Quote:NEW ORLEANS - Ebony Rowe of Middle Tennessee has been named this week's Sun Belt Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week following her efforts in the Blue Raider win over South Florida.

Rowe made a huge splash in her Blue Raider debut, recording a double-double by leading all players with 25 points and 16 rebounds in the win over Big East foe USF. Rowe was efficient from the floor, hitting 9-of-11 field goals, while adding three blocked shots, three assists and two steals in playing all 40 minutes. Nine of her 16 rebounds were on the offensive glass, finishing just two shy of the Bulls' team total.

She became the first MT player to register a double-double in a Blue Raider debut under head coach Rick Insell. The 16 rebounds are the highest total and the 25 points rank as the third most in a MT debut under Insell. Rowe also became the first freshman to garner a start in the season opener since 2007 and just the fourth rookie to accomplish the feat in the Rick Insell era (2005-06 to present).