Posted: Jan 05, 2026
BROOKLYN MATTHEWS OF AUSTIN COLLEGE, a senior forward from Conroe, Texas, has been named the SCAC Women’s Basketball Offensive Player-of-the-Week for games played from Sunday, December 28 through Sunday, January 4. SCAC Women's Basketball Release (Week 8)
Matthews had a big impact in her return to the team, and in just her second game this season, scoring 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting in just 18 minutes of play in a conference win over Dallas. Matthews also grabbed five rebounds and added one steal in limited game time.
Other Outstanding Performances in the SCAC:
Senior guard Kayla Mackel of Colorado College led the Tigers to a season sweep of St. Thomas, scoring a game-high 22 points in 38 minutes on the floor. She also finished the game with three rebounds and a career-high six steals. Junior forward Shanna Brown of Concordia (Tex.) was efficient for the Tornados in a 78-70 win over the College of Biblical Studies of Houston. Brown tallied game-highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds in the win as she collected her third double-double of the season. Junior guard Natalie Edmonson of Hendrix finished in double-figures in two wins over Ozarks to help the Warriors to a 2-0 start in league play. On Friday, she posted a career-high 29 points on 8-of-11 (72.7%) shooting from behind the arc and shot 71.4% from the field and followed that up with 11 points in a 75-73 thriller on Sunday. Junior guard Mariana Espinosa of LeTourneau averaged a double-double of 12.5 points and 11.0 rebounds with 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in a 2-0 week for LeTourneau. She had 13 points with six rebounds, six assists, four steals, and a block in a comeback win over Manchester. Espinosa then had a double-double of 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds with three assists and a steal in a 79-66 win at Centenary. Senior forward Aryana Cleveland of McMurry poured in 20 points in an impressive non-conference win over UMHB to open up 2026. It marked the second time this season she has reached the 20-point plateau. She also grabbed six, dished out two assists and accounted for two steals. Junior guard Abby Beene of Ozarks averaged 15.3 points on 36.2 percent shooting over three games last week for the Eagles. Beene also added 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Junior guard Kenna Gibson of St. Thomas led the Celts to a 2-1 record last week, highlighted by non-conference wins over Manchester and on the road at ETBU. She averaged 11.3 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting and added 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.3 blocks and 0.4 assists over the three contests..
Senior guard Kayla Mackel of Colorado College led the Tigers to a season sweep of St. Thomas, scoring a game-high 22 points in 38 minutes on the floor. She also finished the game with three rebounds and a career-high six steals. Junior forward Shanna Brown of Concordia (Tex.) was efficient for the Tornados in a 78-70 win over the College of Biblical Studies of Houston. Brown tallied game-highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds in the win as she collected her third double-double of the season. Junior guard Natalie Edmonson of Hendrix finished in double-figures in two wins over Ozarks to help the Warriors to a 2-0 start in league play. On Friday, she posted a career-high 29 points on 8-of-11 (72.7%) shooting from behind the arc and shot 71.4% from the field and followed that up with 11 points in a 75-73 thriller on Sunday. Junior guard Mariana Espinosa of LeTourneau averaged a double-double of 12.5 points and 11.0 rebounds with 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in a 2-0 week for LeTourneau. She had 13 points with six rebounds, six assists, four steals, and a block in a comeback win over Manchester. Espinosa then had a double-double of 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds with three assists and a steal in a 79-66 win at Centenary. Senior forward Aryana Cleveland of McMurry poured in 20 points in an impressive non-conference win over UMHB to open up 2026. It marked the second time this season she has reached the 20-point plateau. She also grabbed six, dished out two assists and accounted for two steals. Junior guard Abby Beene of Ozarks averaged 15.3 points on 36.2 percent shooting over three games last week for the Eagles. Beene also added 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Junior guard Kenna Gibson of St. Thomas led the Celts to a 2-1 record last week, highlighted by non-conference wins over Manchester and on the road at ETBU. She averaged 11.3 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting and added 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 1.3 blocks and 0.4 assists over the three contests..
| SCAC Women's Basketball Offensive Players-of-the-Week | |
| Week 1 | Lila Hartness, Univeristy of the Ozarks |
| Week 2 | Helana Chadwick, McMurry University |
| Week 3 | Sarahi Jones, Texas Lutheran University |
| Week 4 | Laura Jones, University of St. Thomas |
| Week 5 | Helana Chadwick, McMurry University |
| Week 6 | Andie Will, Colorado College |
| Week 7 | Davi'Yanna Jones, Texas Lutheran University |
| Week 8 | Brooklyn Matthews, Austin College |
| Week 9 | |
| Week 10 | |
| Week 11 | |
