BOCA RATON, Fla. – (Dec. 16, 2019) – Lotta Vehka-Aho of the Florida Atlantic University women’s basketball team has been tabbed as the Conference USA Freshman of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday. This is the first honor of its kind for Vehka-Aho and first Freshman of the Week award for the Owls since the 2016-17 season.
After two weeks off, Vehka-Aho did not show a mark of rust, elevating the Owls to a 72-54 victory in Sunday’s tilt against Central Connecticut State. The freshman led all players in the game with 18 points, while adding in two boards and an assist. Vehka-Aho shot the lights and was almost perfect from the field, making 5-of-6 shots, while matching a career-high three 3-pointers. Sunday’s game was also the second time in the last three games the freshman has led the team in scoring.
The Vimpeli, Finland native has been dominant on both sides of the ball this season. Among conference players, Vehka-Aho is ranks second in free throw percentage (0.931), seventh in steals per game (2.0), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.2) and 11th in assists per game (3.0). She is also one of five freshman in the top 30 in scoring, averaging 12.2 points per game, the 19th most in C-USA.
Vehka-Aho is the first Owl to win C-USA Freshman of the Week since Katelyn O’Reilly on February 27, 2017. With Crystal Primm taking home C-USA Player of the Week honors on November 25, this marks the first time since the 2015 season the Owls have had a player and freshman of the week awarded in the same season. Vehka-Aho is also Jim Jabir’s first Freshman of the Week recipient since he took the helm three seasons ago.
The Owls will be closing out 2019 and their non-conference slate by hosting the annual Holiday Classic this Friday and Saturday. FAU will kick off the tournament with a matchup against Furman at 2 p.m. Friday. For tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visit the main FAU Women’s Basketball tournament page.
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– FAUSports.com –