UNC Women’s Basketball: Kayla McPherson named ACC Rookie of the Week

On Monday, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced that UNC women’s basketball standout Kayla McPherson has been named the Rookie of the Week.

What a week it was for UNC women’s basketball standout Kayla McPherson.

The redshirt freshman hasn’t wasted any time making an impact, as she’s been a sparkplug for the Tar Heels in her five games played since her return from injury. After two strong performances last week, McPherson has earned the ACC Rookie of the Week Award.

In the Tar Heels contest against Syracuse on Thursday, McPherson scored seven points over 20 minutes of action. On Sunday, the Hull, Georgia native made her first collegiate start and certainly made the most of it.

With North Carolina missing three regular starters, McPherson set new career highs in points (22), field goals (9), three-pointers (four), rebounds (six), and minutes played (29:29) in her first start. She helped the Tar Heels snap a losing skid as they dominated Boston College on their home floor.

Over the week of action, McPherson averaged 14.5 points while shooting a staggering 48 percent from the field. Since returning to the court, she has averaged 11.6 points per game and has connected on 50 percent of her shot attempts.

The Tar Heels are now the only ACC school with two rookie of the week selections, as McPherson follows true freshman Paulina Paris, who won the award on January 30. North Carolina now has two of the last three ACC Rookie of the Week selections.

It was quite the wait for McPherson to get on the court, but the wait was definitely worthwhile. Over just a few games, she has shown the potential that has so many UNC women’s basketball fans excited for her future in Chapel Hill.

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