SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina guard Lindsay Simpson has been named the SoCon Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Samford forward Destiney Elliott has been named the CRONS Freshman of the Week for games of Dec. 16-22, the league office announced on Tuesday.

Simpson averaged 17.0 points per game while recording a .545 (18-33) shooting percentage from the field to key the Catamounts to a 2-1 record last week. The junior earned the majority of her points from long distance, going 13-for-22 (.591) from three-point range in the three contests. On Wednesday, she scored a game-high 20 points against UNC Asheville in 24 minutes, connecting on 7-of-9 shots, including 4-of-5 from three. Simpson followed with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting in 26 minutes in the Catamounts’ win over FIU on Saturday. The native of Franklin, N.C. concluded her week with a team-high 15 points in 25 minutes at North Florida on Sunday, sinking 5-of-9 three-pointers in the loss. Simpson currently ranks second among active SoCon players in career three-point field goals (107).

Elliott averaged 13.0 points per game in three games last week with 19 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists. The rookie forward scored in double figures in all three contests while going 12-of-25 (.480) from the field and 13-of-18 (.722) from the free-throw line. Elliott started the week with 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals at Tulane on Thursday night. She then followed with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting and five rebounds against UCLA on Friday. The native of Oneonta, Ala. saved her best performance for Sunday, racking up 18 points and 11 rebounds with three steals in the Bulldogs’ win over Alabama State. Elliott went 5-of-8 from the field in the win while converting on 7-of-10 free-throw attempts. She currently leads Samford in rebounding at 7.0 per game and ranks third on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game.

2014-15 Players of the Week
Nov. 18: Shamauria Bridges, ETSU
Nov. 25: Brittany Hodges, Furman
Dec. 2: Precious Bridges, Mercer
Dec. 9: Whitney Bunn, Furman
Dec. 16: Brittany Hodges, Furman
Dec. 23: Lindsay Simpson, Western Carolina 

2014-15 CRONS Freshmen of the Week
Nov. 18: Sherae Bonner, Western Carolina
Nov. 25: Keiana Gilbert, Chattanooga
Dec. 2: Keiana Gilbert, Chattanooga
Dec. 9: Destiney Elliott, Samford
Dec. 16: Tianna Tarter, ETSU
Dec. 23: Destiney Elliott, Samford