Zuzanna Puc Named C-USA Women’s Basketball Freshman Of The Week

UTEP women’s basketball forward Zuzanna Puc has been tabbed the Conference USA Freshman of the Week, it was announced by the league office Monday. Puc averaged nine points and seven boards while helping UTEP earn a split in its homestand.

“I’m happy for Zuzanna,” UTEP head coach Keitha Adams said. “She’s in the gym a lot putting extra work in and it’s paying off.”

The 6-2 forward played a big role in the Miners’ 84-74 win against Marshall (1/28/17), recording a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds). She was relentless on the glass, finishing with more offensive boards (six) than defensive (five). She also swatted a pair of shots-on a single possession- to match her career high. Puc had started the week by pitching in five points, three rebounds and two steals in the 71-54 setback to league-leader Western Kentucky (1/26/17).

Puc is the first Miner to win the award since Lulu McKinney did so a trio of occasions during the 2014-15 campaign.

Puc and the rest of the Miners will return to action by playing at UAB a 6 p.m. MST/7 p.m. CST Thursday, with Duke Keith on the call for 600 ESPN El Paso. It will mark the first of four straight league games, something UTEP hasn’t done since its first year (2005-06) as a member of C-USA