Raneem Elgedawy has been named the C-USA Freshman of the Week as announced by the league office Monday afternoon after averaging 9.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in two meetings with Power Five opponents Notre Dame and Indiana last week.
The honor is the first of Elgedawy’s young career on The Hill and is WKU’s first Freshman of the Week selection since Whitney Creech earned the honor on Dec. 19, 2016. Elgedawy and Creech are the lone Lady Toppers to be named C-USA Freshman of the Week since Tashia Brown accomplished the feat three times during the 2014-15 campaign.
Against perennial national championship contender Notre Dame inside E.A. Diddle Arena last Tuesday, Elgedawy was matched up against All-American level post players in Jessica Shepard and Jackie Young. The Alexandria, Egypt, native rose to the occasion, however, tallying a season-best 12 points to go along with eight rebounds against the Fighting Irish while shooting 5-of-9 (.556) from the floor.
On Friday, the freshman continued her strong week in front of more than 3,000 fans on the road at Indiana, scoring seven points and pulling down a season-high nine rebounds as WKU nearly pulled off a 15-point comeback against the Hoosiers. Elgedawy also turned in a strong all-around statline, notching three assists, two blocks and a steal to round out a strong performance in just her fourth regular season game with the Lady Toppers.
For the season, Elgedawy is averaging 7.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per game and has drawn the start in each of her first four collegiate contests.
Elgedawy and the Lady Toppers will return to action twice this week as WKU competes in the Georgia State Thanksgiving Classic in Atlanta on Friday and Sunday. The Lady Toppers will battle Mercer, a team that won 25 games in 2016-17, at 5 p.m. (CT) on Friday evening before taking on the host and former Sun Belt rival Georgia State on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (CT).
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Lady Topper Basketball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on Twitter, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
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Currie P. McFayden
WKU Associate Director of Athletic Communications
