This week’s athlete of the week is UMC Women’s Basketball player, Isieoma Odor, a 6’0 Senior post from Bloomington’s John F. Kennedy High School.
Isieoma has had a great start to her senior season with back-to-back NSIC North Division player of the week honors. “I think she’s coming into her own,” said UMC Women’s Basketball head coach Mike Roysland. “She’s doing a much better job of having a feel for the game and doing it in all different categories. I think she’s just so much more well-rounded versus just trying to score. She’s getting assists and putting a lot of emphasis on her defense, but I think what’s happening with Isi is the full package of a basketball player. It’s her decision making, she’s making really good decisions once she has the basketball and I think that’s really leading to her success.” Odor is reaping the benefits of five years of work she’s put in to her basketball career at UMC according to her head coach, “I think it’s huge that she stayed the course and that she was willing to put in the time and I think she had a great offseason and that’s really paid dividends for her as well. She’s gotten into a comfort level. This is the most comfortable I’ve seen her play with her skill set.” She has helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 5-1 record and through the first six games she has averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and one block per game.
Isieoma turned in a solid junior year starting all 27 games and averaged shy of 15 points per game, and 7 rebounds and she passed the 1,000 career point mark towards the end of the season. As a sophomore, she started 20 games and played in 28 games and was second on the team with 13 points per game. During her redshirt Freshman year, Isieoma played 17 minutes per game and played in all 28 games and got stronger as the year progressed. She averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game and had the game-winning shot vs Minnesota State Mankato last year. In her first year on campus, she had played in the first six games of the year and suffered a season-ending knee injury while averaging 6 points and 4 rebounds per game. Since she had only played in six games the NCAA allowed her to get a medical red-shirt year giving her a full four years of eligibility.
In High School, Isieoma was a captain for Bloomington John F. Kennedy High School Girls basketball and 7 points and 5 rebounds per game as a junior. She was also on the volleyball team her senior year. At UMC, Odor has been an orientation leader for four years, member of the Student Conduct Committee and FCA.
First started playing basketball – Fourth grade
What do you feel is the strongest part of your game – Offense, but used to be defense Part of your game that needs work – Shooting
Toughest basketball player you’ve ever faced – Clarissa Ober, South Dakota State Biggest thrill in your athletic career so far– Hitting the game-winning shot at MSU-Mankato three years ago
Do you have a pre-game ritual – Listen to music and pray before each game
Favorite gym – Lysaker Gymnasium-UMC
Favorite sport – Basketball and volleyball
Favorite sports team – Dallas Cowboys
Favorite athlete – Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Last movie you’ve seen – The Break Up
Favorite TV program – Grey’s Anatomy
Favorite food – Anything with chicken
What music are you listening to – H.E.R
Something about you that people don’t know – She has hole in right retina
Your stranded on a deserted island and you can have ANY three people with you – My best friend Marshay, my mom, and my sister
Plans after graduation – Move to Dallas and find a job in case management
Family –
Dad – Howard, counselor at Normandale Community College
Mom – Pamela, works for United Health Group
Sisters – Ifeoma is about graduate from Minnesota State-Mankato with a degree in Social Work
