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Merriweather Named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year & All-Conference Third Team

Merriweather Named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year & All-Conference Third Team

Women's Basketball Feb 27
MONROE, La. – Graduate center Emma Merriweather, who leads ULM in scoring (10.1 points per game), rebounding (10.6 rpg.), blocked shots (school single-season record 91) and field-goal percentage (.543; 107-of-197), has been named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year as well as All-Sun Belt Third Team, as selected by the league's women's head basketball coaches.
 
On a minutes-played basis, those statistics are equivalent to 17.2 points, 18.2 rebounds and 5.6 blocked shots per game. She has scored in double figures 14 times and collected double-digit rebounds in 17 games this season. Her 12 double-doubles lead the Sun Belt Conference. Merriweather averaged 10.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 4.1 blocked shots in league games, including 10 double-doubles.
 
The 6-foot-5 Merriweather leads the Sun Belt in three different statistical categories: rebounding (10.6 rpg.), offensive rebounding (3.9 pg.) and blocked shots (3.3 pg.). She also ranks third in field-goal percentage at .543. In addition, Merriweather is listed among the NCAA Division I leaders in blocked shots (third), overall rebounding (15th), offensive rebounding (17th) and double-doubles (33rd). She has produced multiple blocked shots in 20 of 28 games this season, including five or more blocks in seven contests.
 
"Emma has been a special player for us this year," ULM women's basketball coach Brooks Donald Williams said. "It's been exciting to watch her gain incredible confidence and get better each and every outing. She's made an impact on both ends of the floor. Her shot-blocking ability to protect the paint and her knack for rebounding has been special to watch. We are thrilled for her that she's getting recognized for her work and efforts." 
 
She has been a model of consistency, grabbing double-figure rebounds in 13 of her last 16 games while averaging 13.1 per game during that span. Merriweather has posted some impressive totals down the stretch, averaging 13.6 points, 15.0 rebounds and 5.2 blocks over the last five games.
 
She closed out the Sun Belt regular season with her 12th double-double, finishing with 24 points, 14 rebounds (six offensive boards). Merriweather hit 10-of-17 field-goal attempts against the Mountaineers and added three blocked shots. 
 
She had a record-breaking performance against Louisiana Lafayette, finishing with nine points, a Fant-Ewing Coliseum-record 23 rebounds and a ULM single-game record-tying 10 blocked shots. With her 10 rejections, Merriweather set the ULM single-season record with 82 blocks, breaking the mark previously held by Cassandra Barker (1992-93). Her 10 blocked shots (tied for second) and 23 rebounds (tied for ninth) rank among the top NCAA Division I single-game totals recorded in 2022-23. She also fell one point shy of becoming the first player in school history to produce a triple-double.
 
Merriweather recorded four consecutive double-doubles during one midseason stretch.
 
She was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week after producing back-to-back double-doubles as ULM earned a road split against Old Dominion and Coastal Carolina. Merriweather tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds in ULM's 73-71 victory at Coastal Carolina, as the Warhawks ended a 22-game road losing skid, including 19 straight in conference play. She also blocked four shots and set a career high with four steals against the Chanticleers.
 
A native of Buena Park, California, Merriweather scored a game-high 16 points (7-of-10 FG shooting) and grabbed 14 rebounds (five offensive boards) at ODU.
 
No. 14-seed ULM (7-22, 3-15 SBC) will face No. 11-seed Arkansas State (11-18, 6-12 SBC) in the first round of the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Championship on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. CT in Pensacola, Florida. The Warhawks and Red Wolves split the regular-season series, with each team winning on their home floor. ULM opened Sun Belt play with an 81-66 victory over A-State in Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Dec. 29, 2022, while the Red Wolves posted a 98-73 win over the Warhawks in Jonesboro on Feb. 22 to start the final week of the regular season.
 
Emma Merriweather has been named to the 2022-23 All-Sun Belt Third Team.

 
 
 
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