IU Northwest sophomore earns top NAIA, USCAA honors

Indiana University Northwest forward Sharon Houston has been named the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Player of the Week, as well as the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Player of the Week, after averaging 31 points, 21 rebounds and five blocks during two games for the week of Feb. 1 - 7, 2010. It is Houston's second time earning NAIA honors this season. The NAIA selected Houston from among 16 conference player-of-the-week selections.
In the NAIA, Houston is at the top of four statistical categories nationally: blocks per game (4.0), offensive rebounds per game (6.7), total rebounds per game (15.0), and total blocks (95). She ranks second in total scoring (608), total rebounds (358) and points per game (25.3). She is also among the Top 10 leaders in defensive rebounds per game (8.3) and field goal percentage (.568), ranking fifth and ninth, respectively. Houston has been named a USCAA Player or Co-Player of the Week six times this season.

Houston set a school record on Feb. 6 with 26 rebounds in a thrilling 77-73 victory against Trinity International during IU Northwest's homecoming. She had set the previous record of 25 rebounds last season. She also scored 38 points, shooting 14-for-21 from the floor and 10-for-15 from the line, and recorded six blocks. Against Andrews, the Merrillville grad scored 25 points, as IU Northwest won it 78-49. The Lady RedHawks are now 16-10 on the season. Houston's record-setting performance against Trinity took place in front of the Savannah Gymnasium's largest crowd of the season, as students, alumni and friends turned out in large numbers for the university's second annual Homecoming Celebration doubleheader.

But Houston shared the spotlight in the women's game with her point guard, sophomore Nina Wills, who led the Lady RedHawks on a ferocious comeback after falling behind 49-41 in the second half. Wills scored 16 points in the game, and added eight assists and five steals. Even a minor leg injury couldn't stop her, as she returned to the court and finished the final minutes of a breathtaking win for IU Northwest. As for Houston, she has scored in double figures in all 24 games she has played this season, and she has scored 20 or more in 12 of those contests. She's had three 30-plus games and two 40-plus games this year.

The IU Northwest women have no remaining home games for the regular season. But the Lady RedHawks will host the Association of Independent Institutions' post-season tournament at home on Feb. 26 and 27. The winner of that tournament will advance to the NAIA Division II National Tournament.