Valparaiso University’s Ashley Varner (South Bend, Ind./Washington H.S.) has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week after her career effort at Cincinnati last Monday night.

The 6-foot-1 junior forward scored a career-high 23 points, nine more than her previous best outing, while also grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.  Varner was 9-of-19 from the floor, including 5-of-9 from three-point range, also a career-best for triples made in a game.  She added two steals and a blocked shot in 37 minutes of action for the Crusaders against the Bearcats.

For the season, Varner is averaging 11.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for the Brown and Gold while blocking nine shots in nine games.

This is Varner’s first career Player of the Week honor, and the second this year by a Crusader.  Lauren Kenney (Mooresville, Ind./Mooresville H.S.) also earned the accolade back on November 23.  With the weekly honor, Varner is now eligible for the Horizon League Network’s ‘The People’s Choice’ honor.  Fans can vote for Varner by visiting www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv and voting in ‘The People’s Choice’ poll on the right-hand side of the page thru Tuesday afternoon.