Banks Tabbed MVC Freshman of the Week Following Game Winner

ST. LOUIS – For the fifth time this season, Belmont University women's basketball standout guard Jailyn Banks has been chosen as Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week. Announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon, Banks earns her second-straight MVC Freshman of the Week award after her heroics propelled the Bruins to a resilient road victory at Indiana State this past Sunday afternoon.
 
Banks was also selected as the Valley's freshman of the week the first two weeks of the season (Nov. 13 and Nov. 20) and earned the weekly plaudit on Dec. 11 for her play the week of Dec. 4-10.
 
The Spring Hill, Tennessee (Middle Tennessee Christian School), native continued her sensational start to her collegiate career over the weekend, averaging 11.0 points, 4.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in Belmont's two road triumphs in Indiana. Her remarkable play Sunday afternoon in Terre Haute, Indiana, quite literally won the game for the Bruins. With 13 seconds remaining and the Sycamores inbounding the ball up 56-55, Banks stripped the ball from Indiana State near mid-court and raced towards the rim where she finished through an intentional foul. Fellow guard Tuti Jones knocked down both intentional foul free throws to complete the four-point play and Belmont escaped with a 61-56 win.
 
Banks finished with eight points, four boards, three assists and a career-high three steals against the Sycamores. Last Friday, Banks helped lead the Bruins to an 84-40 drubbing of the University of Evansville at the Ford Center where she scored 14 points, dished out a career-best six assists, grabbed a pair of rebounds and came up with a steal.
 
Reaching double-figure scoring in 11 of her first 16 games, Banks has recorded at least three assists in 10 consecutive outings.
 
Belmont is on its second five-game winning streak of the season and is a perfect 5-0 in MVC play in just its second year in the Valley.
 
The Bruins return to game action Friday evening in Des Moines, Iowa, where Belmont takes on defending MVC Tournament champion Drake. Tipoff from the Knapp Center is set for 6 p.m. The Valley featured game of the week will be broadcast on Bally Sports South and simulcast on ESPN+. On Sunday afternoon, the Bruins face Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
 
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