Co-Players of the Week
Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Junior | F | Hyde Park, N.Y.
In a 2-0 week for the Knights, Awaka led the way, averaging a double-double with 19.0 points per game on 69.6 percent shooting, 17.5 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, 2.0 blocks per game, and 2.0 steals per game. In the 70-57 non-conference victory over Southern New Hampshire, Awaka posted 20 points (9-of-12 FG), 19 rebounds (11 offensive, 8 defensive), three blocks, three assists, and one steal. To close out the week, the QC junior forward recorded 18 points (7-of-11 FG), 16 rebounds, three steals, two assists, and one block in the 59-45 ECC victory over Roberts Wesleyan.
Colleen McCullagh, Molloy
Senior | F | New Hyde Park, N.Y.
McCullagh led all scorers with 30 points in Molloy's 77-58 victory over Roberts Wesleyan in the Lions' lone contest on the week. The total, accomplished on a day where she shot nearly 70 percent from the floor (11-of-16) and 8-of-8 from the foul line, ties a career high and marks the eighth-straight contest of 20 or more points. The Molloy senior forward also pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds for her third double-double of the campaign while adding four blocks and three assists.
Defensive Player of the Week
Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Junior | F | Hyde Park, N.Y.
In a 2-0 week for the Knights, Awaka totaled 35 rebounds (15 defensive), four stealsm and four blocks. In the 70-57 non-conference victory over Southern New Hampshire, Awaka battled for 19 rebounds (eight defensive) with three blocks and one steal in 34 minutes of play, holding SNHU to 57 points for the game. To close out the week, the QC junior forward posted 16 rebounds (seven defensive) with three steals and a block in 36 minutes of play, holding Roberts Wesleyan to 45 points for the game. Across two wins, Awaka averaged 17.50 rebounds per game, 2.0 steals per game, and 2.0 blocks per game while holding Queens’ opposition to 51 points per game while averaging 19.0 points per game on the offensive end.
Rookie of the Week
Molly O’Toole, D’Youville
Freshman | G | Rochester, N.Y.
O'Toole had a strong showing in DYU’s 71-38 win over St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday night with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, including six threes. The D’Youville freshman guard gave the Saints their offensive momentum in the second quarter, making three consecutive three-pointers to give the Saints the lead going into halftime. O’Toole added 12 points and five rebounds against Mercy for a pair of double-digit performances on the weekend.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Amani Abuhatab, Mercy
Junior | G | West Haven, Conn.
Abuhatab averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.5 assists per game as Mercy went 1-1 on the week. The junior opened the week with a career-high and game-high 25 points to go with five rebounds, three steals, and one assist against RV Daemen on Friday. The guard ended the week with eight points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal in the 66-50 win over D'Youville on Sunday.
Ne'vaeh Buntley, Daemen
Sophomore | F | Rochester, N.Y.
Buntley averaged 17.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game while recording three steals and three assists in two Daemen wins over the weekend. She scored a team-high 19 points on 6-of-13 (46.2%) shooting, grabbed six rebounds, and recorded two steals in a win at Mercy on Friday. Buntley then scored 16 points, collected a season-high nine rebounds, logged a season-high three assists, and recorded a steal in a victory at St. Thomas Aquinas on Sunday. She scored six points down the stretch in the fourth quarter to help Daemen seal the win.
Cecelia Lapertosa, Daemen
Senior | F | Whitesboro, N.Y.
Lapertosa averaged 2.5 steals per game, 2.5 blocks per game, and 7.0 rebounds per game, while also averaging 11.0 points per game in two Daemen wins over the weekend. The senior forward helped hold Daemen's two opponents, Mercy and St. Thomas Aquinas, to a combined 52.0 points per game and 29.6 percent shooting from the field. On Friday against Mercy, the senior logged three blocks and a steal, while grabbing seven rebounds, including four defensive rebounds, and scoring 12 points. She helped the Wildcats hold the Mavericks to 49 points, a 23.7 percent field goal percentage, and a 23.1 percent three-point percentage. On Sunday against STAC, Lapertosa tied her season-high with four steals, while recording two blocks and seven rebounds, including five defensive rebounds. She also scored 10 points. Lapertosa helped the Wildcats hold the Spartans to 55 points and 35.7 percent shooting from the field.
Grace Lesko, Mercy
Junior | F | Northampton, Pa.
Lesko averaged a team-high 21.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game with 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists per game as Mercy went 1-1 on the week. The junior opened the week with 13 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one steal against RV Daemen on Friday. Lesko ended the week with a game-high 29 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor and 11-of-12 shooting from the foul line with three rebounds, two steals, one block, and one assist in the Mavericks' 66-50 win over D'Youville on Sunday.
Kyra Rose, Staten Island
Senior | G | Jersey City, N.J.
Rose averaged a double-double last week with 16.5 points per game and 12.0 rebounds per game, shooting 55 percent (12-of-22 FG). Rose dropped 17 points and 14 rebounds against Adelphi and followed up with 16 points and 10 rebounds with five assists in a 57-56 win over District of Columbia.
Aliviya Vallone Russell, D’Youville
Sophomore | G | Buffalo, N.Y.
Vallone Russell was key in the Saints offense this past weekend, scoring 30 points and shooting 50 percent from the field. The DYU sophomore poured in 16 points (6-of-9 FG) in a 71-38 win over St. Thomas Aquinas and added 14 points at Mercy.
Daja White, Queens
Junior | G | Queens, N.Y.
In a 2-0 week for the Knights, White averaged 13.0 points per game, 5.0 assists per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 1.0 steals per game. In the 70-57 non-conference win over Southern New Hampshire, White recorded 12 points, six assists, five rebounds, and one steal. In the 59-45 ECC victory over Roberts Wesleyan, the Queens junior guard posted 14 points, four assists, two rebounds, and one steal. During a 15-2 run to close the game, White added eight points as Queens earned its first ECC win of the season.
ECC Women's Basketball Weekly Award Winners
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 17 - Grace Lesko, Mercy
Nov. 24 - Cecelia Lapertosa, Daemen
Dec. 1 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Dec. 8 - Molly O'Toole, D'Youville
Dec. 15 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens (2x) and Colleen McCullagh, Molloy
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 17 - Aiyana Ellis, District of Columbia and Claire Pikett, Daemen
Nov. 24 - Cecelia Lapertosa, Daemen
Dec. 1 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Dec. 8 - Grace Lesko, Mercy
Dec. 15 - Nkiru Awaka, Queens (2x)
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nov. 17 - Sharmeela Ugbogbo, Molloy
Nov. 24 - Jada Mushat, Roberts Wesleyan
Dec. 1 - Sharmeela Ugbogbo, Molloy (2x)
Dec. 8 - Molly O'Toole, D'Youville
Dec. 15 - Molly O'Toole, D'Youville (2x)
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