SAN MATEO, Calif. – Gonzaga’s Yvonne Ejim and Santa Clara’s Tess Heal have captured the first University Credit Union West Coast Conference women’s basketball weekly basketball awards of the 2022-23 campaign, the league announced on Monday, Nov. 14. Ejim was voted the league’s player of the week, while Heal garnered freshman-of-the-week accolades.
UCU WCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – YVONNE EJIM, JR., F – GONZAGA
Junior forward Yvonne Ejim helped Gonzaga to a pair of double-figure victories over Long Beach State and Southern Utah last week by averaging 19 points on 57.1 percent shooting, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals in 25 minutes. In the season lidlifter vs. LBSU, Ejim matched her career high with 22 points (9-13 FG) and pulled down 10 rebounds, seven of which were of the offensive variety. Two days later vs. SUU, she posted 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting and had four steals.
Also Nominated: Ali Bamberger, Saint Mary’s; Maisie Burnham, Portland; Kennedy Dickie, San Francisco; Lauren Gustin, BYU; Tess Heal, Santa Clara; Ariel Johnson, LMU; Amanda Olinger, San Diego; Liz Smith, Pacific.
UCU WCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK – TESS HEAL, FR., G – SANTA CLARA
Freshman Tess Heal averaged 22 points on 50 percent shooting (15-30), six rebounds, 4.5 assists and one steal for Santa Clara last week in her first collegiate action. In the Broncos’ season opener vs. UC Santa Barbara, Heal poured in 28 points (9-14 FG, 10-15 FT) to go with six rebounds, two assists and one steal. Her point total vs. the Gauchos was the most by any WCC player that night and the 11
th-highest total in the nation. Four days later vs. Cal State Fullerton, Heal assisted on the game-tying bucket in regulation and scored 10 of SCU’s 11 points in overtime. With less than 30 seconds left in OT and Santa Clara trailing by one, Heal recorded a steal, made a layup, drew the foul and made the subsequent free throw, putting the Broncos up for good.
Also Nominated: Layla Curry, LMU.
2022-23 UCU WCC Women’s Basketball Players of the Week
November 14: Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga
2022-23 UCU WCC Women’s Basketball Freshmen of the Week
November 14: Tess Heal, Santa Clara