Onukwube Named Lyon College Featured Athlete

Courtesy Lyon College Athletics Department

One of the top scorers and rebounders on the Lyon College women’s basketball team, 5-8 forward Debbie Onukwube continues to show up each day with a work-like attitude and produces strong statistics for the 15th-ranked Scots.

For her efforts on and off the court, Onukwube has been honored as the Lyon College Featured Athlete of the Week for contests played between Jan. 14-20. This is a weekly honor presented to an outstanding Lyon athlete throughout the year and is based on leadership, as well as statistical production.

Onukwube, who attended Mount Saint Mary Academy in Little Rock before coming to Lyon, helped the Scots to a 2-1 record last week, leading the team to victories over Missouri Baptist University (76-65) on the road and Benedictine University at Springfield (Ill.) (92-48) at home before Lyon saw its seven-game winning streak snapped by 28th-ranked Columbia College, 82-67, on Saturday at home.

Lyon College’s national ranking last week included the team moving up four spots in the NAIA Division I Coaches’ Poll from 19th to its highest spot ever at No. 15. The Scots continue to stay in the hunt in the school’s first season in the American Midwest Conference with a 6-1 record (second place).

Onukwube finished the week averaging 12.0 points and 6.7 rebounds, while tallying an assist, a blocked shot and a steal. She connected on 48.6% (17-of-35) shots from the field and pulled down seven offensive and 13 defensive boards.

A Psychology Pre-Occupational Therapy Major, the senior was an All-TranSouth Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete in 2011-12, also earning the NAIA Champion of Characters Award. She was a basketball and track athlete in high school and brought the same hard-working regiment to Lyon after her graduation in 2009. 

During the 2011-12 school year, Onukwube was a member of the Black Students Association, while mentoring and tutoring for the Apple Project at Lyon. She was a Who’s Who Among American College Students and a member of the Psi Chi Organization, as well. 

Debbie is the daughter of Clement and Franny Onukwube of Little Rock.

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