As much as Raneem Elgedawy’s addition has helped Western Kentucky overall, it’s done wonders for Ivy Brown’s senior season.

It’s allowed the Lady Topper to finally maximize her skills rather than be contained to the team’s only – and often best – post presence by necessity.

“I know we talk a lot about Tashia (Brown), but Ivy is right up there too and that’s the reason we’re winning and we’re where we’re at,” WKU coach Michelle Clark-Heard said.

Ivy Brown recorded her 11th double-double of the season behind 14 points and 16 rebounds in WKU’s 82-63 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday at E.A. Diddle Arena. The 6-foot-2 forward now has 29 double-doubles for her decorated career with more potentially on the way as long as the combination with Elgedawy keeps working.

Her 29 double-doubles ranks sixth on WKU’s all-time list for points and rebounds only since the 1980-81 season.

The Hodgenville native and former Miss Kentucky Basketball is practically averaging a double-double this year with 16.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game through 22 contests.

Adding the 6-foot-4, back-to-the-basket freshman forward Elgedawy has given Ivy Brown freedom to stretch the floor with fellow senior Tashia Brown, who shared a double-double alongside her Saturday with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Elgedawy added 15 points and eight rebounds Saturday.

“I think (it’s made me) a lot better,” Ivy Brown said on sharing the floor with Elgedawy. “I’ve never been a back-to-the-basket, post-type player. For her to come in and allow me to step out to the floor allows me to face up and shoot my 3s and stuff. It makes me a lot more comfortable. Then on the rebounding end, she’s huge for us, too. It’s nice to have another body over 6-2.”

Ivy Brown was a force at the rim with 10 offensive rebounds, two of which produced five points in the first half. She also totaled a career-high seven steals in the win over the Owls.

Her back-to-back 3-pointers to start the second half helped WKU maintain the comfortable lead it built thanks to a 23-0 run in the second quarter.

“That combination is really hard to guard,” Heard said. “When Raneem can get the ball and be in the post and Ivy can play in the post too but also step out and score, it’s really helped Ivy.”

The two have been a force in the paint defensively with Ivy Brown ranking third in the conference in blocked shots per game (1.8) and Elgedawy ranking fifth (1.3) in the league. Brown still leads C-USA in rebounding (9.9 rpg) and Elgedawy ranks 11th in the league at 7.7 rebounds per game.

Putting Elgedawy’s natural post abilities in the paint has also improved Ivy Brown’s 3-point shooting numbers. Her two 3-pointers Saturday give her a new season-high of 39 made triples on 101 attempts, good for a career-best .386 clip.

Without the Brown-Elgedawy combination, Heard believes the senior would have eventually earned that 11th double-double, but “it would’ve been very difficult.”

“Do I believe she could’ve done it? I believe she could’ve because of how hard she works,” Heard said. “It also makes it a lot easier for her. When you have to guard both of those parts, it makes it a lot different and Raneem rebounds, too. It’s not like you have one person that’s rebounding, we’ve got two posts going after the boards.

“Day in and day out, Ivy Brown shows up no matter what and it’s awesome because they play two different positions. You have to key on both of them. You can’t guard just one. She is playing her best basketball, but she’s locked into this program to give everything she can give and go out with a bang.”

– Follow sports reporter Elliott Pratt on Twitter @EPrattBGDN or visit bgdailynews.com