When she walks into a room, it’s hard to miss Teaira McCowan. Mississippi State’s 6-foot-7 senior center towers over teammates and most of her opponents.

At long last, she finally seems to be coming into her own on the court as well.

McCowan was named the Southeastern Conference women’s basketball Player of the Week for the second time this season on Tuesday. She averaged 26.5 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks and two steals in wins over No. 9 Oregon and Maine last week.

McCowan has seven double-doubles this season and has led the Bulldogs to an 11-0 start and top-five ranking in the Associated Press poll.

“I think I can be great,” McCowan told The Starkville Daily News after last week’s win over Oregon. “It’s going to take hard work, dedication and buying in. This year I’m way different because I don’t allow myself to get in the way of what I’m trying to do and the goal of my team.”

Despite her imposing frame and strong post game, McCowan has been overshadowed at times during her college career. Teammates like Morgan William and Victoria Vivians have garnered more hype and attention by hitting big shots or putting up huge numbers.

So far this season, McCowan has emerged from that shadow with spectacular and steady play. Her seven double-doubles have come in 11 games, and she’s among the leaders in the SEC and the nation in scoring (17.5 points per game), field goal percentage (64.8 percent) and rebounds (12.2 per game). She ranks in the top 11 in the country in field goal percentage and rebounds.

McCowan was the SEC’s Sixth Woman of the Year last season, but is on pace to be a contender for a number of bigger individual awards this season, such as Player of the Year and the Gillom Trophy given to Mississippi’s top women’s basketball player.

“I still think there’s a level we can get to with her,” Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer said of McCowan after the Oregon game. “The sky is the limit. Find me someone who got 35 and 19 against a top 10 team this year or last year or the year before. When she is engaged and focused, man, she’s a monster.”

Mississippi State will head west to Las Vegas for a pair of games in the Duel in the Desert tournament. The Bulldogs play tournament host UNLV Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., and No. 22 Syracuse Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

They’ll return home to face Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 28, and then begin SEC play on the road against Georgia on New Year’s Eve.

“There are two big games ahead in Las Vegas. We are trying to go undefeated in non-conference. It hasn’t been done many times,” Schaefer said after Sunday’s win over Maine.