Earning Player of the Week honors is a sign of basketball forward Karrington Ward’s improved health, and Eastern Michigan University will need him as the stretch run of the season with the Mid-Atlantic Conference tournament not far away.
Ward, after spending three weeks playing through a sprained ankle, led the Eagles to a pair of wins over Miami and Akron last week on the strength of his two double-doubles. Ward now has six double-doubles on the season, running his career total to 10.
“It’s my first time getting the award and I think it’s just all the hard work paying off,” Ward said. “I just happened to be the player or one of the players on my team who got the award, but I’m honored to have received it.”
In EMU’s 83-69 over University of Miami-Ohio Feb. 10, Ward scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while scoring 15 points with 10 rebounds in the Eagles’ 78-75 win over the University of Akron Feb. 14. Ward shot 60 percent from the three-point range in the two games, while also converting on 77 percent of his free throws. He also played 37 of a possible 40 minutes in each contest after averaging just over 10 minutes the previous five games while nursing the ankle.
Is Ward’s ankle healthy again? Healthy enough to earn league honors as MAC West Player of the Week.
The Eagles remain at home for their next face-off against the University of New York Buffalo. Tip-off is Thursday at 7 p.m.
