Harden Earns Sun Belt Player of the Week

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Troy women's basketball player Joanna Harden has been named the Sun Belt Player of the Week after leading Troy to an upset of Sun Belt leader Middle Tennessee on Sunday.

“It means a lot to me,” Harden said. “I couldn't believe it when I heard it. It's been a tough season, but it's an honor to be the first in program history to get this award.”

Harden's award is the first Sun Belt Player of the Week honor in the history of the Troy program, and it comes a day after another program first, a win over Middle Tennessee.

Troy defeated the Blue Raiders, 74-70, in overtime on Sunday at the Murphy Center, marking just the second Sun Belt loss at home in the last five years for Middle Tennessee.

“I was speechless after the game,” Harden said. “When I found out it was the first time we beat Middle Tennessee, the feeling was indescribable. We learned as we go forward that if we play together we can beat anybody.”

Harden, a Pompano Beach Fla., native, scored 27 points in the win on 9-of-19 shooting plus 8-of-10 from the free throw line. The junior guard has now scored in double figures in nine straight games, a span over which she is averaging 21.6 points per game.

Combined with a 19-point performance at South Alabama on Wednesday, Harden averaged 23.0 points per game last week, raising her scoring average in Sun Belt games to 18.1 per game in Sun Belt play, the fourth best mark in the league.

On the season, Harden leads the Trojans in scoring at 14.5 points per game, the ninth best mark in the Sun Belt, and also ranks in the league's top 10 as an 80.9 percent free throw shooter.

Harden and the Trojans return to the floor on Thursday as they host FIU at 5:15 p.m. at Trojan Arena. Troy will also host North Texas on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Trojan Arena in their annual Play4Kay game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink and donations will be taken for the Play4Kay foundation at the door.

Troy University Athletics

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