SEMO Guard Kennedy Claybrooks Earns OVC Newcomer of the Week Honors

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – After an impressive performance against SIU, junior guard Kennedy Claybrooks was named the Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week. Claybrooks scored a career-high 19 points for the RedHawks during the victory, helping lead her team to their first win of the young season.

Claybrooks averaged 14 points and 6.5 rebounds per game over her last two games for the RedHawks. She showcased her shooting ability on the court by shooting 9-for-13 from the field, including an impressive 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. At the free throw line, Claybrooks went 6-for-10, rounding out an impressive week for the Newcomer to the OVC.

Claybrooks talks about her excitement for being named the OVC Newcomer of the week.

“It means a lot. I just put in the work constantly every day with my teammates, doing the extra reps. It means a lot to me to be the Newcomer of the Week,” she says. “I think I executed well, I made the right passes, I rebounded, I just did everything my coach needed me to do this week and I’m constantly going to keep trying to get better each week.”

Claybrooks will have her work cut out for her as she works to top her impressive performance from the past week. However, her head coach Briley Palmer says don’t be surprised when it happens.

“We won a big game last week as well and she was a big part of that, high efficiency week for her.” Says Palmer, “I think the learning I got to see out of Kennedy this week was really good. ”

Looking ahead, Claybrooks is eager to build off of her momentum as the season progresses and conference play approaches.

The Redhawks women’s basketball team now prepares for Sunday, when they will face the Arkansas Razorbacks in Arkansas, tip off set for 2 P.M.