Brooklyn, N.Y. - Long Island University junior Kiara Evans had to wait three games until she was healthy enough to make her season debut, but the wait was worthwhile as she was instrumental in a pair of double-digit wins that guided the Blackbirds women's basketball team to the Courtyard LaGuardia Turkey Classic championship. After scoring a total of points 31 points over just 26 minutes of play across the two victories, Evans was named the Choice Hotels/Northeast Conference Player of the Week.

After missing the first three games with an injury, Evans came off the bench to see her first action of the season in a 71-56 home win over McNeese State on Nov. 26. She scored nine points in 11 minutes of play but the real feat came the following day in a 71-59 victory over Boston University to capture the turkey tournament title.

Once again coming off the bench, the 5-foot-8 point guard erupted for 22 points which all came during nine minutes of play in the second half. Evans took control of a game that the Blackbirds trailed by 12 points with 18 minutes to play and guided her team to a 12-point win and the tournament championship.

Evans ignited the 24-point turnaround with eight points during a 13-0 run that gave Long Island the lead. Later, with the Terriers closing within six points, Evans scored 11 of the team's final 15 points as the Blackbirds held off a late Boston University charge to seal the win. For the game, she shot 6-for-11 with six rebounds, three assists and three steals, all in just 17 total minutes of play.

Over the two games for which she was named the tournament's most valuable player, Evans averaged 15.5 points and 3.5 rebounds over an average of 14 minutes per game.

Long Island will return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 1 when the Blackbirds host Howard at 7:00 p.m.