After redshirting last season due to an injury, Kemie Nkele proved she is back in prime form with a career-best performance in UC Riverside's first game of the new season, earning her Big West Women's Basketball Player of the Week accolades.  This marks Nkele’s seventh weekly award of her career, ranking her fifth all-time in the league.

Facing No. 4 Oklahoma in the first round of the Preseason WNIT, Nkele fired a .500 field goal percentage (12-of-24) en route to her career-high 31 points.  Her impressive offensive outing, which bested her previous career-high by one point, was over half of the Highlanders’ total points in the 88-57 loss to the Sooners.

The San Diego, Calif., native also shot 5-of-6 from the charity stripe and grabbed five rebounds.

Others nominated: Megan Harrison (Cal Poly), Ashley Richie (Cal State Fullerton), Lisa Peterson (UC Davis), Lauren Pedersen (UC Santa Barbara)