Women's Basketball

Kiara Lewis named College Sports Madness National Player of the Week

Elizabeth Billman | Asst. Photo Editor

College Sports Madness named Kiara Lewis national player of the week for the second time this season.

Syracuse point guard Kiara Lewis was named the National and Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week by College Sports Madness on Monday, her second time receiving the award this season. Lewis averaged 23.5 points, 3.5 steals and three 3-pointers in two games last week — wins against Boston College on Thursday and No. 5 Louisville on Sunday.

Following Lewis’ lowest-scoring game of the season (two points) in a loss to Virginia on Feb. 2, she powered Syracuse (12-11, 6-6 ACC) to an 89-79 at Boston College with 23 points and eight rebounds. 

On Sunday, Lewis was SU’s standout player in its potentially season-saving victory over No. 5 Louisville. The junior dropped 24 points and three 3s while helping keep Cardinals’ star guard Dana Evans to 4-for-17 shooting. The loss marked Louisville’s second in the conference and third all season.

Lewis last won the award on Jan. 6 following consecutive overtime wins over then-No. 8 Florida State and Notre Dame at the Carrier Dome.

The Chicago, Illinois native has been Syracuse’s driving force this season, leading the team in points (17.5), assists (five), steals (1.8) and minutes (37.1) per game. Lewis replaced Tiana Mangakahia as the Orange’s starting point guard after Mangakahia announced she would miss the 2019-20 season last summer as she continued to recover from breast cancer. 



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