BROOKLYN, N.Y. --- Freshman Jeydah Johnson has been named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, the league announced Monday afternoon.
Johnson put together an outstanding stat line during the Blackbirds' last two contests - a pair of three-point games away from the Steinberg Wellness Center. In the team's second trip to the DMV area this season, the native of Randallstown, Md.exploded for season highs of 27 points, nine made field goals (9-of 16 shooting), eight three-pointers (8-of-12 from deep), seven rebounds and three steals in a close 73-70 overtime loss at George Mason on December 7.
Johnson's 27-point outing set a new team high for the year and served as her second performance of 20 points or more this season - with the other also happening in the DMV at UMBC on November 17. Her eight triples were two shy of tying the LIU school record of ten set by Jennifer Xiques on February 20, 1995 against Robert Morris and also set a new EagleBank Arena facility record.
Johnson followed up Thursday's game with a 13-point effort in the Blackbirds' 72-69 victory over Lehigh at the Barclays Center on December 10, helping LIU earn its first win in six tries since 2012 at the team's neutral site home court. Johnson matched her season in steals (3) while adding three more rebounds, two more three pointers and an assist.
Overall, Johnson logged averages of 20.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 spg, and a three-point shooting rate of 55.6 percent (10-of-18) in the two games. On the season, Johnson is tied for the NEC lead in three-pointers made (27) and threes per game (3) while sitting in the top 10 in scoring (13.9; T-8th).
The NEC award is the third of the year for the Blackbirds, with graduate transfer Denisha Petty-Evans earning NEC Player of the Week honors on November 20. Johnson is also the first player this year to earn Rookie of the Week multiple times.
LIU returns to action this week with a home matchup against Manhattan on Saturday, December 16 at 2 p.m. at the Steinberg Wellness Center.
2017-18 NEC WEEKLY HONORS
N20: Denisha Petty-Evans, Player of the Week
N20: Jeydah Johnson, Rookie of the Week
D11: Jeydah Johnson, Rookie of the Week