Bryce Washington earns Ivy League and Big 5 honors after performance against St. Joe's

Freshman guard Bryce Washington was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week as well as Big 5 Player of the Week in commendation of his performance in Penn men's basketball's 78-70 win over Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. 

Washington led the Quakers in scoring and rebounds with 23 points and 10 boards, recording his first collegiate double-double in the process. In addition to this momentous milestone, which helped the Red and Blue win their first Big 5 title since the 2001-02 season, Washington set career highs in multiple categories. In addition to his points and rebounds numbers, the freshman recorded four assists and six three-pointers, serving as a relentless and dominant presence on both offense and defense. 

Besides being a consistent force of activity throughout the game, Washington came in clutch for the Red and Blue in the dying moments of the contest by extending Penn’s lead to six after sinking a three with two minutes to play. The guard emitted an aura of confidence, which was reinforced by the trust of his teammates and his coach as he saw lot of the ball in the latter stages of the game. 

Washington has shone under pressure and cemented his place in the starting lineup after junior guard Ryan Betley’s season-ending injury in the team's first game left a starting spot in limbo. His recent awards mark the second time he has earned the Ivy honor in January and the first time he has been recognized by the Big 5.

With peak Ivy season coming soon, Washington's form will be an important asset to the Quakers as they look to bounce back from an 0-2 start to League play when they take on Cornell and Columbia in back-to-back games on the road this weekend.