PacWest Release #7
Phoenix, AZ -- Leading the way in a memorable
82-73 victory over #17 Pittsburgh State and a hard-fought battle with Central Missouri, senior
Jordan Rogers was selected as the Pacific West Conference Player of the Week following the Urban Knights' final games of the 2012 calendar year. Like Rogers, freshman
Regina Camera was also among the scoring leaders for the week and captured a PacWest Weekly Fantastic 15 honor as well. The honors were announced by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix, AZ on Tuesday, Jan. 1 for games played Dec. 17-23.
Rogers was at the forefront of the charge to overcome Academy of Art University's first ranked opponent this season in Pitt State on Dec. 18. Converting from the foul line early, the senior keyed in defensively with three steals and two blocks in the first half alone to help the Urban Knights to 18 points off turnovers in that period. As the Gorillas began to cut into ART U's halftime advantage, Rogers followed Camera's 3-pointer with a triple of her own in what was a major turning point. The Sparks, NV native would add more clutch free throws and finish the contest with 20 points (8-of-11 from the foul line). She added seven rebounds, four blocks, four steals, and one assist.
Against Central Missouri, Rogers came on strong in the second half, tossing in a 3-pointer and making four free throws in the final minute to help lead a 22-5 ART U run to end the game. She would conclude that one with 15 points (8-of-10 from the free throw line), six rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one blocked shot.
For the week, Rogers averaged 17.5 points (6th in PacWest), 6.5 rebounds (16th in PWC), 3.0 steals (2nd in PWC), and 2.5 blocks (3rd in PWC) per game in addition to shooting 76.2 percent (16-for-21) from the free throw line and 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from the field.
She is now tied for eighth in the PacWest in scoring (13.4 ppg), third in free throw percentage (80.0%), and 10th in blocks (0.9 bpg). In addition, she ranks in the Top 15 in steals with 1.8 thefts per game.
Rogers' partner in the one-two offensive punch delivered by the Urban Knights against Pitt State, Camera posted a career-high 23 points including a trio of shots made from beyond the three-point arc. The freshman helped ART U build its 12-point halftime lead with 17 of those points in the opening period. Guiding the NCAA's leaders in turnover margin, Camera offered four steals in the game as well as three assists.
“[The career-high] felt great,” Camera said. “It did not matter to me the amount of points I had at the end though, it just felt great to get my shot back! I was focused on defense the most and moving the ball and then hitting my shots!”
The next afternoon, Camera continued her hot hand by draining four 3-pointers in the first half against Central Missouri. The Stockton, CA native sank another in the second half to give her a total of 15 points in the contest along with three rebounds, two assists, as well as a block and a steal. Camera would complete the week averaging 19.0 points (5th in PWC) and 2.5 steals (6th in PWC) per game. She also ranked second in 3-pointers made per game (4.0) for the week.
Camera, now 24th in the PacWest in scoring (10.3 points per game), currently joins senior
Ariel Dale as one of two Urban Knights in the conference's Top 4 in steals (2.6 spg). She has also cracked the Top 10 in both 3-pointers made per game (1.8), ranking eighth overall.
This is the first Player of the Week honor for Rogers and marks the fourth time she has been selected for a weekly award this season. Camera picks up her second Fantastic 15 honor of the year.
