February 5, 2013

Harris captures adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honor

Tennessee Tech women’s basketball senior Jala Harris has captured the adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week award announced Tuesday.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women's basketball senior Jala Harris has captured the adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week award announced Tuesday.

Harris, a 5-6 guard from Madison Ala., notched her first OVC Player of the Week honor this season. She averaged 20 points and five assists per game while shooting 42.4 percent from the floor in Tech's road wins over Belmont and Tennessee State last week.

The senior played a vital role in the Golden Eagles back-to-back wins. Harris scored a game-high 21 points at Belmont Saturday and 19 in an overtime victory over Tennessee State Monday. Against TSU, Harris came alive in the second half, scoring 12 of her 19, and added two in overtime to tie the game. Three of Harris' six assists came in the final moments of the game as she created three-point opportunities that her teammates converted, including the game-winning shot.

It is Harris' fourth time receiving the nod in her two-seasons since transferring from the UAB. Harris, who owns 650 points and 153 assists in her 46-game Tech career, was named OVC Newcomer of the Week three times last season, and was a second-team All-OVC selection as well as being named to the OVC All-Tournament team.

Also nominated for the award were Jordan Coleman, Belmont; Mariah King, Eastern Illinois; Alex Jones, Eastern Kentucky; Terrice Robinson, Morehead State; Mariah Robinson, Morehead State; Brittany Harriel, Southeast Missouri; Simone Hopes, Tennessee State; Jasmine Newsome, UT Martin

Harris is the third different Golden Eagle to win a weekly OVC honor along with Diamond Henderson and Lashay Davis.

The Golden Eagles will return to the court Saturday as the Golden Eagles host Jacksonville State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. to open the evening's doubleheader with the Gamecocks. In a special event, all fans wearing pink will only have to pay $1 for their ticket in honor of the Women's Basketball Play 4 Kay event. Visit or call the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center (931-372-3940) for tickets or information.