Austin Peay Basketball Standouts Earn ASUN Weekly Honors
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The Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team saw two players recognized for their performance in the final week of nonconference play, as announced by the Atlantic Sun Conference on Monday. Anovia Sheals was named Player of the Week, while Jim’Miyah Branton secured the Freshman of the Week title.
The awards highlight a strong finish to the nonconference schedule for the Governors, signaling positive momentum as they transition into ASUN competition.
Sheals Dominates for Player of the Week Recognition
Sophomore Anovia Sheals earned Player of the Week honors after averaging 12.5 points across two games, including a high of 15 points in Austin Peay’s victory over Loyola-Chicago. Sheals demonstrated efficiency from the field,shooting 45.0 percent overall and converting 71.4 percent of her free-throw attempts.
Beyond scoring, Sheals contributed substantially in other facets of the game, securing 11 rebounds – eight against Loyola-Chicago – along with three steals and four assists. She also connected on two three-pointers in the Governors’ win against Berry.
Currently, the Daytona Beach, Florida native leads the Governors in scoring, averaging 13.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season. This is Sheals’ first weekly award of the 2023-24 season and her second career ASUN weekly honor. She previously earned recognition as the ASUN Sixth Woman of the Year and was a unanimous preseason All-ASUN selection.
Branton Shines as ASUN Freshman of the Week
Freshman Jim’Miyah Branton impressed in her own right, averaging 9.0 points in two games, with a game-high of 10 points in the win against Berry. The miami, Florida native also contributed 3.5 rebounds per game and shot an impressive 58.3 percent from the field.
branton showcased her playmaking ability with seven assists against Berry and added two three-pointers over the week. Her defensive impact was also notable, recording three steals during the final week of nonconference play.
Through her freshman campaign, Branton is averaging 9.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.This marks her second career weekly award, demonstrating a swift adaptation to the collegiate level.
Governors Set to Begin ASUN Play
Anovia Sheals, Jim’Miyah Branton, and the rest of the Austin Peay Governors will open ASUN play with a 6:30 p.m. (ET) matchup against Jacksonville on Tuesday at Swisher Gymnasium. This game marks a pivotal moment for the team as they begin their conference schedule with a focus on building upon their recent successes.
Why: The Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team earned two ASUN weekly honors-player of the Week (Anovia Sheals) and Freshman of the Week (Jim’Miyah Branton)-recognizing their strong performance in the final week of nonconference play.
Who: Anovia Sheals (sophomore) and Jim’Miyah Branton (freshman) were the players honored. The Austin Peay Governors team as a whole is also central to the story.
What: Sheals averaged 12.5 points and 6.1 rebounds, while Branton averaged 9.0 points and 4.2 rebounds.The team is now preparing to begin ASUN conference play.
How: Sheals’ performance included a 15-point game against Loyola-Chicago and strong shooting percentages. Br
