ROME, Ga. – Alize Munn became the second first-year Salem basketball player of the season to earn USA South Rookie of the Week honors when the league recognized her a series of performances last week. Munn joins Tamsi Echendu as the only players in program history to receive the Rookie of the Week honors from the USA South Conference.
The honors to Munn and Echendu, who earned the distinction on November 29, 2021, mark the first time since the 2015-16 season that Salem basketball has had multiple Player of the Week honors in the same season. In that season, now head coach Quntashea Lewis was named as Great South Player of the Week on both February 7, 2016 and February 14, 2016 for her performances on the court.
Munn put together a series of double-digit scoring performances last week against league foes Mary Baldwin (12 points), Averett (14) and William Peace (11). That gives Munn six double figure outings this season and marks the first time in her career that she has tallied three straight. For the week, she shot 16-of-34 (47.1%) from the floor, including 2-of-5 (40%) from beyond the arc, while finishing 3-of-5 (60%) at the free throw line in three starts for Salem. Defensively, she was active with 17 rebounds (10 defensive), two steals and a pair of blocks.
The Deland, Texas, native began her week by logging a team-high 30 minutes against Mary Baldwin, where she led the starting unit in points (12) by knocking down 5-of-11 from the floor. She also climbed the glass for a team-high seven rebounds, grabbing three from the offensive glass.
The following evening, in a clash against Averett in Danville, Va., Munn closed out the game with a team-high 14 points. She converted 6-of-13 field goals, including a pair from 3-point range, while grabbing two rebounds and forcing two steals. She also made one block against the Cougars.
The first-year standout closed out her week by playing a significant role in helping Salem to pick up its fourth win of the slate, third in USA South Conference action, by downing William Peace 92-83 in overtime. Munn was one of five players, more specifically three starters, to enjoy a double-digit scoring performance against the Pacers.
She capped off the game versus William Peace with 11 points by hitting 5-of-10 from the floor and 1-of-2 at the charity stripe. Munn came through with eight rebounds (six defensive) and handed out two assists while converting a block. Those eight rebounds were instrumental in giving Salem a 52-44 edge on the glass.
Salem closes out the 2021-22 season with a 6 p.m. clash on the road against Southern Virginia on Wednesday evening.