Sophomores TJ Riley (Tyler, TX, Chapel Hill High School, Lamar University) and Shatwa Morris (Las Cruces, NM, Mayfield High School) are January's WNMU Athletes of the Month.

Averaging 14.6 points per game, Riley finished the month with 117 points, tied for first with teammate Stefan Mirabal (Albuquerque, NM, Sandia High School). He also led the team in steals with 18. In addition, the Division I transfer finished second on the team this month in field goal percentage (.440, 38 for 86), three-point percentage (.410, 12 for 29), rebounds per game (4.9), and assists (21).

Riley averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals in a road split at Regis (W, 83-73) and at Metro State (L, 92-76) the first weekend of January. In the win over Regis, he netted 21 points, two rebounds, and three steals before fouling out. Two days later, he posted 14 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

While at home versus Chadron State on January 16, Riley hit the game-winning three-point field goal with six seconds left to defeat the Eagles, 76-75. He finished the game with 13 points, five rebounds, and one steal while hitting 5 of 8 field goals. Two days earlier in a win against Nebraska-Kearney, he tallied seven points, two steals, one rebound, and an assist.

Riley netted 12 points and four rebounds in the heartbreaker overtime loss to Fort Lewis (90-87) on January 21. The team rebounded back and got the win over Adams State (83-79) two nights later. In the contest, Riley recorded 16 points. Half of the points came from the free throw line.

This past weekend the Mustangs suffered two losses. The first came at the hands of Mesa State. Riley had 11 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Riley then posted 23 points versus Western State.

Playing in all eight games this month, Morris averaged 12.0 points per game while shooting .460 percent (32 for 69) from the floor and an impressive 6 for 14 from behind the three-point line. She led the team in assists with 29 and steals with 13.

Morris started the month on fire. In the overtime win at Regis (92-50), she came off the bench for the Mustangs and also produced 20 points. In addition, she chipped in with nine assists, seven rebounds, and four steals in her 33 minutes of play. In the 63-48 loss to Metro State two nights later, Morris had 12 points, three assists, and three steals in the contest.

The Mustangs notched two wins at home the second week of January. Versus Nebraska-Kearney (76-71), Morris led the scoring attack with 17 points. She then chipped in with six points versus Chadron State (78-74).

In her first start of the month, Morris continued her strong play versus nationally-ranked no. 10 Fort Lewis (L, 79-52) as she produced 18 points. She went 8 for 10 from the field. Morris had only five points in the loss to Adams State (78-48) but bounced back to her double-digit scoring ways against Mesa State on January 28. She finished the loss (81-67) with 10 points.

Morris capped off the month with eight points against Western State (L, 89-64) last Saturday.

Click here for TJ Riley (Tyler, TX/Chapel Hill High School)'s January statistics.

Click here for Shatwa Morris (Las Cruces, NM/Mayfield High School)' January statistics.