Senior Morgan Mason (Los Angeles, Calif./Mt. San Antonio JC) helped Hawai‘i open a season 2-0 on the road for the first time in program history, garnering Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors.
The 5-9 guard came up big in crucial situations in both victories, as the Rainbow Wahine knocked off Mountain West preseason favorite Colorado State as well as Denver.
In the 63-58 overtime triumph against the Rams, Mason sank a three-pointer with 1:09 left in the game to give UH a 59-55 lead. In addition to scoring eight points, she yanked down a career-high 10 rebounds with three assists and two steals.
Mason erupted for a career-high 23 points, including the last 12 points of the game for UH, in a slim 60-58 win against the Pioneers. With the Rainbow Wahine trailing 51-48, Mason spearheaded the final push with a layup and later hit a three-pointer, her career high third of the game, to give UH an insurmountable 57-54 lead with 1:38 left on the clock. She grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to go along with four assists and a steal. Mason also hit eight of 10 attempts from the foul line to seal the win, and help UH open a season 2-0 for the first time since the 2002-03 season.
Mason averaged 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for the week.
Others nominated: Dynn Leaupepe (Cal Poly); Janae Sharpe (CSUN); Alex Sanchez (Long Beach State); Brittany Crain (UC Riverside)