Saint Louis University sophomore guard Jackie Kemph has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference women’s basketball Player of the Week by the league office and by College Sports Madness. In addition, Kemph was selected the College Sports Madness High-Major National Player of the Week.
The A-10 Player of the Week honors are the second of the season for Kemph from both organizations.
Kemph averaged 19.7 points, 11 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals to lead Saint Louis to A-10 victories over Davidson, Duquesne and Fordham last week. She shot 50 percent (18-of-36) from the field and 91.3 percent (21-of-23) from the free throw line, and she registered a 3.67-to-1 assist-turnover ratio.
Kemph began the week by recording a game-high-tying 19 points (5-of-8 FG, 9-of-9 FT), a career-high-tying 14 assists, three rebounds and two steals in an 88-51 win over Davidson. She followed with her fifth double-double of the season, a 19-point, 13-assist performance, as the Billikens toppled A-10 leader Duquesne 84-81. Kemph sank a career-high 10 free throws (10-of-12) and added four rebounds and two steals against the Dukes.
Kemph concluded the week in dramatic fashion, scoring with 2.2 seconds to play to lift Saint Louis to a 51-49 victory at Fordham. The game-winning bucket was part of a game-high 21-point effort (9-of-17 FG). Kemph also had a game-high six assists, four rebounds and a steal against the Rams.
For the season, Kemph leads the Billikens in scoring (16.3 ppg, third in the A-10), assists (7.1 apg, first in the A-10, fifth in the nation), assist-turnover ratio (2.24-to-1, second in the A-10, 26th in the nation), free throws made (113, first in the A-10) and free throw attempts (142, first in the A-10). She also ranks among the conference leaders in free throw percentage (.796, 10th), field goal percentage (.459, 12th) and 3-point field goal percentage (.354, 13th).
In the Duquesne game, Kemph set the Saint Louis single-season assists record. She finished the week with 193 helpers on the year.
Entering the final week of the regular season, Saint Louis (21-6, 11-3 A-10) is in a three-way tie for second place in the A-10. The Billikens, who have set program records for total wins and conference wins and tied the program mark for road victories (nine), are assured a top-four finish, giving them a double bye to the A-10 Championship quarterfinals.
SLU plays at Dayton Wednesday (6 p.m. CT) before welcoming Rhode Island to Chaifetz Arena Saturday for the regular-season finale that starts at 2 p.m.
