Player of the Week
Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island
Senior | F | Troy, NY
Alarcon averaged 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game as the Dolphins clinched a first-round bye in the ECC playoffs with another 2-0 week. On Wednesday against the Mavericks, the CSI senior registered 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and a block. On Saturday against the Spartans, Alarcon dropped 20 points to go along with 12 rebounds and two more steals.
Defensive Player of the Week
Anna Jankovic, D’Youville
Senior | G/F | Averill Park, NY
Jankovic was a major presence for the Saints on the defensive side of the ball in two ECC wins this weekend, grabbing 28 rebounds - 26 of which were defensive - to average 14.0 rebounds per game with 3.0 steals per game. In Friday's win against Queens, the DYU senior guard/forward grabbed 15 rebounds (14 defensive) and recorded two steals. In Sunday's win over Molloy, Jankovic grabbed 13 rebounds (12 defensive) and recorded four steals and a block.
Rookie of the Week
Ne'vaeh Buntley, Daemen
Freshman | F | Rochester, NY
Buntley averaged 18.5 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game as she helped the Wildcats to wins over Molloy (69-64) and Queens (61-52) as Daemen won its sixth consecutive ECC Regular Season Championship. In Friday's win over the Lions, the freshman forward notched a career-high 23 points after going 8-of-12 from the field, with five of those eight buckets coming from beyond the arc. Buntley notched her first double-double of her young career, totaling 12 rebounds as well while adding two blocks, two steals and one assist on the night. In Sunday's victory over the Knights, Buntley totaled 14 points after going 44 percent from the field (7-of-16) along with seven rebounds and one block.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Amani Abuhatab, Mercy
Sophomore | G | West Haven, CT
Abuhatab averaged a team-high 16.5 points per game on 60.0 percent shooting with 3.5 rebounds per game as Mercy went 1-1 on the week. The sophomore opened the week with a team-high-tying 11 points with five rebounds and two steals at Staten Island on Wednesday. The guard ended the week with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting overall and 4-of-4 shooting from downtown with two rebounds in the win at UDC on Saturday.
Nia Ford, District of Columbia
Senior | G | PG County, MD
Ford averaged 16 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game in a 1-1 week for UDC. In the win over STAC, she posted a game-high 22 points on 58.3 percent shooting from the field, five rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block. In the loss to Mercy, she filled the stat sheet with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.
Sofie Fuglsang, D’Youville
Senior | F | Oberanven, Luxembourg
Fuglsang averaged 19.5 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, and 2.0 steals per game in two games for D'Youville this weekend. In Friday's win over Queens, she scored 21 points on 6-for-9 shooting from three, grabbed five rebounds, dished out three assists, and recorded three steals. In Sunday's win against Molloy, she scored 18 points, grabbed four rebounds, and recorded a steal and a block.
Danielle Hippner, Molloy
Senior | C | East Meadow, NY
Hippner saw her offensive production increase this week. After totaling seven points against Daemen, the center netted a career-high 16 points against D'Youville to go along with nine rebounds and four blocks. On the week, the East Meadow native averaged 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.
Grace Lesko, Mercy
Sophomore | F | Northampton, PA
Lesko averaged 15.5 points per game and a team-high 9.5 rebounds per game with 2.5 assists per game as Mercy went 1-1 on the week. The sophomore opened the week with a team-high-tying 11 points with three rebounds at Staten Island on Wednesday. The forward ended the week with a double-double by way of 20 points and a game-high and career-high 16 rebounds in the win at UDC on Saturday.
Arianna Lopez, Queens
Freshman | G | Newburgh, NY
Lopez averaged 15.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 assists per game in the Knights’ Western New York trip. The QC freshman guard began the trip with seven points, three rebounds, one steal, and one assist against D’Youville Friday evening. Lopez concluded her weekend with a career-best 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting with two steals, one block, one assist, and one rebound against Daemen on Sunday afternoon. The rookie guard made a career-best 10 made field goals and recorded her first career block.
Rosa Rizzitelli, Molloy
Junior | G | Derby, CT
Rizzitelli displayed her versatility this week, leading the squad in rebounds in Molloy's Western New York road trip. The junior began the week posting a game-high 13 rebounds, with 10 boards coming on the defensive glass, to go along with two blocks against Daemen. The Molloy guard continued to be a magnet for the ball bringing down a career-high 15 rebounds (14 defensive) in its contest against D'Youville. Rizzitelli ended the week averaging 14.0 rebounds per game.
Nhaikyia Smith, District of Columbia
Junior | G | Waldorf, MD
Smith averaged 11 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in a 1-1 week for UDC. In the Firebirds’ 86-64 win over STAC, Smith came off the bench to post a near triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
Aliviya Vallone Russell, D’Youville
Freshman | G | Buffalo, NY
In two games for the Saints this weekend, Vallone Russell averaged 19.0 points per game, 3.0 assists per game, and 2.0 rebounds per game. In Friday's win against Queens, she scored a career-high 21 points on 4-for-9 shooting from three, dished out two assists, and recorded a steal. In Sunday's win over Molloy, she scored 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting from three, dished out four assists, and recorded a steal 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)
Feb. 3 - Sofie Fuglsang, D'Youville
Feb. 10 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens (3x) and Anna Jankovic, D'Youville
Feb. 17 - Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island (5x)
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)
Feb. 3 - Grace Dow, Roberts Wesleyan
Feb. 10 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens (4x)
Feb. 17 - Anna Jankovic, D'Youville
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)
Feb. 3 - Aliviya Vallone Russell, D'Youville (2x)
Feb. 10 - Ne'vaeh Buntley, Daemen
Feb. 17 - Ne'vaeh Buntley, Daemen (2x)
Previously in the Polls
WBCA TOP 25 COACHES POLL
Preseason: Daemen (RV)
Week 1 (11/19) through Week 13 (2/18): --
Week 14 (2/25): TBA
D2CSC TOP 25 MEDIA POLL
Preseason (11/5): Daemen (RV)
Week 1 (11/12) through Week 13 (2/18): --
Week 14 (2/25): 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): Daemen (7), Staten Island (10)
Week 11 (2/3): Daemen (6), Staten Island (T-9), Mercy (RV)
Week 12 (2/10): Daemen (T-5), Staten Island (9)
Week 12 (2/17): Daemen (5), Staten Island (9), Mercy (RV)
NCAA EAST REGION POLL
First Ranking (2/19): Daemen (Under Consideration), Staten Island (Under Consideration)
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