Player of the Week
Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Sophomore | F | Hyde Park, NY
In another strong week, Awaka averaged 20.0 points on a scorching 60.7 percent shooting, 13.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game with two double-doubles in two ECC contests. The QC sophomore forward began the week with 17 points, 17 rebounds, and two steals against District of Columbia on Wednesday evening before concluding the week with with 23 points on 11-of-12 shooting (91.7%) with 10 rebounds, one block, and one steal against Staten Island on Saturday afternoon, extending her double-double streak to five games. In January, Awaka averaged 17.9 points on 64.2 percent shooting. The sophomore has recorded three 20+ point games and has pulled down 14+ rebounds four times in January.
Defensive Player of the Week
Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island
Senior | F | Troy, NY
Alarcon helped lead the Dolphins to another 2-0 week in conference play with averages of 16.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.0 steals per game. In Wednesday's 28-point win over Molloy, the CSI senior forward helped hold the Lions to just 46 points while posting 20 points, six rebounds (five defensive), and four steals. In Saturday's 68-60 win over Queens, Alarcon registered another 12 points, seven rebounds (all defensive), and four steals.
Rookie of the Week
Ashley Chio, Queens
Freshman | G | North Vancouver, Canada
Chio averaged 12.5 points, 5.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 steals per game in two ECC contests. Chio began the week recording 16 points with four made three-pointers on 57.1 percent shooting with a career-high six steals, five rebounds, and five assists against District of Columbia on Wednesday afternoon. The Queens rookie guard concluded her week with nine points, six assists, three rebounds, and two assists against Staten Island on Saturday afternoon.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Angelina Barrera, Mercy
Junior | F | Gloucester City, NJ
Barrera had a game-high 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor and 7-of-8 shooting from the foul line with five rebounds, a game-high five assists, one block and a game-high-tying three steals in the win over STAC on Saturday.
Ne'vaeh Buntley, Daemen
Freshman | F | Rochester, NY
Buntley totaled double digit points for the fourth straight game in Daemen's 70-46 win over Roberts Wesleyan, finishing with 14 points after going 5-of-9 from the field (55.6%) and 3-of-4 (75%) beyond the arc while adding five defensive rebounds and three assists.
Grace Dow, Roberts Wesleyan
Senior | F | Syracuse, NY
Dow remained a consistent force for Roberts with a pair of near double-doubles this week. In the first win of the season for the Redhawks, she scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds with a pair of blocks and a steal. Against Daemen game, she added nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
Nia Ford, District of Columbia
Senior | G | PG County, MD
In a 2-0 ECC week for the Firebirds, Ford helped keep UDC's opponents to 52 points or less, averaging 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 2.0 steals per game. In the 55-52 win over Queens, Ford posted 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and 2 steals. In the win over Molloy, she had two blocks, two steals, four rebounds, and four points as Molloy was held to 47 points.
Georgia Haverlock, Roberts Wesleyan
Graduate Student | G | Ithaca, NY
Haverlock returned to full strength after a pre-holiday break injury and led Roberts Wesleyan to its first win of the season at D'Youville, scoring 19 points, grabbing six rebounds, and adding three assists and three steals in the win. Against Daemen, Haverlock posted 12 points and six rebounds. She currently ranks second in ECC scoring with 17.1 points per game.
Anna Jankovic, D'Youville
Senior | G/F | Averill Park, NY
Jankovic scored a team-high 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and recorded three steals for the Saints in Wednesday's contest against Roberts Wesleyan.
Laci Johnson, District of Columbia
Senior | G | Herndon, VA
Johnson averaged 14.5 points, 2.5 steals, and 2.0 assists per game in a 2-0 ECC week for the Firebirds. In the win over Queens, she posted 15 points, four steals, two rebounds, and two assists while in the win over Molloy, she added 14 points, two assists, and a steal.
Grace Lesko, Mercy
Sophomore | F | Northampton, PA
Lesko had 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds and three steals to go with three assists and one block in the win over STAC on Saturday.
Claire Pikett, Daemen
Junior | F | Holland, NY
Pikett scored in the double figures for the 11th game this season in Daemen's 70-46 win over Roberts Wesleyan, totaling a game-high 19 points after shooting 50 percent from the field (7-of-14) and 50 percent beyond the arc (3-of-6). The junior also pulled down eight rebounds along with two assists, two steals, and a block.
ECC Women's Basketball Weekly Award Winners
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 11 - Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island
Nov. 18 - Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island (2x) and Georgia Haverlock, Roberts Wesleyan
Nov. 25 - Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island (3x)
Dec. 2 - Samantha Muller, Molloy
Dec. 9 - Cecilia Lapertosa, Daemen
Dec. 16 - Danielle DiCintio, Daemen
Dec. 23 - Ashley Chio, Queens
Jan. 6 - Syrita Faraj, St. Thomas Aquinas
Jan. 13 - Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island (4x)
Jan. 20 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Jan. 27 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens (2x)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 11 - Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island
Nov. 18 - Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island (2x)
Nov. 25 - Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island (3x)
Dec. 2 - Sajol Thornhill, Queens
Dec. 9 - Cecilia Lapertosa, Daemen
Dec. 16 - Claire Pikett, Daemen
Dec. 23 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Jan. 6 - Angelina Barrera, Mercy
Jan. 13 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens (2x)
Jan. 20 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens (3x)
Jan. 27 - Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island (4x)
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nov. 11 - Allie Hall, D'Youville
Nov. 18 - Samantha Ruhlman, D'Youville
Nov. 25 - Aliviya Vallone Russell, D'Youville
Dec. 2 - Ashley Chio, Queens
Dec. 9 - Grace Lesko, Mercy
Dec. 16 - Ashley Chio, Queens (2x)
Dec. 23 - Ashley Chio, Queens (3x)
Jan. 6 - Grace Lesko, Mercy (2x)
Jan. 13 - Grace Lesko, Mercy (3x)
Jan. 20 - Grace Lesko (4x)
Jan. 27 - Ashley Chio, Queens (4x)
Previously in the Polls
WBCA TOP 25 COACHES POLL
Preseason: Daemen (RV)
Week 1 (11/19) through Week 9 (1/21): --
Week 10 (1/28): TBA
D2CSC TOP 25 MEDIA POLL
Preseason (11/5): Daemen (RV)
Week 1 (11/12) through Week 9 (1/21): --
Week 10 (1/28): TBA
D2CSC TOP 10 EAST REGION MEDIA POLL
Preseason (11/4): Daemen (4), Mercy (5)
Week 2 (11/11): Mercy (5), Daemen (9), Molloy (RV)
Week 3 (11/18): Mercy (7), Molloy (RV)
Week 3 (11/25): Daemen (10), Mercy (RV), Molloy (RV)
Week 4 (12/2): Daemen (10), Molloy (RV), Mercy (RV)
Week 5 (12/9): Daemen (10)
Week 6 (12:16): Daemen (9)
Week 7 (1/6): Daemen (10), Mercy (RV)
Week 8 (1/13): Daemen (8)
Week 9 (1/20): Daemen (8), Staten Island (RV)
Week 10 (1/27): TBA
NCAA EAST REGION POLL
ECC PRESEASON POLL
1. Mercy - 76 points (5 first-place votes)
2. Daemen - 71 points (3 first-place votes)
3. District of Columbia - 60 points (1 first-place vote)
4. St. Thomas Aquinas - 52 points
5. Staten Island - 43 points
6. Molloy - 30 points
7. Queens - 29 points
8. D'Youville - 27 points
9. Roberts Wesleyan - 17 points