OKLAHOMA CITY -- John Brown University senior Natalie Smith and sophomore Malachi Reeves have been named the Sooner Athletic's Basketball Players of the Week for their efforts during the week that ended Dec. 10, 2023, the conference office announced Monday (Dec. 11) morning.
Smith paced the Golden Eagles (8-3, 5-0 SAC) to a pair of wins by averaging 22 points and 7.5 assists per contest in wins over Oklahoma Panhandle State and Wayland Baptist (Texas). In a win over the Aggies, Smith scored 18 points and added six rebounds with seven assists. The Bentonville, Ark. product then scored a game-high 26 points and handed out eight assists in a pivotal 92-57 victory over the Flying Queens. Smith shot 62 percent from the field (16-of-26), including 12-of-20 from behind the arc (60 percent) that featured an eight-triple effort in JBU's win over Wayland Baptist.
Smith averages 13.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this season and is third on the squad in scoring.
Reeves, meanwhile, also led John Brown (6-4, 4-1 SAC) to back-to-back wins on the week, besting OPSU and upsetting No. 10 Wayland Baptist. The native of Lexington, S.C. poured in 19 points per game and added 11.0 rebounds per contest. In the 72-55 win over Panhandle State, he tallied 15 points and grabbed 10 boards. In the upset win over the Pioneers, Reeves scored a game-high 23 points and had 12 rebounds, including notching the game-winning triple at the buzzer.
Beyond his consecutive double-doubles on the week, Reeves leads the Golden Eagles in scoring at a 15.2 points per game pace. He also produces 6.3 rebounds and 2.4 helpers a night.
Other Women's Nominees: ZyUnn Cormier (North Texas at Dallas), Jaci Calavan (Mid-America Christian), MJ Case (Southwestern Christian), Chanie Chambers (Southwestern A.G.), Amaya Gordon (Oklahoma City), Koreea Kirksey (Langston), Lainey Morrow (Science & Arts) and Diana Santos (Oklahoma Panhandle State).
Other Men's Nominees: CJ Kelley, (Southwestern A.G.), Abdulh Diaby (Oklahoma Panhandle State), Brandon Jackson (Oklahoma City), Connor Kern (North Texas at Dallas), Jasiah Lewis (Mid-America Christian), Ron Moore (Southwestern Christian), Rory Pantophlet (Science & Arts) and Anthony Roy (Langston).
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