North Coast Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week | Dec. 23, 2024
 
Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week – Isaac Ward, Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan junior Isaac Ward (Circleville, OH/Logan Elm) guided the Battling Bishops to a 2-0 week with wins over Lancaster Bible (79-67) and Alvernia (74-66). Against the Chargers, the guard scored 23 points during a 13-minute stretch that turned a 10-point deficit into an eight-point lead. In the 12-point win, Ward scored a career-high 32 points and was 12-for-16 from the field, including 7-of-11 from range, adding four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. In the victory over the Golden Wolves, Ward converted a three-point play, added a lay-in and a three-pointer in the 18-3 run that opened a 53-38 lead, which kept the Bishops ahead for good. The Circleville, Ohio native finished the game with 20 points and a career-high six rebounds, to go along with three assists and one steal. On the week, Ward averaged 26.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 63.3 percent (19-for-30) from the field, 50.0 percent (8-for-16) from beyond the arc, and 60.0 percent (6-for-10) from the line.
 
Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week – Abby Cooch, Denison
Denison sophomore Abby Cooch (Clifton, VA/Bishop Ireton) guided the Big Red to a 73-70 overtime win over Olivet on Thursday. The guard put up a team-high 22 points and pulled down nine defensive rebounds to lift Denison to victory. Cooch shot 50 percent from the field (9-for-18) and made a pair of three-pointers (2-for-5) in the win. Her layup with six seconds left in regulation tied the score and forced overtime. In overtime, the Big Red took a quick four-point lead, and when the Comets came within one, Cooch sank another layup to give Denison a three-point lead with just 1:09 remaining in regulation. Cooch added three assists, one steal, and one block in the three-point victory.
 
NCAC Milestones & Records (Dec. 16-22)
 
DePauw, Men’s Basketball – Sophomore Caleb Washington (New Albany, IN/Floyd Central) earned MVP honors at the Hope College Glenn Van Wieren Classic after averaging 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.0 block per game.
 
Wooster, Men’s Basketball – The Fighting Scots improved to 10-0 for the fifth time in program history after picking up wins over Johnson & Wales University Providence (84-63) and Hawaii Pacific (45-43) last week.