BOILING
SPRINGS - Sophomore wing Donta Harper was named Big South Conference Player of
the Week Monday by College Sports Madness, the second time this
season he has been chosen by the publication.
Harper (Winterville, N.C. / South Central HS) led Gardner-Webb
(16-11, 8-5 Big South) to a pair of big road wins last week,
averaging 16.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals per
game along the way.
Against UNC Asheville on Wednesday, Harper collected 16 points and
pulled down nine big rebounds - including eight on the offensive
end - to spark a 67-65 victory. Harper's effort on the glass helped
Gardner-Webb overcome a 19-point first half deficit and the 'Dogs
owned a 16-1 edge in second chance scoring in the final 20 minutes
(23-6 for the game).
On Saturday, Harper stepped up to help deliver a 70-63 win at
Coastal Carolina to give Gardner-Webb sole possession of third
place in the South Division. The win put GWU just 1.5 games behind
division leader Charleston Southern and a game back of Asheville in
the standings. The top two teams in each division will receive a
first round bye at the 2013 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South
Conference Tournament in March.
Against Coastal, Harper collected a team-high 17 points, pulled
down five rebounds and made a career-high 13-of-16 shots at the
free throw line.
He shot 79.2 percent from the charity stripe in two games last
week
Harper is averaging a career-best 13.1 points per game so far this
season. The 6-foot-6 standout was the 2011 Class 3A State Player of
the Year in North Carolina at South Central (N.C.) High.
Gardner-Webb will host Winthrop Tuesday night in another big
divisional matchup. Opening tip is set for 7:00 in Paul Porter
Arena.
