BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Junior Ta'Kenya Nixon was named Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week for her performances against Southeast Missouri and UT Martin. She has now earned the weekly award five times in her career.
 
Nixon averaged 18 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds per game and four steals per game in two OVC wins last week. The guard went 15-for-21 from the field, connecting on 71.4 percent of her shot attempts. She also went 6-for-10 from the charity stripe.
 
Against UT Martin on Monday night, Nixon scored a season-high 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting to help the Panthers move to 7-0 at home this season. EIU also remained undefeated in conference play with the win and took over sole possession of first place in the conference standings.
 
The Michigan City, Ind., native leads EIU is scoring (14.9 ppg), assists (67) and steals (50) while ranking third on the team in rebounding (6.2 rpg). Nixon currently also leads the OVC in steals while ranking second in assists.
 
The junior is hitting 51.3 percent of her shots from the floor on the year, the fifth highest mark in the OVC and highest of any player listed as a guard. Nixon also ranks ninth in the nation in field goal percentage among players listed as a guard.
 
Nixon becomes the second Panther to earn a weekly award this season as Sabina Oroszova was tabbed OVC Freshman of the Week on Nov. 15.
 
Nixon and the Panthers return to action on Saturday, Jan. 21 when they play host to Austin Peay. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. inside Lantz Arena.