SACRAMENTO -- Fresh off back-to-back 20-point performances and averaging a double-double for the week, Sacramento State junior post Isnelle Natabou was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season — and the fifth time in her career — on Tuesday, the league office announced.
Natabou's five career awards are the most by any Hornet since Sacramento State joined the league in 1996-97 and extends the program's single-season record with its seventh award of the year after having not won more than five in previous seasons as a member of the Big Sky. The native of the Czech Republic earned her two previous honors this season back on Nov. 29 and Dec. 13, while picking up two awards in her first year in the green and gold during the 2021-22 campaign.
Facing Big Sky rivals Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado at home last week, Natabou averaged 24.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, finishing 22-of-33 (.667) from the floor and grabbing 21 total rebounds — 17 of those on the offensive glass.
In an overtime battle with the Lumberjacks, Natabou finished with a season-high 27 points — just four shy of her career high — while hitting a career-best 13-of-20 from the field, adding 12 rebounds (nine offensive) to complete her 11th double-double of the season. The 13 makes against NAU broke her previous career best of 11 set against Southern Utah on Dec. 30 of last season and were the most since Lianna Tillman finished 16-of-32 at Idaho on Feb. 24 of last year.
Two nights later, Natabou added 21 points and nine rebounds (eight offensive) against the Bears, making 9-of-13 from the field in just under 31 minutes of play.
The two 20-point performances gave Natabou five games with 20-or-more points, while the 13 makes against Northern Arizona marked her fifth career game with 10-or-more field goals made in a single game — three of those coming this year.
Meanwhile, the 21 total rebounds moved her into seventh on the school's Division I era career list with 567, while standing just three more boards shy of the all-time top 10.
Natabou enters the team's final road trip of the regular season averaging 15.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while ranking No. 6 in the NCAA with a .646 field goal percentage and among the top 30 in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (9th - 4.4 rpg), rebounds per game (27th - 10.0 rpg), and total rebounds (29th - 239).
In the Big Sky, Natabou continues to lead the league in rebounding and field goal percentage, while ranking second in blocks (28) and minutes (35.8. mpg), third in blocks (1.2 bpg), and sixth in scoring.
Standing at 17-7 overall and 8-5 in league play, Sacramento State travels to Ogden, Utah, to take on Weber State on Thursday (Feb. 16) at 5 p.m. PT, before heading to Pocatello, Idaho, for a rematch with Idaho State n Saturday (Feb. 18) at 1 p.m. PT.
2022-23 BIG SKY CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Nov. 15 - Jaydia Martin, Eastern Washington & Darian White, Montana State
Nov. 22 - Kahlaijah Dean, Sacramento State
Nov. 29 - Beyonce Bea, Idaho & Isnelle Natabou, Sacramento State
Dec. 6 - Gabi Fields, Northern Colorado
Dec. 13 - Isnelle Natabou, Sacramento State
Dec. 20 - Beyonce Bea, Idaho
Dec. 27 - Kahlaijah Dean, Sacramento State
Jan. 3 - Beyonce Bea, Idaho
Jan. 10 - Kahlaijah Dean, Sacramento State
Jan. 17 - Jaydia Martin, Eastern Washington
Jan. 24 - Kahlaijah Dean, Sacramento State
Jan. 31 - Montana Oltrogge, Northern Arizona
Feb. 7 - Beyonce Bea, Idaho
Feb. 14 - Isnelle Natabou, Sacramento State
SACRAMENTO STATE CAREER BIG SKY PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
5 - Isnelle Natabou (1/18/22, 1/25/22, 11/29/22, 12/13/22, 2/14/23)
4 - Kahlaijah Dean (11/22/22, 12/27/22, 1/10/23, 1/24/23)
4 - Maranne Johnson (11/17/15, 12/29/15, 1/31/17, 2/27/18)
4 - Kylie Kuhns (12/6/10, 12/31/12, 1/2/12, 2/20/12)
4 - Alle Moreno (2/27/12, 3/11/13, 11/12/13, 12/9/13)
4 - Fantasia Hilliard (1/14/13, 2/4/13, 1/6/14, 1/19/15)
3 - Kennedy Nicholas (1/22/19, 12/3/19, 1/21/20)
2 - Lianna Tillman (11/16/21, 2/8/22)
2 - Hannah Friend (2/13/18, 11/27/18)
2 - Charday Hunt (12/1/09, 1/11/10)
1 - Twelve Players Tied
