Dec. 22, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill.--Northwestern has named Jitim Young (Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech) and Ifeoma Okonkwo (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak) its Hilton Garden Inn Athletes of the Week.
Young had 12 points and nine rebounds against Arizona State to just miss his third double-double of the season as he helped the Wildcats defeat the Sun Devils last Wednesday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The senior followed up that contest with another stellar performance against Illinois-Chicago; Young led all scorers with a season-high 27 points in that game. He also had five rebounds.
Young has scored in double figures in eight of NU's nine games this season and has shot 50 percent or better from the field in every contest.
Okonkwo had a career week for the Wildcats, posting her first two career double-doubles in back-to-back games while leading NU in scoring in two of the three contests. A key to all three wins, Okonkwo was a major force vs. Southern Illinois, when the sophomore established a career high in points (14) and made four steals.
Okonkwo is currently second on the team in scoring (11.4 ppg) and first in rebounds (7.1 rpg).