Wake Forest Athletics
Mekia Valentine Named ACC Co-Rookie of the Week
2/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2007
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest freshman Mekia Valentine has been named ACC Co-Rookie of the Week as announced by the league office Monday afternoon. Valentine shares the honor with Virginia's Monica Wright.
Valentine turned in an impressive performance in the Demon Deacons' 79-53 loss to NC State on Thursday. The Greensboro native posted her second double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Valentine also added five blocks and a steal on the night.
The 6-4 forward came off the bench to set new personal-bests in points (16) and field goals made (seven). Valentine was also within two rebounds of tying her season-high.
Valentine's five blocks in the game gives her 43 on the year, tying the Wake Forest freshman single-season mark set by Lisa Dodd in 1986-87. It is also tied for the second-highest season block total in program history and the most since Dodd in 1986-87. Valentine is now within 18 of the Wake Forest single-season block record, set by Dodd in 1987-88.
For the year, Valentine is averaging 5.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.95 blocks per game.
The Rookie of the Week honor was the first weekly award for Wake Forest this season.
Georgia Tech's Stephanie Higgs was named ACC Player of the Week.
The Demon Deacons are in action again on Thursday when they travel to Coral Gables to face Miami. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
