A Note on Casey Garrison

Without question, the Lady Bears are struggling just as much as the Bears, as Nyla Milleson's bunch is off to an 0-4 start in Valley play. However, freshman Casey Garrison has done nothing but help her team win and is making an early case for Valley Player of the Year honors.

For the season, Garrison is averaging 16 points per game on 75-159 shooting, which is a remarkable 47 percent success rate from the floor.* On top of that, she's made 83 percent of her free throws and leads the team in rebounding with 5.4 boards per game.

*As I mentioned in yesterday's entry, one of my favorite statistics is Points Per Shot. Garrison averages 1.50 (!!!) PPS, which is easily the best figure on her team. I'm quite certain it's also one of the best averages in the country, but the Internet -- wonderful as it is -- still hasn't found a place for advanced and sortable women's college basketball statistics.

Regardless, since we have to provide some kind of context here, it's worth pointing out that the nation's leading scorer, Dawn Evans of James Madison University, averages only 1.24 PPS. Probably a well above-average number, but nowhere in Garrison's neighborhood.

Garrison has also displayed an advanced level of court awareness despite her team-leading 55 turnovers, which I believe can be attributed to the fact she has probably handled the ball on more possessions than her teammates. And rightfully so. With every game, Garrison looks more and more like the best player to wear a Missouri State uniform since Jackie Stiles. Hopefully the Valley championships will return with her.