Player and Defensive Player of the Week
Cecelia Lapertosa, Daemen
Senior | F | Whitesboro, N.Y.
Lapertosa averaged a double-double in two games this week with 16.5 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game with 2.5 blocks per game and 1.0 steals per game. The Daemen senior recorded her first double-double of the season against No. 5 Gannon, posting 12 points and 12 rebounds, including 11 defensive boards, to go with a steal and a block. Lapertosa played 32 minutes in the narrow seven-point loss to help hold the top-five Golden Knights to just 57 points, their lowest point total of the season. Lapertosa posted her second straight double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, including nine defensive boards, four blocks, and a steal. Lapertosa helped the Wildcats' defense hold Chestnut Hill to 26.0 percent shooting (17-for-65) from the field, allowing just 54 points.
Lapertosa shot 50.0 percent from the field (13-of-26) and 70.0 percent from the stripe (7-of-10) while boasting 23 total rebounds, including 20 defensive boards, in the 1-1 week for the Wildcats.
Rookie of the Week
Jada Mushat, Roberts Wesleyan
Freshman | G | Williamsville, N.Y.
Mushat had a breakout week for the Redhawks with a 22-point performance on 8-of-15 shooting to go with four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block in RWU’s 76-69 win over Mansfield. The RWU freshman added a team-leading 14 points in a road loss at Cedarville.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Junior | F | Hyde Park, N.Y.
Junior forward Nkiru Awaka averaged a double-double on the week, posting 14.0 points on 45.5 percent shooting from the field, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.0 steals per game. Continuing Queens’ road swing, Awaka opened the week with a season-best 17 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals against Caldwell on Wednesday. She followed with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and two steals in the win over Bridgeport as the Knights secured their first victory of the season.
Bailey Chapman, St. Thomas Aquinas
Redshirt Sophomore | G | Sparta, N.J.
Chapman averaged 8.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game in two contests last week for STAC. The redshirt sophomore guard tallied four points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished an assist in 36 minutes in a loss to Dominican before recording a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 35 minutes in a 57-47 win over Goldey-Beacom.
Racky Kane, Staten Island
Junior | G/F | New York, N.Y.
In the 1-1 week, Kane led the charge with 12.0 points per game, her highest value being 20 in the non-conference win over Goldey-Beacom. With the 20 points, she recorded her first double-double of the season when she grabbed 10 rebounds for an 8.0 rebound per game average for the week.
Grace Lesko, Mercy
Junior | F | Northampton, Pa.
Lesko averaged a team-high 18.5 points per game with 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game as Mercy went 1-1 on the week. The junior opened the week with a game-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in the win over Adelphi on Wednesday. Lesko ended the week with a team-high 14 points to go with six rebounds and two blocks at Pace on Saturday.
Iyana Morel, St. Thomas Aquinas
Sophomore | G/F | North Babylon, N.Y.
Morel collected 26 rebounds (13.0 per game), logged six blocks (3.0 per game), and collected two steals (1.0 per game) in two STAC contests last week. The sophomore guard/forward posted double-doubles against both Dominican (L,75-61) and Goldey-Beacom (W, 57-47). Against the Chargers, Morel scored 10 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, swiped a steal, and blocked five shots in 27 minutes before recording 11 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block versus the Lightning in 33 minutes. She also shot 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from the field and 83.3 percent (5-of-6) from the free-throw line.
Claire Pikett, Daemen
Senior | F | Holland, N.Y.
Pikett averaged 12.0 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game while recording five steals and three blocks in a 1-1 week for the Wildcats. The Daemens senior forward contributed significantly defensively against No. 5 Gannon last Tuesday, with three steals, a block, and seven defensive rebounds. On Sunday, she scored a team-high 22 points, tying her career high while grabbing eight rebounds and logging two blocks, two steals, and two assists in the win over Chestnut Hill. Pikett shot 57.1 percent (8-of-14) from the field with three three-pointers in five attempts.
ECC Women's Basketball Weekly Award Winners
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 17 - Grace Lesko, Mercy
Nov. 24 - Cecelia Lapertosa, Daemen
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 17 - Aiyana Ellis, District of Columbia and Claire Pikett, Daemen
Nov. 24 - Cecelia Lapertosa, Daemen
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nov. 17 - Sharmeela Ugbogbo, Molloy
Nov. 24 - Jada Mushat, Roberts Wesleyan
1. Daemen - 81 points (9 first-place votes)
2. Mercy - 72 points
3. Staten Island - 51 points
4. D'Youville - 49 points
5. St. Thomas Aquinas - 41 points
6. District of Columbia - 37 points
7. Molloy - 36 points
8. Queens - 21 points
9. Roberts Wesleyan - 17 points