Strong start for Morris leads to sophomore earning Heart's first ever Defensive Player of the Week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Opening the 2024-25 season with a pair of wins, the Clarke University women's basketball team also receives a weekly honor in the first week of nominations and voting as sophomore forward Sydni Morris earned the Heart of America Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, conference officials announced on Monday afternoon.

This is the first season for the Player of the Week honors to be split between offensive and defensive players as Morris captures the first ever Heart Defensive Player of the Week in conference history following her performance in a 69-56 road win over Waldorf University last Wednesday night.

Morris finished the game with a 12-point, 13-rebound, 11 defensive rebounds, double-double for her second-straight double-double to start the season while also adding a steal and a blocked shot to her 5-for-8 (62.5%) shooting night against the Warriors.

On the defensive end, the three Waldorf forwards that saw time on the floor finished a combined 6-for-15 (40%) shooting from the field and 15 points while the defensive rebounding efforts from Morris allowed CU to only give up six second-chance points throughout the 40-minute contest.

Clarke women's basketball will get their first taste of home action in this 2024-25 season in the form of their Heart opener when they host Graceland University on Wednesday, Nov. 13 with a 5:30 p.m. CT scheduled kickoff between the Pride and Yellowjackets.