Player of the Week
Racky Kane, Staten Island
Junior | G/F | New York, N.Y.
The Dolphins are riding a three-game win streak heading into the break thanks to the efforts of Kane in the 2-0 week. Kane led all scorers through both games with 16 and 19 points, respectively, to average 17.7 points per game in the week while also grabbing 8.0 rebounds per game. In the 65-63 win over American International on Wednesday, Kane posted the game-winning buzzer beater on a last-second put back off a Dolphin shot attempt for the win. Against Pace, she posted a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds and shot 3-of-5 from behind the arc for her best shooting performance from the long range this season.
Defensive Player of the Week
Claire Pikett, Daemen
Senior | F | Holland, N.Y.
Pikett posted six blocks, six steals, and nine defensive rebounds to anchor No. 25 Daemen to a 1-1 record at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic. The Daemen senior logged two blocks and two steals while grabbing two rebounds in the win over Texas A&M Kingsville on Saturday. On Sunday against Montana State Billings, Pikett recorded four steals and four blocks with eight rebounds (all defensive). She added double-digit scoring efforts in both performances.
Rookie of the Week
Arielle Barnes, Staten Island
Freshman | G | Queens Village, N.Y.
The CSI freshman averaged 11.0 points per game in the 2-0 week for the Dolphins while dishing 3.5 assists per game and 1.0 steals per game. In the 65-63 comeback victory over American International, Barnes shot 5-of-9 (56 percent) from the field to lead the efforts and finished with 13 points. In the 72-65 win over Pace, Barnes dished out a team-high four assists while adding nine points. In the pair of wins, Barnes shot 7-of-13 from the field and 7-of-10 from the stripe with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Junior | F | Hyde Park, N.Y.
Awaka paced the Knights' offense, averaging 14.5 points on 55.0 percent shooting, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.5 assists per game. Awaka opened the week by recording her eighth double-double of the season, totaling 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 13 rebounds, four blocks, and three assists against Felician on Wednesday. She closed the week with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting and five rebounds against American International on Saturday.
Aiyana Ellis, District of Columbia
Graduate Student | F | King George, Va.
Ellis posted a pair of double-digit performances, averaging 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals across two contests last week.
Jona Kabashi, St. Thomas Aquinas
Freshman | G/F | Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.
Kabashi averaged 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in two contests last week for STAC. The freshman guard/forward tallied two points, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out an assist, and swiped a steal in 19 minutes in a road loss to Saint Michael's before recording 19 points and six rebounds in 32 minutes in a road setback to Jefferson. Jona shot 40.0 percent (8-of-20) from the field, 50.0 percent (1-of-2) from three and 80.0 percent (4-of-5) from the foul line.
Cecilia Lapertosa, Daemen
Senior | F | Whitesboro, N.Y.
Lapertosa averaged 21.0 points on 52.8 percent shooting, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game while recording three blocks, helping Daemen go 1-1 at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic. The Daemen senior forward posted her third double-double of the season with a career-high 28 points with 10 rebounds in an 80-75 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday. She also recorded five steals and two blocks and shot 57 percent (12-of-21) in the win. On Sunday, the senior posted 14 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field with five rebounds and a pair of steals in a loss to Montana State Billings.
Grace Lesko, Mercy
Junior | F | Northampton, Pa.
Lesko averaged a team-high 11.5 points per game with 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game as Mercy went 1-1 on the week. The junior opened the week with six points, four rebounds, and one steal against Southern New Hampshire on Friday. The forward ended the week with a game-high 17 points to go with four rebounds, five assists, and one steal in the 73-56 win at Florida Tech on Sunday.
Colleen McCullagh, Molloy
Senior | F | New Hyde Park, N.Y.
McCullagh topped 20 points for the ninth-straight game, totaling 22 to go with 10 rebounds for a double-double and three blocks against Adelphi.
Daja White, Queens
Junior | G | Queens, N.Y.
White averaged 14.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on the week. White led the team with 16 points and added seven rebounds against Felician on Wednesday. She followed with 12 points, a career-high eight rebounds, and three assists against American International on Saturday afternoon.
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
Dec. 22 - Racky Kane, Staten Island
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)
Dec. 22 - Claire Pikett, Daemen (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)
Dec. 22 - Arielle Barnes, Staten Island
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