Beaver Falls, PA – It is not too often that a player receives national recognition with his or her team loses its only game of the week. That is exactly what has transpired this week with Geneva’s Michawn Rich (Reno, NV) receiving the NCCAA national player of the week award after the Golden Tornadoes dropped a 65-55 decision to Bethany in the only game of the week. What did Rich do to deserve such lofty praise? She put her team on her back for most of the night and allowed them to rally back from an 18-point deficit.

Trailing 21-3 just six minutes into the game, Rich decided to take things into her own hands. She scored 20 first half points and had pulled the Golden Tornadoes back to within three points by the halftime buzzer. Geneva got within a bucket in the second half, but was never able to claim the lead. Rich finished the game with a career high 31 points and career best 19 rebounds.

Rich was 12-27 from the field, including her first two three-point field goals of the year. She also chipped in with four steals and leads Geneva in points, rebounds and steals for the season. Geneva ended the first semester with an overall record of 3-4, including losses in the last three games. Rich, the only senior remaining on Geneva’s roster, is averaging 16.7 points per game. She also leads the Presidents’ Athletic Conference with her 11.6 rebounds per game.

Geneva will enjoy a 17 day lay-off before getting back into game action on December 30 at Carlow University.