Tyler Perkins, a first-year guard on the men’s basketball team, and Mataya Gayle, a first-year guard on the women’s basketball team, have both been named Ivy League Rookie of the Week.
Perkins, who also earned Big 5 Player of the Week honors, had a game-high 25 points in Penn’s 84-81 loss to Columbia on Saturday in New York City. In 36 minutes, he shot 7-18 from the field, 3-9 from the foul line, and 8-10 from the free throw line. He also had eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Seventeen of his points came in the second half.
A native of Lorton, Virginia, Perkins is second on the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest.
Gayle garnered her fifth Ivy League Rookie of the Week award this season. She scored a team-high 21 points in the Quakers’ 85-55 loss to Columbia on Saturday at the Palestra. Playing 36 minutes, she shot 7-18 from the field, 5-13 from behind the arc, and 2-2 from the charity stripe. She added three rebounds, four assists, and one block.
From Woodstock, Georgia, Gayle is averaging 15.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. She is second on the team in scoring, first in assists, and first in steals (28). Four times this season, she has scored 20 or more points.
Both teams take on Brown and Yale on Friday, Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb. 3, respectively. The women (10-8 overall, 2-3 in Ivy League) play at home at the Palestra and the men (9-10 overall, 1-3 in Ivy League) play in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
