Missouri State University junior forward Alize Johnson (Williamsport, Pa.) was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week on Monday, marking the second time this season the transfer has swept the league’s weekly awards.
A transfer from Frank Phillips (Texas) College, Johnson helped the Bears to a 2-0 start in MVC play last week by posting a pair of double-doubles in wins over Northern Iowa and Indiana State.
Johnson made his MVC debut on Dec. 28 with 12 points and 10 rebounds at UNI with a pair of 3-pointers and 2 assists in the Bears’ first victory at McLeod Center since 2010. He followed that with a career-high 30 points and 15 rebounds in an overtime home win over Indiana State on Dec. 31, scoring 22 points in the second half and finishing 10-for-20 from the field with another two 3-pointers, 2 assists a block and a steal.
For the week, he averaged 21.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists with four 3-pointers. He also became just the third player in the MVC since 1998 to record 30 points and 15 rebounds in the same game and the first to do it in a league game since Jan. 31, 1998 (Illinois State’s Rico Hill). Creighton’s Kenny Lawson also did it in a non-conference game in 2010.
This is Johnson’s fourth MVC Newcomer of the Week honor, having also earned the award on Nov. 14, Dec. 12 and Dec. 26. He also became the first MVC player in three years to sweep both honors when he was awarded MVC Player of the Week honors for the first time on Nov. 14.
Johnson and the Bears (11-4, 2-0 MVC) return to Valley play Wednesday at Illinois State at 8 p.m. on FOX Sports Midwest before returning to JQH Arena on Saturday, Jan. 7 against league rival Southern Illinois at 3 p.m., on CBS Sports Network.
Tickets for the SIU game are available anytime at MissouriStateBears.com or by visiting the Old Missouri Bank Box Office at JQH Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.
