KANSAS CITY, Mo. (January 25, 2020) - The MIAA announced its eighth women’s basketball athlete of the week for the 2020-2021 season. Nebraska-Kearney's Elisa Backes won the honor for the first time this season.

Backes, now UNKs leading scorer on the year at 10.4, averaged 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.0 assists per game as the No. 4 Lopers won at Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern State. It was the Lopers first win at Pitt State in 34 years. The forward came off the bench for the 71st time on Thursday to record her third double-double (20 points & 11 rebounds). She started for the first time in her career on Saturday and tied her career-high in points (21) while adding three blocks and two boards. Backes ended the weekend shooting 71% at the line and 48% from the field

Notable Performances In The Association
Graycen Holden - Central Missouri
Holden picked up a double-double with a career-best 25 points and 10 rebounds against Rogers State. she averaged 16.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting 66.7% from the floor and 81.8% at the free throw line.

Tre'Zure Jobe - Emporia State
Jobe averaged 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last week. She had 25 points at Northwest an scored 16 against Central Oklahoma. She ended the week with 21 points, six rebounds and three assists against Washburn.

Kelsey Johnson - Central Oklahoma
Johnson averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds last week. She recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds at Emporia before posting 23 points and 10 rebounds in a 10-point win at Northwest Missouri.

Jaden Hobbs - Fort Hays State
Hobbs nearly averaged a double-double last week, totaling 21.0 points, 9.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game in a pair of road wins last week. The senior scored 26 points and 12 assists at Pittsburg State on Saturday.

Also Nominated
Hunter Bentley, Washburn - AJ Bradley, Lincoln - Zaria Collins, Northeastern State - Faith Mason-Vestal, Newman - Samariah Thompson, Rogers State - Carley Turnbull, Missouri Southern - Molly Hartnett, Northwest Missouri