Elon’s Johnson Earns CAA WBB Weekly Honor

RICHMOND, Va. – The Colonial Athletic Association announced today, Dec. 22, that Elon women’s basketball freshman Malaya Johnson has been named the Rookie of the Week. This marks the first weekly award for Johnson and the second time this season that a Phoenix player has been awarded a weekly honor by the conference.

Johnson led the Phoenix in its two games last week, averaging 16 points per game. The rookie went 14-of-17 from the field to shoot 82 percent and shot 57 percent from the charity stripe. She also hauled down eight rebounds, four boards per game, and handed out three assists.

Johnson had the best game of her young career in the team’s 77-51 win at Campbell on Dec. 17 with a career-high 22 points off a career-high 10-of-12 performance from the field and went 2-of-3 from the line. She also had six rebounds and three assists, both career highs, against the Camels. Her 22 points marked the first 20+-point game for a Phoenix player this season.

Against No. 6 North Carolina, she went 4-of-5 in the game and finished with 10 points and two rebounds. The Mount Airy, N.C., native currently leads the league with a 55.6 field-goal percentage.

Johnson and the team returns to action after the holiday break on Monday, Dec. 29, to host former Southern Conference opponent Furman at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym.