Gianna Messina Named Player of the Week Again

ORLANDO, Fla. - The University of Tampa's Gianna Messina was recognized as the Sunshine State Conference women's basketball player of the week for the second time in three weeks on Monday. Messina shared the honor with Nova Southeastern's Stephanie Sarosi for the period ending March 1.

Messina also won the award for the period ending Feb. 15. A Spartan player has now captured the award for three of the past four weeks.

The Tampa native helped the Spartans clinch a share of the SSC regular-season title with two wins last week. Messina averaged 26.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 0.5 steals per game. In a 71-66 win over Florida Southern, the sophomore notched 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

In a 64-44 win at Lynn, she amassed a career-high 30 points, 12 rebounds, and an assist. In the two games combined, Messina shot an impressive 61 percent (14-of-23) from the field and 67 percent (10-of-15) from three-point range. The 22nd-best free-throw shooter in the nation also drained 14-of-16 (88 percent) free throw attempts.

Messina and the Spartans will battle Lynn at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Martinez Center in the quarterfinals of the SSC tournament.