EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's Nia Coffey helped the Wildcats secure wins over crosstown rivals UIC and No. 18/18 DePaul last week, and for her efforts, she was named the Big Ten Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.
Coffey averaged 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and two steals in victories over the Flames and Blue Demons to help the Wildcats improve to 5-0 this season. Among all Big Ten players last week Coffey ranked seventh, third and first, respectively, in those categories.
The sophomore began the week with a 14-point, eight-rebound, five-block effort against UIC on Nov. 26 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Her 14 points led all players in the game, while her eight rebounds led the 'Cats. Coffey also matched a career high with five blocked shots in that game, while she sank all eight of her attempts from the charity stripe. NU won the Thanksgiving Eve clash with ease, 61-40.
On Saturday, Nov. 29, Coffey led the Wildcats into DePaul's McGrath-Phillips Arena and the squad emerged with a thrilling 97-91 double-overtime victory over a nationally-ranked team. The Minneapolis native registered her third double-double of the season behind season highs in points (23) and rebounds (17), leading all players in both categories. She also blocked four shots Saturday, matching DePaul's entire team output.
The second-year standout played an especially pivotal role during the 10 minutes of extra time for Northwestern by netting seven points and grabbing three rebounds during the two overtime periods. She also converted 3-of-4 chances at the free throw line in overtime.
Coffey, a Preseason All-Big Ten selection, is the conference's only player to currently rank in the top 10 of all players in scoring, rebounding and blocks this season. Through Nov. 30, the forward ranks fourth in blocks with 2.4 bpg, sixth in rebounding with 10.4 rpg and eighth in scoring with 16.4 ppg.
This marks Coffey's first weekly award this season and the fifth of her young career. She was previously named Big Ten Player of the Week on Dec. 2, 2013 and Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Nov. 12, 2013, Dec. 2, 2013 and Jan. 28, 2014.
The Wildcats will be back on the floor Thursday, Dec. 4 when they leave Illinois for the first time this season. Northwestern visits Virginia Tech, a team it has not seen since 1986, at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va., as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday, Dec. 7 when it will host another crosstown foe, Loyola, in the sixth annual Autism Awareness Game at 2 p.m.
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