Senior Alex O’Neal of the women’s basketball team is the 20th Taco Bell Athlete of the Week for the 2011-12 academic year for her performance in the program’s first-ever victory over Hardin-Simmons. She is earning the honor for the first time in her career.
O'Neal recorded eight points, eight assists and five steals while committing only one turnover in the team’s 63-53 road win over the Cowgirls. All eight of her points and five of her assists came in the second half when Concordia completed a rally after trailing by as many as 16 in the opening half. O’Neal finished the week averaging 4.0 points and 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals while producing an impressive 4.5 assist/turnover ratio. Her efforts helped put Concordia in a position to qualify for the ASC Tournament for the first time since 2005 this week when the Tornados host Sul Ross State and Howard Payne.
“Alex was a great floor general and ran the team like a quarterback should,” said head coach Rusty Rainbolt, whose program is off to its best start in school history with a 13-3 ledger.
O’Neal, a secondary education major from Mansfield, is the daughter of Karen and William O’Neal. She has one sister, April.
