ST. LOUIS – Charlotte's Jada McMillian continued to add to her trophy case Tuesday as she was selected as the Feb. 26 United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) National Freshman of the Week. She is the first 49ers player in program history to receive the accolade.
McMillian opened the week Monday by garnering Conference USA Freshman of the Week plaudits, putting her on the national USBWA radar for her performance Saturday at Old Dominion. Her efforts were key in the Niners' 60-53 win.
After being inserted into the starting lineup for the first time in her career, the Raleigh, North Carolina, product netted a career and game-high 20 points in a career-best 29 minutes. She hit 6-of-7 field goals, including all five shots she attempted from inside the 3-point arc, and added 7-of-12 at the foul line. Many of her field goals came via hard drives to the hoop for short-range pullups or layups, while also drawing contact to get to the charity stripe.
McMillian also handed out an assist and blocked one shot as Charlotte picked up its first league road win and its first victory away from Halton Arena since late November. It also completed a season sweep over the Lady Monarchs for the second-straight year.
She becomes the third C-USA player to receive the national honor, this season, joining Middle Tennessee's Taylor Sutton (Dec. 11) and Old Dominion's Ajah Wayne (Feb. 12). Conference USA's three accolades tie it with the Big Ten and Big XII for the most of any league in 2018-19.
Players are nominated for the award, which is then chosen by Mel Greenberg, the USBWA coordinator of women's basketball, primarily from a list of Division I conference freshmen players of the week.
McMillian will join the rest of her 49ers teammates in Miami this weekend as they play their final away game of the regular season. Tip-off against FIU is set for 2 p.m. Saturday.
2018-19 USBWA Women's Players of the Week
• Week ending Dec. 2: Christyn Williams, UConn (National); Dorka Juhász, Ohio State (Freshman)
• Week ending Dec. 9: Jenna Allen, Michigan State (National); Taylor Sutton, Middle Tennessee (Freshman)
• Week ending Dec. 16: Alanna Smith, Stanford (National); Chrislyn Carr, Texas Tech (Freshman)
• Week ending Dec. 23: Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (National); Rhyne Howard, Kentucky (Freshman)
• Week ending Dec. 30: Dionna White, Georgetown (National); Nia Clouden, Michigan State (Freshman)
• Week ending Jan. 6: Phoebe Sterba, Penn (National); Sienna Durr, Columbia (Freshman)
• Week ending Jan. 13: Tiana Mangakahia, Syracuse (National); Shakira Austin, Maryland (Freshman)
• Week ending Jan. 20: Shrita Parker, UNCW (National); Christianna Carr, Kansas State (Freshman)
• Week ending Jan. 27: Paris Kea, North Carolina (National); Elissa Cunana, N.C. State (Freshman)
• Week ending Feb. 3: Bella Alarie, Princeton (National); Ciaja Harbison, Saint Louis (Freshman)
• Week ending Feb. 10: Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (National); Ajah Wayne, Old Dominion (Freshman)
• Week ending Feb. 17: Megan Gustafson, Iowa (National); Madisen Smith, West Virginia (Freshman)
• Week ending Feb. 24: Kay Kay Wright, UCF (National); Jada McMillian, Charlotte (Freshman)