ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Coming off a record-breaking performance on Saturday, Zanai Barnett-Gay (Fr., Glenn Dale, Md.) was selected as the NAAA Athlete of the Week presented by Northrop Grumman. An individual standout throughout the week, Barnett-Gay helped Navy post a 1-1 record, including a 14-point road win over American on Wednesday.

The talented freshman guard began her week with 12 points, six rebounds and two assists in Navy's 69-55 victory over American. The Mids' win against the second-place Eagles was the program's first at Bender Arena since 2013 and ended a 14-game road skid at American. Heading into Saturday's showdown versus Boston University 10 points out of second place on the program's all-time freshman scoring list and 26 out of first, Barnett-Gay filled up the box score with her sixth double-double of the year with 26 points and 10 rebounds. With those 26 points, Barnett-Gay surpassed Colleen Cassidy for number one all-time in freshmen scoring with 415 on the season. Cassidy's record lasted for 45 years as she tallied 414 points in 1978-79, Navy's second-ever season of varsity basketball. For the week, Barnett-Gay averaged 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 30.5 minutes per game of action.

Nationally, Barnett-Gay ranks 53rd in NCAA Division with an 18.0 points per game scoring average and fifth among all freshmen players. She only trails USC's JuJu Watkins (27.5 ppg), Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo (24.4 ppg), Arkansas' Taliah Scott (22.1 ppg) and Western Illinois' Raegan McCowan (18.3 ppg). Strong on the defensive end as well, Barnett-Gay ranks 13th overall in DI with a 3.04 steals per game average. All-time in Navy's program record book, her 70 total steals are seventh-most in a single-season and 25 out of first place with a minimum of six games left this season.

Barnett-Gay and the Midshipmen will continue their stretch of play with playoff positioning up for grabs on Wednesday with a home intra-state matchup versus Loyola. Tip-off against Greyhounds is set for 7 p.m. at Alumni Hall.