With FGCU star forward Whitney Knight out, Kaniesha Atwater, to no one’s surprise, stepped up to the occasion. While her leadership was to be expected, her career topping play has been more than expected from anyone.
Atwater was recently named the Atlantic Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. She’s the team’s first Player of the Week this season to date.
Atwater averages 17.4 points per game, season to date, and regularly leads the team to victories over powerhouse opponents, such as George Washington and Harvard.
Against GW on Dec. 3, Atwater, despite early foul trouble, racked 22 points in 33 minutes. She also added 11 rebounds, three steals and four assists to the books. She sealed the team’s winning fate with three free throws in the last 10 seconds of play and a steal off a GW inbound pass.
On Saturday, the team hosted Harvard, where Atwater produced a season-high 27 points. Her nine rebounds kept her active on both ends of the floor. She went 10 for 22 on the arc.
The senior currently ranks second in the A-Sun in point average and among the top-10 in rebounds, field-goal percentage, assists and steals.