Tonie Morgan Earns National Player of the Week Honor

Tonie Morgan has had a lot to smile about this season. (UK Athletics Photo)

The more games Kentucky plays, the more point guard Tonie Morgan does.

The Georgia Tech transfer was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week and co- Southeastern Conference Player of the Week Tuesday for her play in a win at then No. 5 LSU and at home against Missouri.

Morgan had 24 points, 12 assists, no turnovers and the game-winning, 3-point buzzer beater to give host LSU its first loss of the season. It was Kentucky’s highest-ranked road win in 52 years of program history.

Kentucky didn’t get to practice Friday due to travel delays returning from LSU but Morgan was still brilliant against Missouri Sunday. She had 18 points, 14 assists and only three turnovers in the home win.

Her 24 points and 12 assists at LSU contributed to 66.2 percent of the team’s scoring at LSU and her 18 points and 14 assists against Missouri contributed to 72.9 percent of the team’s scoring against Missouri.

In the two games, she was a combined 14 of 21 for the field and 5-for-6 from 3-point range.

““I don’t know what football team is doing good without a good quarterback,” Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks said after the Missouri win. “Tonie, she’s been phenomenal all year long. I’ve been seeing it and you guys probably didn’t read between the lines when I was saying it early on, her willingness to be coached. She never makes a face when she doesn’t agree with something and whatever it is.

“From day one, I told you guys she’s not trying to fill Georgia Amore’s shoes, she’s her own player. Throughout these last few months where we watch film together, we watch film a lot and she’s consistently just welcoming any kind of feedback and she takes it.”

The consecutive double-doubles give her four – all on points and assists — this season. She became the first player in program history to have consecutive games with at least 18 points and 12 assists.

She remains the only player in the nation averaging at least 13 points and nine assists per game. She also became the only Division women’s player since at least 2002-03 to have at least 24 points, 12 assists and no turnovers against an AP Top 5 opponent (home or away). She is one of two DI women’s players since at least 2002-03 (also Caitlin Clark) to have at least 24 points and 12 assists in a true road game against an AP Top 5 opponent.

Morgan is also the only SEC player since 2002-03 to have three games with at least 10 assists and no turnovers in a single season.

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Kentucky will play at Alabama (15-1) on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network before returning home to play host to No. 5 Oklahoma Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.