Northampton, MA --- Senior standout Meaghan O'Keefe (Warren, MA) has been selected as this week's New England Women's Basketball (NEWBA) Player of the Week and the D3hoops.com Team of the Week for her outstanding play in a pair of wins for Worcester State.
O'Keefe averaged 20 points, 18.5 rebounds and five blocks which included game highs of 26 points, 18 boards and six blocks in a 76-64 triumph against Fitchburg State before she finished off the week with 14 points, 19 caroms and four rejections in a 76-71 comeback win over Bridgewater State.
While her 26 points was a career-best, O'Keefe connected for 44 percent from the field for the week (12-for-27) and 93 percent from the free throw line (14-for-15).
Fresh off her MASCAC and WACBA Player of the Week performance during the week of January 7-13, O'Keefe continues to lead the conference in rebounding average (12.5 RPG), total rebounds (225), defensive boards (174), average blocks (1.7) and total blocks (31).
The fourth-year center is also second in the league in three-point field goal percentage (.365 – 19-for-52), third in free throw percentage (.809 – 38-for-47) and fourth in field goal percentage (.505 – 109-for-216) while she is third in total scoring (275) and fifth in average points per contest (15.5).
Among the NCAA Division III leaders as of last Thursday, O'Keefe is second in total rebounds while her average is 10th. Her field goal percentage is eighth in New England and 16th in average blocks.
For her career, O'Keefe has 828 career points, 655 rebounds and 137 blocks in 85 games. O'Keefe is seventh on the all-time total rebounding list, fourth in overall average for her career (7.7) and she is 19 blocks away from moving into second overall.
The D3hoops.com accolade for O'Keefe marks the first-time in program history that a Worcester State women's basketball player has been recognized by the national website.
The Lancers (9-9, 5-0 MASCAC) will play two MASCAC opponents in the next week. They will host Salem State tomorrow at 6 PM before heading to Framingham State on Saturday for a 3:30 showdown.