By Kyle Kuhlman/OCCAC Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Four student-athletes, representing four different schools, have been selected as the OCCAC Basketball Players of the Week for Jan. 22-28. This week’s honorees are Dai’Shona Washington-Polk (D-II), Stephanie Newell (D-III), Isaiah Trice (D-II) and Zach Swain (D-III).
DAI’SHONA WASHINGTON-POLK
Owens Community College
Freshman guard/forward
Washington-Polk nabs her third weekly honor of the season after going back-to-back on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 as the calendar flipped to 2018. For her latest laurel, she scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting to go along with a dozen rebounds in Owens’ road victory over Lakeland. In addition to her double-double, Washington-Polk also contributed two assists, two blocks and a steal while committing just two turnovers in 37 minutes of action.
STEPHANIE NEWELL
Columbus State Community College
Sophomore forward
Newell defended her status as the D-III Female Player of the week, earning the distinction for the second straight week. She averaged a double-double (14.0 points, 10.0 rebounds) in two games for Columbus State this past week. Newell crashed the glass for a dozen offensive boards. In the win over Hocking College, she provided 18 points and eight rebounds.
ISAIAH TRICE
Sinclair Community College
Freshman guard
Trice picks up his first career conference accolade, joining teammates Quantes Jackson and LiDonta Hicks-Gentry as Tartan Pride representatives this season. He dropped in 25.0 points per game and narrowly missed out on averaging a double-double with 9.5 rebounds/game. Trice opened the week by stuffing the stat sheet with 28 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and three steals as Sinclair topped Thomas More College (JV) by 19 points. He then came back to produce 22 points and seven rebounds vs. Lakeland later in the week.
ZACH SWAIN
Lorain County Community College
Sophomore guard
Swain is a first-time honoree as well, but the third straight Lorain County product to be named OCCAC D-III Player of the Week. In fact, Lorain County has corralled the award in five of the last six weeks and a total of five different Commodores have now earned the honor in 2017-18. Swain provided a huge boost off the bench in Lorain County’s 95-77 triumph over Clark State, pacing the team in both points (15) and rebounds (7) in just 12 minutes of play. He made the most of his time by making 5-of-9 field goals, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and burying both foul shots.