Boston College Athletics
Gakdeng Nabs Fifth ACC Freshman of the Week Award
February 28, 2022 | Women's Basketball
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Boston College women's basketball freshman center Maria Gakdeng was named the ACC's Freshman of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.
Gakdeng collects the honor for the fifth time this season, tying Stefanie Murphy's mark in 2007-08 for most ACC Freshman of the Week awards in program history.
The Lanham, Md., native helped the Eagles 2-0 last week on the road with a pair of 16-point victories against Duke and Syracuse to close out the regular season on a three-game win streak. She led the team in rebounding, field goal percentage, blocked shots, and was second in scoring.
Gakdeng averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks while shooting an efficient 77.8 percent from the floor.
It was the first time this season in which Gakdeng scored in double figures in back-to-back ACC games, including a career-high in points on the road with 16 (10 in the second half) against Duke. She blocked a personal-high six shots, which led to breaking the program's single-season record and tied the highest number of blocks in the ACC in a single game this season.
She became just the fourth freshman since 2016-17 in the ACC to post a game of at least 15 points, five rebounds, five blocks, and shoot 70 percent from the field.
Against Syracuse, she scored 14 points en route to securing the win over the Orange. She led the team in rebounds in both games.
Gakdeng is also the only freshman in the country to average at least 8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and shoot at least 60 percent from the floor.
She leads all freshmen in the ACC and is second in the country in blocks (63) and blocks per game (2.17).
Gakdeng and the Eagles will open the 2022 ACC Tournament in the second round on Thursday against No. 9 seed Florida State at 2 p.m.
Gakdeng collects the honor for the fifth time this season, tying Stefanie Murphy's mark in 2007-08 for most ACC Freshman of the Week awards in program history.
The Lanham, Md., native helped the Eagles 2-0 last week on the road with a pair of 16-point victories against Duke and Syracuse to close out the regular season on a three-game win streak. She led the team in rebounding, field goal percentage, blocked shots, and was second in scoring.
Gakdeng averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks while shooting an efficient 77.8 percent from the floor.
It was the first time this season in which Gakdeng scored in double figures in back-to-back ACC games, including a career-high in points on the road with 16 (10 in the second half) against Duke. She blocked a personal-high six shots, which led to breaking the program's single-season record and tied the highest number of blocks in the ACC in a single game this season.
She became just the fourth freshman since 2016-17 in the ACC to post a game of at least 15 points, five rebounds, five blocks, and shoot 70 percent from the field.
Against Syracuse, she scored 14 points en route to securing the win over the Orange. She led the team in rebounds in both games.
Gakdeng is also the only freshman in the country to average at least 8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and shoot at least 60 percent from the floor.
She leads all freshmen in the ACC and is second in the country in blocks (63) and blocks per game (2.17).
Gakdeng and the Eagles will open the 2022 ACC Tournament in the second round on Thursday against No. 9 seed Florida State at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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