Senior Denia Davis-Stewart was the best player on the floor last week, leading the Merrimack College women's basketball program to a near upset of the University of Illinois last week in Champaign, Ill. For her efforts, she's been named Fuddruckers Female Athlete of the Week for the first time this season. 

Davis-Stewart poured in a game-high 26 points and ripped 15 rebounds on the way to her sixth double-double of the season. 

The game against Illinois was just a taste of what Davis-Stewart has been doing this season so far.  She is currently tied for first in the NEC with a 17.3 points a game average, which is well above her career average of 9.9.  She is also leading the conference in rebounding with 12.2 a game and is in second for free throw percentage shooting 84% from the line. 

Davis-Stewart is not only having a great season for the conference, she is also headlining national statistical categories.  She currently leads the country in blocked shots with 46 on the season, which is six more than anyone else in the nation.  The senior also ranks second in the country with a 5.1 blocks per game average and is tied for seventh with her 12.1 rebounds per game average.

The Warriors return to action this Saturday when Merrimack hosts UMass Lowell for a 1 p.m. tip-off at Hammel Court.