Lady Vols basketball freshman point guard Mia Pauldo has been named SEC Freshman of the Week for a pair of standout performances. This is the second time in her young career that she has earned the honor.
Pauldo averaged 22 points, 3.5 assists, three rebounds and two steals per game last week on 54% shooting from the field. The result was strong wins at Mississippi State and at home against Arkansas.
Pauldo is reaching her stride as SEC play marches on, as well. She has scored in double figures in seven of her last eight games. In conference games alone, she is averaging 15.5 points per game, which ranks second on Tennessee, No. 12 among SEC players and No. 1 among SEC freshmen.
For the entire year, Pauldo’s averages sit at 11.4 points, 2.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game on 40.7% shooting from the field, 33.7% on 3-pointers and 91.2% at the free throw line.
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“That’s the Mia we have seen,” Lady Vols head coach Kim Caldwell said after the win over Arkansas. “That’s the Mia we recruited. That’s what we knew she could do. So I would just – quite a bit since she’s got more time, she’s got more games under her belt, she is playing with a little more confidence. She has the confidence of her teammates.”
Next, the Lady Vols will have a week off before their next game. With no contest scheduled for Thursday, it gives Tennessee extra time to prepare for a ranked matchup with Alabama. UT sits at No. 20 in the AP Poll, while the Crimson Tide are at No. 21.
Tip-off in Tuscaloosa on Sunday is set for 2 p.m. ET and will air on SEC Network. Pauldo projects as a starter in the game due to her recent production.
