Jan. 9, 2012
Click here for more AAA Athletes of the Week
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Two days after authoring one of the finest performances of any player in the conference this season, junior guard Anna Simmers was rewarded with Anaconda Patriot League Player of the Week honors on Monday afternoon. She added Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week honors Monday morning as well.
Simmers' 27 points in a 67-64 win over Bucknell were not only a career high for the Alaska native, but also marked the most by any Patriot League player this season. Seventeen of her 27 points came in the second half, including Army's final six tallies of the contest as it evaded a Bison comeback to begin the Patriot League season with a 1-0 record.
While scoring six points over the final 3:38, perhaps Simmers' biggest play of the afternoon occurred with 57 second left when she stripped Bucknell's top shooter, Shelby Romine, and denied the Bison a chance to take the lead for the first time in the second half. Instead, Simmers' layup on the Black Knights' next possession resulted in a 66-63 cushion with 30 seconds remaining. She went on to hit the front end of a one-and-one situation with 13 seconds remaining to seal Army's first victory in seven games. Simmers' steal was voted the Army Athletic Association Play of the Week and can be seen by visiting www.goARMYsports.com and clicking on "Top Videos."
Simmers led all players in scoring at Bucknell, but also paced Army with 14 points at Bryant on Jan. 3. She averaged 20.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last week. She shot 40.5 percent (15-of-37) from the field and 66.7 percent (4-of-6) from three-point range over two games last week.
Recently having returned to the starting lineup, Simmers' 11.9 points per game rank second on the team and fifth in the Patriot League. She is the third different Army player to garner conference honors this season, joining sophomore Jen Hazlett (Patriot League Player of the Week - Dec. 5) and freshman Olivia Schretzman (Patriot League Rookie of the Week - Nov. 28).
Army returns to Christl Arena to host Lafayette on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through www.goARMysports.com, calling 1-877-TIX-ARMY or by visiting the Army ticket office, located inside the Holleder Center.
