season for our team,” South Carolina head coach Dawn
Staley said. “Her teammates have helped put her in position to be
recognized by our league, and, knowing Aleighsa, I’m sure she
appreciates that and the wins we have collected this season as much as
or more than getting her own individual accolades.”
Welch was
the team’s top scorer in a Thursday night win over then-No. 24/21
Vanderbilt, netting a season-high 19 points. Her offensive output was
spearheaded by her fourth game of six offensive rebounds, the
fourth-most by a Gamecock freshman in school history. In Sunday’s win
at Florida, Welch added 10 points and six rebounds.
The freshman
forward has steadily improved throughout her inaugural college season,
scoring in double figures in four of the last eight games and posting
her first career double-digit rebound game against Alabama. She is
second on the team in scoring for the season with 8.9 points per game
and is the top rebounder with 6.3 boards per outing. Through her first
three SEC games, she leads the Gamecocks with 12.7 points and 7.7
rebounds per game, numbers that rank among the top 10 in the league.
Her 66.7 field goal percentage in SEC play is the second-best in the
league as well.
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