ST LOUIS – For the third time this season Doneelah Washington earned MVC Freshman of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday. She recorded a pair of double-figure performances to help Illinois State to wins over Indiana State and Evansville last week. 

Washington averaged 12.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game in play last week on 9-for-18 (50%) shooting from the field. She recorded her first-career double-double Thursday against the Sycamores, the first and only double-double by a freshman in Valley play this season. It marked just the third overall double-double by a Valley rookie this year, as Washington scored a season-high 15 points with 10 boards and two blocks in the win. She became just the fourth Redbird freshman since 2009-10 to record a double-double and the third rookie under Kristen Gillespie to do so. 

Washington tallied a mark of seven offensive rebounds in the performance against Indiana State that is the most by a Valley freshman in a single game this season. Additionally, Washington shot 6-for-8 (75%) and tallied her sixth game this season shooting better than 60% from the field, a mark that leads all Valley freshmen.  

She nearly posted another double-double against the Purple Aces Saturday, tallying 10 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks in the win. It was her second performance in MVC play with 4+ blocks, after tallying four rejections to open MVC play Dec. 29 at Murray State.  

Washington totaled 6 blocks across the two games, improving to a league-best 10 blocks since the start of Valley play. She is just the third Redbird freshman since 2009-10 to record 10+ blocks in MVC play, joining Kate Bullman (10, 2020-21) and Kaylyn Gebhardt (11, 2013-14). 

Through three games Washington leads all freshmen in Valley play in points (tied, 31) rebounds (23), offensive rebounds (11), field goal percentage (tied, 54.5%) and blocks (10).  

Washington is one of two Valley rookies to earn MVC Freshman of the Week multiple times this season, along with Evansville's Camryn Runner. Washington and Shannon Dowell, who earned the award twice last year, are the only Redbirds to win multiple Valley Freshman of the Week honors. The MVC Freshman of the Week award was introduced by the league office prior to the start of the 2023-24 campaign. 

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