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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior Megan Gustafson has been named the Ann Myers Drysdale Women’s National Player of the Week, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) announced Wednesday. It is the first national honor of Gustafson’s career.
As the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week, Gustafson was nominated for the award, which was chosen by Mel Greenberg, the USBWA coordinator for women’s basketball, from a list of Division I conference players of the week.
Gustafson averaged 24.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, and shot 61.9 percent from the field and 1.000 from the free throw line (22-for-22) to lead Iowa to a pair of wins against Wisconsin and No. 21/19 Michigan last week.
The Port Wing, Wisconsin, native netted 21 points and grabbed 16 boards to guide Iowa to a 56-46 win at Wisconsin on Dec. 28. She was a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line in the contest. Gustafson registered 13 points and nine rebounds in the second half to secure the victory for the Hawkeyes.
On Dec. 31, Gustafson registered 27 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high six blocks to lead Iowa to a win over No. 21/19 Michigan. Gustafson shot 88.9 percent (8-for-9) from the field and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line. She netted 21 of her 27 points in the second half to secure Iowa’s first win over a ranked opponent since March 6, 2015 (No. 25 Nebraska).
Gustafson has earned eight straight honors from the Big Ten conference, including five Player of the Week awards. She is one award shy of tying Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender for the most Player of the Week awards in a single season (6, 2010-11).
The No. 18/17 Hawkeyes travel to Maryland on Thursday, Jan. 4. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. (CT) in College Park, Maryland. The game will be televised on BTN.
