Region 8 trio earns NJCAA POTW honors

Shayne O'Connell
Photo courtesy of College of Central Florida

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (February 8, 2017) - Region 8 claimed three more player of the week honors by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) this week.

In women's basketball, Tallahassee Community College's Lawriell Wilson was named NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the second time this season. 

Wilson, a sophomore guard from Kenner, La., averaged 30.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals in two games during the voting period. She shot 50.0 percent (19-of-38) from the field, 83.3 percent (5-of-6) on three-pointers and 77.3 percent (17-of-22) from the free throw line.

She was named Region 8 Women's Basketball Player of the Week. 

Wilson led Tallahassee to wins over two nationally-ranked opponents – No. 4 Chipola and No. 20 Northwest Florida State. She tallied 31 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the 83-73 win over Chipola, snapping an 11-game losing streak to the Indians. Wilson hit 9-of-16 shots, including 3-for-3 from long distance, in an 80-72 win at Northwest Florida State. 

This marked the fifth time Region 8 has claimed the award. In addition to receiving it last month, the award has been handed out to Raven Baker-Northcross (Chipola College), Ahiyona Vason (Pensacola State College) and Malaysia Robinson (Florida State College at Jacksonville).

In baseball, St. Petersburg College claimed NJCAA Division I Baseball Player of the Week honors for a second straight. 

Last week, it was Chris Busch who took home Division I Baseball Player of the Week. This week, the honor goes to the Busch's St. Petersburg teammate, shortstop Trevor Jensen. Titans' honors while State College of Florida's Carlee Lucas was named NJCAA Division I Softball Player of the Week.

Jensen, a sophomore Dunedian, Fal., bBatted .563 (9-for-16) with eight runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and ten RBIs in four games during the voting period while leading St. Petersburg to a 3-1 record. 

Jensen hit safely in all four games, including three multi-hit outings; and scored and recorded an RBI in three of four games. 

Jensen was 4-for-5 with three runs scored, a homer and five RBIs vs. Pensacola State (February 3). He homered in game one of a DH with Pensacola State (February 4) and was 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Jensen finished his week by going 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three driven in vs. Pasco-Hernando State. 

Jensen was named Region 8 Baseball Player of the Week on Tuesday. 

For the second straight week, Region 8 also claimed NJCAA Division I Softball Pitcher of the Week honors. 

Central Florida's Shayne O'Connell was accounced as the winner.

O'Connell who is from Tallahassee, Fla., was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two games during the week. 

She pitched a one-hit shutout in game one of a DH vs. State College of Florida (February 2), a game in which she struck out nine. 

She was the game one winner in DH vs. Miami Dade (February 4), tossing four shutout innings of no-hit ball. For the week, O'Donnell tottaled 11 innings, allowing one hit, no runs and three walks while striking out 16.