KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Marta Suárez, one of only three Lady Vols to start every game this season, continues to be a consistent contributor and “glue” player for Tennessee in 2020-21. On Tuesday, she was recognized for her efforts by being announced as the SEC Freshman of the Week.

The rookie’s steady play last week helped Tennessee improve to 10-3 overall and 4-1 in the SEC, remain third in the league standings and climb to No. 20 in the AP poll. She averaged 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 63.6 percent from the field through a pair of games against national-caliber competition.

The 6-foot-2 freshman guard/forward scored in double figures for the second time this season, tossing in 10 points and pulling down six rebounds in a narrow loss to No. 3/5 UConn. She hit four of seven attempts from the field, including a couple of big threes that helped the Lady Vols battle through 17 lead changes and 12 ties vs. the Huskies in a game that wasn’t decided until the final 25 seconds.

In the runaway win over No. 12/12 Kentucky, Suárez tallied six points on three-of-four shooting while grabbing four boards in UT’s 56 to 25 dominant advantage on the glass.

Defensively, Suárez was part of a Lady Vol effort that severely limited the output of last week’s opponents. UConn and Kentucky entered their games with the Big Orange averaging 89.0 and 77.7 points per game, respectively, and she played a role in Tennessee’s team effort that held the Huskies to 22 points below their average and the Cats to 22.7 below theirs.

The native of Oviedo, Spain, who is averaging 6.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists through 13 contests, will return to action on Thursday with her teammates. The Ole Miss Rebels come to town for a 7 p.m. contest at Thompson-Boling Arena, with the game being streamed live on SECN+.

-UT Athletics