Jade Phillips UNCC Spectacular Magazine
Sports

Raleigh-Native Phillips Named C-USA Player of the Week

Lawrence Davis III @LawDavis13 @SpecMagSports

DALLAS, T.X. – A double-double average for the week, including eye-popping numbers, has landed Charlotte’s Jade Phillips the December 23 Conference USA Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Phillips has been the 49ers’ most consistent player all season as part of their 8-2 start.

Phillips, a Raleigh, North Carolina-native, averaged 19.0 points and 10.0 rebounds in helping to guide the Niners to an Education Day triumph over Delaware Tuesday and a cross-county victory at Davidson Saturday.

She opened the week with her fifth double-double of the campaign, dropping in a season-best 24 points to go along with a career-high-tying 15 rebounds against the Blue Hens. She connected on 10-of-21 field goals, including a season-best two 3-pointers, while grabbing 10 of her boards on the defensive glass. Her efforts helped spark a fourth-quarter comeback and lifted the 49ers to the win in front of over 8,000 local children in the first meeting between the two squads.

Phillips poured in all 14 points at Davidson after the second half after being held scoreless during the opening 20 minutes. She finished 7-of-13 from the field, hauled in five caroms and swiped a career-high-tying three steals. With her team down a bucket at the intermission, Phillips netted eight of the Charlotte early points in the third quarter as part of a game-changing 12-4 run.

Phillips’ accolade is the second of her career following her previous plaudit, March 4, 2019. She becomes the second player during the program’s Conference USA eras (1996-2005; 2014-present) to be a multi-time selection.

Overall in their Conference USA history, the Niners have collected 13 player of the week awards including at least one each of the last four years. Nine of those have come under head coach Cara Consuegra.

Charlotte returns to the hardwood for the final time in non-conference play and during the 2019 calendar year when it plays host to Maryland-Eastern Shore at 4 p.m. Saturday. League action begins after the New Year with a three-game road swing before the 49ers tip-off the home conference slate at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 against Marshall.