Redbird forward Janae Smith and senior Jackie Carmichael both earned Valley honors Monday. (Photo Courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By WJBC Staff

ST. LOUIS - Illinois State senior forward Jackie Carmichael is the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, while Redbird women's basketball forward Janae Smith was named the Valley Newcomer of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday.

Carmichael received the honor for the third time in his career, after helping the Redbirds begin the 2012-13 season with a 3-0 record. Smith was the newcomer for the second-straight week.

Carmichael set or tied a career high in four categories, including points (27), field goals (13), field goal attempts (20) and assists (3) in Illinois State's season-opening win against UC Santa Barbara, Nov. 12. Carmichael's 27 points were the most scored by a Redbird since Bryant Allen netted 29 on Jan. 13, 2012 versus Creighton. Carmichael also recorded his 22nd-career double-double, as he added 10 rebounds.

Carmichael helped ISU improve to 3-0 with an eight-point effort against Delaware State, Nov. 18. He is now leading the team with 18.7 points averaged on 61 percent field goal shooting and 75 percent free throw shooting through ISU's first three games.

Smith just missed a double-double in her third performance as a Redbird, as the forward hit a career-high 31 points and brought down nine rebounds in ISU’s 76-74 loss to Memphis in the third round of the Preseason WNIT on Sunday. Smith was 11-of-15 from the field, shooting 73 percent and sank 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.

Smith is the second-leading scorer for ISU after three games. She is averaging 18.3 points per game and has brought down 24 boards, with 10 being offensive. Smith is leading the team with three blocks, is second on the team in steals with four and averages 34 minutes per game.