Brea Edwards

It was a near flawless February for the Lady Raiders. Despite playing five of their seven games on the road, Middle posted a 6–1 record for the month which puts them in a tie for second place in Conference USA and keeps them within reach of the regular season conference title.

The Lady Raiders’ dominance was, of course, spearheaded by the play of Brea Edwards. Edwards got the month started out the right way with a 23-point, nine-rebound performance against Florida Atlantic. Although Florida International was able to stifle her, she went on to post 31 points and 11 rebounds against Louisiana Tech, and followed that up with 22 points and nine rebounds against Southern Mississippi. In a no-brainer, Edwards was awarded C-USA Player of the Week for the fourth time this season. Only LaTech’s Brandi Wingate has received the honor as many times, but Edwards is the only two-time unanimous honoree.

Edwards’ ability to score and shoot the 3-point shot has been well documented. Perhaps what has been unheralded about her game though has been her ability to rebound. Not only did Brea average 19.6 points per game through February, but she also averaged 11.6 rebounds per contest.

“Brea Edwards crashes the board! She doesn’t go rebound, she goes and crashes the board! There’s a difference,” coach Rick Insell said. “A lot of players go in there and they hope to get a rebound, she goes in there and gets it.”

But it wasn’t only Brea Edwards performing at a high level through February. Sophomore forward Rebecca Reuter recorded the first double-double of her career against FIU when she posted 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Alex Johnson

Freshman forward Alex Johnson has been good all season, but she truly blossomed in February. Johnson averaged 17.8 points and four rebounds on the month, including a 29-point performance versus UAB. With Edwards and Johnson both playing at such a high level, a mutual respect has formed between the two.

“She’s one of the best freshmen, I mean, even without having a label of a freshman she’s one of the best post players in the conference, freshman or not,” Edwards stated in praise of Johnson.

Johnson offered praise of Edwards right back. “Every night we’re going out and (the opposing team is) having to shut me down or shut her down, and they can’t do both. So, when I’m not open she’s open and when she’s not open I’m open,” Johnson said.

Johnson received her fourth Freshman of the Week selection during February, and her surge should have solidified her as C-USA Freshman of the Year. If Edwards is awarded C-USA Player of the Year, and Johnson the Freshmen of the Year honor it would mark the first time teammates received both awards since Ebony Rowe and Olivia Jones, also Lady Raiders, were honored in 2014.

You will get only two more chances to catch the Lady Raiders at Murphy Center, as they take on FAU at 6:30 p.m. on March 3, and FIU March 5 at 2 p.m.