Hustle Belt's MAC Women's Basketball Players of The Week: Week 17

Mid-American Conference Eastern Division Player of The Week

Hanna Luburgh, Akron Zips (Senior, Guard)

Even in a week where teammate Rachel Tecca broke her own record for points in a season, the do-everything guard Hanna Luburgh awed Akron fans. On Wednesday, she led the Zips in scoring in an 88-63 win at home by netting 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting. Impressively, 24 of those points came in a first-half explosion for Akron that sent the home team up 19 at the half. On Sunday, Luburgh put up 21 points, five rebounds and three assists in an 80-66 victory over rival Kent State to help Akron gain a point in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge. Luburgh is averaging 23.1 points per game this season, and that includes a 22.4 average in MAC play.

Akron is 13-3 in the conference and second in the MAC East. The Zips play their final two games of the regular season on Wednesday at Buffalo and then home against Bowling Green on Saturday.

Mid-American Conference Western Division Player of The Week

Crystal Bradford, Central Michigan Chippewas (Junior, Guard)

Though it did take a lot of shots, Bradford's performances of 23 and 36 points earn her Western Division POTW honors. The Chippewas won in overtime 85-72 over Ball State on Thursday, as Bradford netted 36 points (on 31 shots) and hauled in 16 rebounds. In addition, she posted six assists and four steals. In Sunday's thriller, Bradford recorded 23 points on 19 shots, grabbed 12 rebounds and distributed four assists. Eighteen of those points came in the second half as CMU came from behind to defeat Toledo, 80-77.

CMU finishes the regular season this week with a home game at home against Western Michigan Wednesday and a duel on Saturday at Eastern Michigan.

Mid-American Conference Freshman of The Week

Cha Sweeney, Eastern Michigan Eagles (Freshman, Guard)

For the umpteenth time, we're telling you that Cha Sweeney can score, though like Crystal Bradford, it sometimes takes her more than a few shots to record her gaudy stats. Sweeney set a personal career-high for points in a game with 33 (and added six boards) in an 81-72 loss to Western Michigan on Wednesday. In that game, she also set the new high-mark for freshman scorers in EMU history. She'll continue to add to the record with her play coming down the stretch. In a low-scoring 54-45 win over Northern Illinois, Sweeney contributed 13 points and three assists in the winning cause.

EMU now has to travel to Toledo on Wednesday and hosts Central Michigan on Saturday as it finishes the regular season.