The UMHB men’s and women’s basketball teams continued in their mid-season success this past week, going a combined 3-0 as each was ranked in the D3hoops.com Top 25 rankings.
Up next, the Crusaders host Hardin-Simmons on Thursday night (Jan. 27) for a pair of ASC showdowns at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton. The women’s game tips off at 5:30 p.m. with the men’s game to follow at 7:30 p.m., and both will be pivotal in the ASC standings. True To The Cru has launched “Project 1K”, with the goal to get an attendance of 1,000+ to the games Thursday night, as HSU is UMHB’s biggest rival, and the contests will be critical for both teams. If you can, make sure to be in Belton Thursday evening. Admission is free.
Following the success of this past week, it is time to recognize True To The Cru’s Players of the Week, which are presented by our gold sponsors: Montgomery Chiropractic, Sacrifice Training, and the Crusader Football Alumni Association.
Women’s Basketball Player of the Week: Bethany McLeod
McLeod was phenomenal in each of UMHB’s road victories this past week, tallying a total of 42 points, nine steals, three assists and eight rebounds, with season highs in a number of statistical categories. She led the team in points in wins over Concordia and Ozarks, recording a career-best 23 points at Ozarks, which marked a career-best, and the first time in her four-year collegiate career that she eclipsed the 20-point mark. The guard also recorded a career-high 10 made field goals against the Eagles, and set season-high mark in steals (5).
McLeod is averaging 9.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for the season.
“Her defense allows her to get easy buckets in transition offense,” UMHB head coach Mark Morefield said of McLeod postgame Thursday. “If she’s not the player of the week [for the ASC], it’s a travesty. She’s put up some pretty good numbers, and shot the ball well. Her three-point shooting form is one of the biggest reasons why she’s consistently knocking down those shots now.”
Men’s Basketball Player of the Week: Kyle Wright
In the UMHB men’s basketball team’s lone contest of the week, Wright did a little bit of everything, leading the team in points (19), and steals (3), while also recording two rebounds. With Josiah Johnson unavailable, Wright was the team’s primary ball handler at various points and shot eight-of-14 from the field. He also dished out two assists, as the Crusaders moved to 13-2 with a 85-59 win over Ozarks. The Texarkana, Texas native set season-high marks in points, rebounds, steals and field goals in his 10th start of the season.
“Kyle’s been steadily getting better,” UMHB head coach Clif Carroll said of Wright following the win. “He’s a high-energy guy, and a super defensive player. He’s got offensive skills where, if we get him into a spot where we can take care of his strengths and stay away from his weaknesses, he’s pretty good.”
