Here's how you know you had a very good week: when your 29-point, 16-rebound performance was your second-best game of the week. But that's the kind of run Megan Gustafson has been on this season and we're just privileged to get to watch her tear apart Big Ten opponents week after week. This week, Gustafson's heroics earned her the now-customary Big Ten Player of the Week nod and ESPNW's National Player of the Week honors.
Megan Gustafson of @iowawbb was chosen as both the #B1GWBBall Player of the Week and @espnW National Player of the Week on Monday, averaging 35.0 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg with a .721 FG% and 2 double-doubles in 2 #Hawkeyes wins last week: https://t.co/i5epxMLo27 pic.twitter.com/ZPsvHGmjRG
— Big Ten Women's Hoops (@B1Gwbball) February 11, 2019
@IowaWBB post player Megan Gustafson has been a candidate for espnW national player of the week just about every week this season. Now, she gets the nod. :) https://t.co/V7jqMVOLC9
— Mechelle Voepel (@MechelleV) February 11, 2019
Iowa went 2-0 over the week, toppling Michigan State at home and using a second-half blitz to blow out Ohio State on the road. Against Ohio State Gustafson was magnificent, scoring 29 points on 14/19 shooting (74%!) and grabbing 16 rebounds in her 33 minutes of action. My favorite stat? Gustafson personally outscored the entire Ohio State team in the third quarter (15-10) as Iowa blew the game wide open. Gustafson was even more dominant against MSU, avenging one of Iowa's three Big Ten losses this year, by posting an incredible 41 points (on 71% shooting), while also grabbing 14 rebounds, blocking four shots, and providing two assists, too. For the week, Gustafson averaged 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 72% shooting from the field. This graphic from BTN sums up how magnificent her week was:
She's unstoppable, and she deserves every honor that comes her way. pic.twitter.com/wLUw74dNE3
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 11, 2019
The B1G Player of the Week honor extends her own personal records for most in a single season (up to 11 now) and most in a career (up to 21 now). And the two double-doubles she recorded give her 77 on the season, tying her with Ohio State's Jantel Lavender for the most in Big Ten history. So that's another Big Ten record she's likely to claim very soon. Oh, and she was named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Team, too.
Iowa fans should savor what's left of Megan Gustafson's brilliant career while they still can. Iowa has five games left in the regular season, with three of them at home -- including two this week: Illinois on Thursday (7 PM CT, BTN Plus) and Maryland on Sunday (12 PM CT, ESPN2). If Iowa takes care of business against Illinois, the Maryland game will be one of Iowa's biggest in years: a chance to take over first place in the league with just three games remaining. If you get a chance to watch Gustafson, do so -- she's already an Iowa legend, but she keeps adding to that legend each week.
