Long, Walker Earn Men's Basketball Awards

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dominique Long (Central Missouri) and Arriana Walker (Lincoln) have been named MIAA Basketball Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of Dec. 12-18 as selected by a conference SID panel.

MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dominique Long, F, Central Missouri
Long averaged 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and missed just two shots, shooting 87 percent from the field in two UCM wins last week. In the win over Lincoln he recorded his second double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Long was perfect shooting on the night going 6-of-6 from the field, 3-of-3 from three point range and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. He also added two assists and a steal. The Waynesville, Mo. native scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down five rebounds in 25 minutes in the 65-57 win at Pittsburg State on Sunday night. He scored all 20 of his points in the second half as the Mules rallied from a five-point halftime deficit for the win. He was 7-of-9 from the field, including 7-of-8 in the second half. Long was 1-of-1 from beyond the arc and 5-of-5 from the charity stripe. He also pulled down a team-high five rebounds and had an assist.

Others nominated: Tola Lawal, ESU; Moses Dayee, FHSU; Kyle Haake, NWMSU.

MIAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Arriana Walker, G, Lincoln
Walker had a standout week, averaging 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.0 steals while leading the Lincoln women's basketball team to two road wins, including a big victory over No. 22 Central Missouri. A product of St. Louis, Mo., Walker's week was highlighted by a 29-point performance in her hometown, making her first six three-point attempts and tallying nine steals to lead the Blue Tigers to an 80-73 win at Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday (Dec. 17). She pulled down five boards, dished out three assists and made seven of her eight free throw attempts to help Lincoln remain undefeated against non-conference competition this season. That victory followed a tremendous defensive performance at Central Missouri on Wednesday (Dec. 14), as Walker pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds while adding three steals. She also scored seven points and contributed a team-high five assists in the win, just the second in program history over the Jennies. For the week Walker made 11 of her 26 field goal attempts (.423) and connected on seven of her 12 attempts from three-point range (.583). She helped Lincoln improve to 3-1 in the conference, the most MIAA wins for a Blue Tiger team since 1997-98. Her play also kept Lincoln a perfect 6-0 on the road this season, with that streak being the most consecutive road wins for a Blue Tiger team in over 15 seasons.

Others nominated: Merissa Quick, ESU; Katelyn Edwards, FHSU; Maggie Marnin, NWMSU; Drew Roberts, PSU; Tiara George, WU.

2011-12 MIAA Basketball Student-Athletes of the Week
11/15 - Men: Jason Adams, G, MSSU; Women: Katelyn Edwards, G, FHSU
11/21 – Men: TJ Johnson, G, MWSU; Women: Shaquanda Wiggins, F, UCM
11/28 – Men: Alex North, F, WU; Women: Kelsey Balcom, F, ESU
12/5 – Men: Keane Thomann, C, MSSU; Women: Lizzy Jeronimus, F, PSU
12/12 – Men: Will McNeill, G, WU; Women: Heather Robben, G, ESU
12/19 – Men: Dominique Long, F, UCM; Women: Arriana Walker, G, LU