Walker named MIAA Player of the Week after reaching 1000 point plateau

Jan. 20, 2003

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. Ñ Crystal Walker, a 6-foot senior forward from Osawatomie, Kan., was named Wilson/MIAA Basketball Player of the Week Monday, averaging 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two MIAA victories.

Walker scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added four assists in WashburnÕs 72-58 victory at Northwest Missouri State Wednesday night in Maryville, Mo. Walker finished the night one shy of 1,000 career points, but reached the 500 rebound mark and ended the game with 506 career boards.

On Saturday night, Walker scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds in WashburnÕs 59-53 comeback victory over Central Missouri State. The Lady Blues trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half, before rallying for their 19th straight win in Lee Arena.

Walker netted a milestone in the first half by making a free throw to score her 1000th point at the 10:46 mark. She made her second free throw and finished with only two first half points and was 0-for-5 from the field.

Walker came through with an MVP-like performance in the second half by scoring 22 points on 7 of 8 shooting from the field and 8 of 9 shooting from the foul line. She scored 20 of WashburnÕs final 28 points to propel Washburn to a 28-10 run over the last 13:30 of the ballgame.

She also became the 12th Washburn player to record 1000 points and 500 rebounds. She currently has 1,023 points and 515 rebounds.

Walker, who won her second MIAA Player of the Week award this season, earned MIAA Player of the Week three times last season en route to MIAA Most Valuable Player honors.