Beard Named National Player of Week

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dallas College Richland's Paris Beard was named the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Women's Basketball Player of the Week.

A 5-foot-7 guard from Mount Pleasant, Texas, Beard averaged 29.5 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists as the Thunderducks won their first game of the season last week. Beard established school records for points in a game (41), made field goals in a game (16) and steals in a game (8) in Richland's 89-66 victory over Arlington Baptist University Junior Varsity.

Beard shot 16 of 27 from the field, and 8-for-10 from the free throw line, while pulling down nine rebounds, and coming away with eight steals and a block in the Thunderducks' win. She had 18 points, five rebounds and two assists, while shooting 7 of 11 from the field in a loss to National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Arkansas Cossatot.

Beard is averaging 22.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game. 

Richland (2-4) will play at East Texas Baptist University Junior Varsity 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Thunderducks return home Dec. 2 for a nonconference game against Dallas College Cedar Valley.