Houston Christian University Athletics

Senior (2015-16): Played in 18 games with two starts...scored a season-high six points in three-straight games: versus Huston-Tillotson (12/28), McNeese State (1/4), and Nicholls (1/5), where she also registered a block against the Colonels...pulled down a season-high four rebounds at Lamar (1/23).

Junior (2014-15): Saw action in 16 games with two starts...scored a season-high six points and set a new career mark of four assists against Huston-Tillotson (12/28)...her six rebounds at Sam Houston State (1/31) tied her career high...she had eight steals and tied her personal best with three against Abilene Christian (1/29).

Sophomore (2013-14): Appeared in 17 games...averaged 2.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game...scored a career-high eight points against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2/22)...set a new personal best of six rebounds twice: against UT Arlington (11/8) and against Nicholls (3/6)...set new career highs with three steals against UT Arlington (11/8) and three assists against Nicholls (3/6)...averaged 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in conference play...named to Southland Conference Spring Honor Roll.

Freshman (2012-13): Played in 16 games with one start...averaged 1.4 points and 1.5 rebounds per game, while averaging just 5.1 minutes a contest...had three assists, three blocks, and four steals...scored a career-high five points against Lamar (12/21) and grabbed five rebounds against Chicago State (3/7).

High School: Competed in basketball and track at Dallas Lutheran...she was a four-year letterwinner and four-year starter in basketball for head coach Tyerone Washington...as a senior, she averaged 20 points, 11.5 rebounds, four assists, and two steals a game...while leading her team to a 26-5 record with a perfect TAPPS regular season mark, Essien had 16 double-doubles and four triple-doubles...she averaged 20 points a game as a junior, and 15 points a game as both a freshman and sophomore...she was a three-time Most Valuable Player (2010-12) and was a four-time First Team All-District selection (2009-12)...she earned All-State Honorable Mention honors in 2011 and was named Second Team All-District in 2008...in track, she earned MVP honors in 2011 and is the defending TAPPS Division III champion in the shot put and runner-up in the long jump...in the classroom, Essien was a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society...she was a three-time Student of the Month and was the student body president...she was named Academic All-State as a junior and senior...played club for All Net Basketball for coach Carven.

Personal: Full name is Ekemini Liron Essien...majoring in marketing...born on Oct. 13, 13, 1993, in Dallas, Texas...daughter of Uko and Deborah Essien...has two brothers, Attah and Junior...enjoys playing sports, playing the drums, and working out...she plays the drums in her church's praise band.