Larkins Shines Bright as AP National Player of the Week!

VERMILLION, S.D. — Accolades continue to accumulate for South Dakota senior guard Grace Larkins, whose impressive average of 39.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game last week has attracted national acclaim, culminating in her designation as this week’s Associated Press Player of the Week, divulged by the AP on Tuesday.
 
Larkins, hailing from Altoona, Iowa, earned the Summit League Peak Performer recognition for the second straight week on Monday, now adding an AP Player of the Week title to her achievements. She showcased remarkable statistics, averaging 39.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2.5 steals in two victorious matches for South Dakota against St. Thomas and Omaha.
 
During South Dakota’s 77-60 home triumph over St. Thomas Thursday evening, Larkins equaled her career-high at the moment with 34 points, supplemented by 12 rebounds and eight assists. Additionally, she made her way into the top 10 of the Coyote all-time records for career steals during this match.
 
The Coyotes secured a 71-66 win at home against Omaha on Saturday, with Larkins elevating her performance even further in this success. She recorded a career-high and program-record 45 points, achieving this on a program-record 19 successful field goals, along with 13 rebounds (matching her highest in a game this season) and six assists.
 
Her 45 points mark the second highest achieved by a Division I player this season and the third highest in Summit League history among conference players. Currently, Larkins ranks fourth nationally in points per game (24.7), 18^th in assists (5.7), and 42^nd in rebounds (9.4). With a total of 445 points this season, she stands second in Division I, surpassed only by Arkansas’ Izzy Higginbottom, who has accrued 466 points.
 
This recognition as National Player of the Week is Larkins’ inaugural honor of this kind in her career. This season alone, she has claimed the Summit League weekly award three times, totalling five in her career.