SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – With the race for OCCAC regular season basketball championships heating up, three student-athletes stood out above the rest from Feb. 4-10 to earn OCCAC Player of the Week accolades. This week’s recipients are Hattie Murphy (Cuyahoga), Whitney Thames (Owens) and Sean McNeil (Sinclair).
HATTIE MURPHY
Cuyahoga Community College | D-II Women
Murphy was a monster, terrorizing Lorain County and Hocking College to the tune of 61 points and 38 rebounds in the two contests. Her 30.5 points and 19.0 rebounds per game pace was accompanied by 2.0 steals, 1.0 assists and a 52% (22-42) shooting percentage. Murphy was efficient from the foul line as well, knocking down 17-of-22 (77%) freebies. Of her 38 boards, 27 came on the offensive glass. She is the first triceratops to be named OCCAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week since Nov. 13, 2017.
WHITNEY THAMES
Owens Community College | D-III Women
Thames picks up her second weekly conference honor in the last three weeks after a 15-point, 15-rebound game to lead the Express past Lakeland, 65-44, in a crucial OCCAC match-up. She swiped eight steals in that win as well. Despite limited action at Sinclair due to injury, Thames hauled in 10 rebounds in 14 minutes played.
SEAN MCNEIL
Sinclair Community College | D-II Men
McNeil has been recognized by the conference office in 40% of the weeks this season, garnering his sixth OCCAC Player of the Week award. He has made a habit of going back-to-back, grabbing the distinction on Nov. 12 & 19, Dec. 10 & 17 and now Feb. 4 & 11. For his latest honor McNeil dropped in 27.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game during a 3-0 week for the Tartan Pride. He shot 51% (24-47) from the floor and converted on an impressive 93% (28-30) of his foul shots in leading Sinclair to three league victories.