McCarthy Earns First Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honor

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue women's basketball freshman Lana McCarthy has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the first time, the league announced on Monday afternoon
 
McCarthy was instrumental in guiding Purdue to wins over Bellarmine and UT Arlington at Mackey Arena. The Bedford, N.H., native averaged 15 points and 7.5 rebounds in the two games while shooting 61% from the field. She added a pair of assists and steals with one block.
 
McCarthy opened the week with her second double-double of the year, going for 12 points and 10 rebounds against Bellarmine. Just four games into her rookie season, McCarthy already matched Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton for the most freshman double-doubles at Purdue since 2004-05.
 
McCarthy followed up the performance with an 18-point night against UT Arlington, matching her career high. She tacked on five rebounds, one block and a steal. After battling through foul trouble in the first half, she posted 16 points in the second half to help the Boilermakers pull away for the win.
 
The 6-6 forward is one of nine freshmen nationally and one of two from the Big Ten averaging over 11 points and 7.0 rebounds per game (11.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG). She is tied with Notre Dame's Kate Koval with the most double-doubles by a freshman against Division I opposition this season.
 
The Boilermakers will head into the Elevance Fort Myers Tip-Off this week with a game Thursday afternoon against Middle Tennessee at 4:30 p.m., before an 11 a.m. tip against No. 4 South Carolina. Both games can be heard on 95.3 BOB FM or Purdue Stretch Internet with a video stream on the Women's Sports Network.