SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the second straight month, it was a basketball sweep for TicketSmarter Athlete of the Month honors as Denver's Uju Ezeudu and Kansas City's Brooklyn McDavid shared the female accolade, while Western Illinois' Trenton Massner earned the male accolade for December, league officials announced Thursday.
Ezeudu stuffed the stat sheet in seven December contests, averaging 17.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.4 bpg and 1.6 spg. She had a stretch of three consecutive double-doubles, including games at Butler and Purdue.
Against Butler, Ezeudu scored a season-high 23 points as the Pioneers won a dramatic four-overtime contest in storied Hinkle Fieldhouse. She backed that up with 22 points against Purdue as she posted 20-plus point scoring games in back-to-back contests for the second time in her career.
The Reynoldsburg, Ohio native is the only league player to rank among the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks. She racked up 17 blocks during December and also leads the league with four double-doubles.
McDavid averaged 20.0 ppg and 9.8 rpg for the Roos, who started the month with four consecutive wins. She reached double figures in all six contests and added four double-doubles to give her a league-high six on the season.
The Studio City, Calif., native had three 20-plus point scoring games during the month, capping that with a 26-point outing in a home win over Santa Clara.
McDavid shot 55 percent from the field and added 10 steals, recording at least one in all six games.
Massner averaged 18.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 3.9 apg in eight December contests for the Leathernecks. His efforts helped WIU start the month with five straight victories, which allowed the program to post its best start during its Division I era at 9-2.
The Wapello, Iowa native opened league play with a career-high 31 points in an overtime win at Denver and closed out the month with three straight 20-plus point scoring games.
Massner averaged 23.3 ppg in three Summit League contests and had 20 against Iowa on Dec. 29. He also added 15 steals, including a trio of three-steal games vs. Ball State, UT Martin and Denver.
CO-FEMALE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH
Uju Ezeudu, Denver
Jr. | Basketball | Reynoldsburg, Ohio
- Posted three double-doubles during December with a pair of back-to-back 20-plus scoring games
- Led all league players with 17 blocks in December, including a season-high four in two games
- This is the first monthly honor of Ezeudu's career.
Brooklyn McDavid, Kansas City
Gr. | Basketball | Studio City, Calif.
- Posted four double-doubles and had three 20-plus point scoring games
- Reached double figures in all six Roos' games and leads league with six double-doubles
- This is the first monthly honor of McDavid's career.
Also nominated: Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota; Heaven Hamling, North Dakota State.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Trenton Massner, Western Illinois
Jr. | Basketball | Wapello, Iowa
- Helped WIU to its best start in DI history with five straight wins to open December
- Scored a career-high 31 points in league-opening overtime win at Denver
- Closed month with three consecutive 20-plus point scoring games, averaged 23.3 ppg in three league contests
- This is the first monthly honor of Massner's career
Also nominated: Evan Gilyard II, Kansas City; Max Abmas, Oral Roberts; Douglas Wilson, South Dakota State; K.J. Hunt, Denver; Xavier Fuller, South Dakota.
2021-22 Summit League Athletes of the Month
August/September
Male: Dante Brigida, Soccer, Oral Roberts
Female: Sadie Limback, Volleyball, Omaha
October
Male: Gabe Peters, Cross Country, South Dakota State
Female: Sydney Sharp, Soccer, Denver
November
Male: Noah Freidel, Men's Basketball, South Dakota State
Female: Naomie Alnatas, Women's Basketball, Kansas City
December
Male: Trenton Massner, Men's Basketball, Western Illinois
Co-Female: Uju Ezeudu, Women's Basketball, Denver
Co-Female: Brooklyn McDavid, Women's Basketball, Kansas City
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