Player and Rookie of the Week
Molly O’Toole, D’Youville
Freshman | G | Rochester, N.Y.
O'Toole was the difference-maker for the Saints last week, averaging 23.3 points per game and 8.0 rebounds per game. The DYU freshman kicked off the week with 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block against No. 5 Gannon. She then dropped 29 points on 67.0 percent shooting from the field (8-of-12), including going 6-of-9 from beyond the arc and 7-of-8 from the stripe, with five rebounds, two assists, and a steal in an 89-79 win over Molloy. O’Toole closed the week with a double-double, going off for 25 points (8-of-13 FG, 4-of-6 3FG) with 12 rebounds and five assists in a 78-64 win over Queens.
On the week, O’Toole shot 58.0 percent overall (22-of-38), including a 62.0 percent mark from three (13-of-21) and 87.0 percent mark from the stripe (13-of-15) with 24 rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and a block across three contests.
Defensive Player of the Week
Grace Lesko, Mercy
Junior | F | Northampton, Pa.
Lesko averaged 10.0 rebounds per game as Mercy went 2-0 to open ECC play. The Mercy junior opened the week with 12 rebounds, 11 of which were defensive, and two steals in 31 minutes to hold Staten Island to just 52 points; she added 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting (56.0 percent). Lesko followed that performance with eight rebounds (four defensive) and a steal in 34 minutes to hold District of Columbia to just 54 points; she added 24 points and four assists.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Amani Abuhatab, Mercy
Junior | G | West Haven, Conn.
Abuhatab averaged 19.0 points per game on 56.0 percent shooting with 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game as Mercy went 2-0 on the week. The junior opened the week with a team-high 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting with 10 rebounds and two assists in the win at CSI on Wednesday. The guard ended the week with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the win over UDC on Saturday.
Ne'vaeh Buntley, Daemen
Sophomore | F | Rochester, N.Y.
Buntley averaged 21.0 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 2.0 steals per game and shot 50.0 percent from the field, helping Daemen to two wins to start ECC play over the weekend. On Friday against Queens, Buntley logged a team-high 19 points while grabbing eight rebounds and recording three steals. The Daemen sophomore forward shot 46.7 percent (7-of-15) and hit two three-pointers. Buntley also made four crucial free throws in the final 30 seconds of the game to help the Wildcats defeat the Knights, 68-62. On Sunday, Buntley once again led Daemen in scoring with 23 points. She also recorded seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal. The forward scored 18 points in the first half. She finished shooting 52.9 percent from the field (9-of-17) and hit two three-pointers.
Bailey Chapman, St. Thomas Aquinas
Redshirt Sophomore | G | Sparta, N.J.
Chapman averaged 15.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in two contests last week for STAC. The redshirt sophomore guard tallied 10 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out three assists, and swiped a steal in 39 minutes in an overtime loss to District of Columbia before recording a 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 40 minutes in a 62-58 home win over Staten Island.
Shonyae Edmonds, Staten Island
Junior | F | Albany, N.Y.
Edmonds posted a double-double against STAC with 15 points and 13 rebounds. In the two-game week, the junior averaged 11.5 points per game and 11.0 rebounds per game.
Aiyana Ellis, District of Columbia
Graduate Student | F | King George, Va.
Aiyana Ellis anchored UDC on both ends in a 1-1 week, averaging 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, 3.0 assists, and 10.0 points per game. Against STAC, Ellis was dominant inside, securing a game-high 13 rebounds, eight of which were defensive, and five blocks to help seal the overtime victory. Ellis added seven rebounds, three blocks, a steal, and 13 points at Mercy.
Morgan Giancaterino, D’Youville
Senior | G | Orchard Park, N.Y.
Giancaterino put up double figures in all three games for DYU last week, with 12 points against Bentley, 11 points to go with four rebounds, eight assists, and three steals in a win over Molloy, and 12 points in a win over Queens.
Aniyah Jones, Roberts Wesleyan
Freshman | G/F | East Syracuse, N.Y.
Jones led the Redhawks with 19 points in a mid-week game against Clarion and followed up with 25 points and seven rebounds in a weekend victory over Ursinus.
Cecelia Lapertosa, Daemen
Senior | F | Whitesboro, N.Y.
Lapertosa averaged 3.0 blocks per game and 6.5 rebounds per game while recording two steals and helping Daemen earn two wins to start ECC play over the weekend. On Friday against Queens, the Daemen senior forward posted a season-high five blocks, grabbed nine rebounds, including six defensive boards, and logged two steals while scoring nine points. She recorded three blocks in the first half and two in the second. Lapertosa helped Daemen hold Queens to 34.9 percent shooting, including an 11.1 percent from three. On Sunday against Molloy, Lapertosa recorded a block and grabbed four rebounds while scoring 10 points. She helped Daemen hold Molloy to 34.9 percent shooting and 6.3 percent shooting from deep.
Colleen McCullagh, Molloy
Senior | F | New Hyde Park, N.Y.
McCullagh averaged 27.3 points per game this week for the Lions, shooting at nearly 60 percent from the floor in the Lions’ 0-3 week. The senior has continued to be the driving force of Molloy's offense, topping the 20-point mark in seven consecutive contests, highlighted by a career-high 30 points against D'Youville to open league play. On the week, she also had added nine rebounds per game, led by 11 against D'Youville for a double-double, her second of the season.
Alyssa Neumann, D’Youville
Freshman | F | Silverdale, Wash.
Neumann dropped 19 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting from the field with nine rebounds and two blocks in an 89-79 win over Molloy on Friday before adding 11 points with nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in a 78-64 win over Queens on Sunday.
Nhaikyia Smith, District of Columbia
Senior | G | Waldorf, Md.
Smith powered UDC through conference play this week, averaging 18.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 53.3 percent from the field in a 1–1 stretch. The UDC senior fueled the thrilling overtime win over STAC with a career- and game-high 25 points, shooting 66.7 percent, while adding four rebounds and two assists. Smith closed out the week with 11 points, five assists, and three rebounds on the road at Mercy.
Daja White, Queens
Junior | G | Queens, N.Y.
White opened ECC play in impressive fashion, averaging 23.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.5 steals across two games. In a tight contest at Daemen on Friday night, White delivered 19 points, six assists, five rebounds, one block, and one steal. She followed that performance with a career-best outing at D’Youville, posting a career-best 27 points on 48.0 percent shooting, along with four rebounds, four steals, and two assists to cap the Buffalo trip.
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
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
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
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