Oakton Community College sophomore guard Ava Gardner (Park Ridge, Maine South High School) was selected National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IV Division II player of the week for District D.

Gardner scored 29 points, shooting 57 percent (8-14) from the field and from three-point territory (4-7) and was 9-of-10 from the free throw stripe after returning from a foot injury in the Owls’ 66-54 loss at Morton College Saturday, Feb. 2. She also had 3 assists and 4 steals in the effort.

“Ava has improved her game by taking every opportunity given to her and not passing anything up. She is unselfish and playing point guard for us now. She continues to make her teammates better while still having one of her best personal games her first game back,” says head coach Melissa Pearson. “Ava is one of the purest shooters we’ve ever seen and she is finally believing it.”

In six games, she’s averaged 22.3 points per game, shooting 51.2 percent from the field. She has averaged 36.5 minutes of playing time this season.