McNeal, Joyner Sweep Weekly Awards

IRVING, Texas Danae McNeal and Amiya Joyner has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, the league announced Monday.

McNeal averaged 23.0 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, 3.0 assists per game and 3.0 steals per game this week. The senior guard scored a career-high 26 points on Sunday against Tulane, including six 3-pointers. It was 11^th six triple-double performances in program history and most points since February 2022.

After being named to the weekly honor roll earlier this season, this is McNeal’s first player of the week.

For Joyner, the honor is his third consecutive Freshman of the Week nod. The Farmville, NC native is not only the first ECU player to earn weekly honors three weeks in a row, but also the first to do so three times in a season. Joyner averaged 11.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks for the week. Against Tulane, he had a double-double in the second half alone with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The freshman forward hasn’t recorded five straight double-doubles, the first Pirate since ECU Hall of Famer Rosie Thompson had six in 1979-80.

The weekly award is the second ever for the program since LaCoya Terry and Jean Best were named C-USA Player and Rookie of the Week on February 16, 2009.

The Pirates will take their two-game winning streak on the road to take on Temple on Wednesday at 12 p.m.