SEMO's Johnson nabs second OVC Freshman of the Week honor

It's been awhile since the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball program has had a player earn Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week honors more than once in a season.

Redhawks redshirt freshman Imani Johnson became the first to accomplish that feat since the 1995-96 season when Sarah Miller won it twice.

Johnson picked up the honor for the second time on Tuesday morning.

"Imani has been able to come off the bench and provide us with great offensive production lately," coach Rekha Patterson said in a press release. "We are excited about the player she is and the player she can become as she continues to develop."

Johnson had 12 points in a road loss to OVC leader SIU Edwardsville last Wednesday and scored 18 points in a loss to defending OVC champion UT Martin on Sunday. She recorded five rebounds in each game.

She shot 40.9 percent from the floor and knocked down three 3-pointers in those two contests and was 9 of 10 from the free-throw line. She's shooting 84.4 percent from the charity stripe this season, which ranks second in the OVC.

Austin Peay's Tiasha Gray and Tennessee Tech's Samaria Howard shared OVC Player of the Week honors while Eastern Kentucky's Jalen O'Bannon earned Newcomer of the Week.

The Redhawks (12-9, 5-3 OVC) host Austin Peay at 2 p.m. Saturday.