Emory University senior Austin Claunch (Cypress, TX) has been selected by the University Athletic Association as Basketball Co-Player of the Week after helping the Eagles to a wins over Piedmont College and the University of Rochester.  He shares the award with Tim Cooney of Washington University.  It marks the first time this season and fifth in his career that he has been selected for the honor.

Claunch turned in a pair of outstanding performances in helping the No. 5-ranked Emory squad remain undefeated,  averaging 25.0 points, 6.5 assists and 2.0 steals as the Eagles raised their overall record to 12-0.  He shot 50 percent (17-34) from the floor, including 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range, and knocked down 90.9 percent (10-of-11) of his free throw opportunities.  The 5-foot-9 backcourt ace guided Emory to a dramatic 83-81 victory over Rochester on Saturday, logging all 40 minutes and pacing all players with a career-high tying 27 points while doling out a game-high tying eight assists.  He came through with a number of key plays, especially over a 3:15 stretch in the second half where he scored 11 straight Emory points, hitting all four of his field goal attempts in that span, that helped erase a four-point deficit and give the Eagles a 70-67 edge with 5:12 left.  Claunch's scoring output against the Yellowjackets marked his 12^th double-figure scoring effort of the season and sixth of 20 or more points.  

Prior to the Rochester game, he topped all players with 23 points, hitting seven-of-11 from the floor and seven-of-eight from the charity stripe, in a 95-78 outcome against Piedmont (Jan. 3).  Playing 31 minutes, he also doled out five assists, had no turnovers and registered four steals.

Through 12 contests, Claunch ranks second on the squad and in the UAA in scoring with an 18.3 points per game mark.  He is doling out a UAA-leading 7.1 assists per contest and tops the league with a glittering 90.6 percent (48-of-53) mark from the charity stripe.  In addition, he is third among UAA performers in steals (1.7 spg), first in assist/turnover ratio (3.4) and tied for second in minutes (32.8 mpg).

Emory returns to action on Friday (Jan. 13) when it plays at New York University at 8:00 p.m.