Player of the Week
Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Junior | F | Hyde Park, N.Y.
During a 1–1 East Coast Conference week for the Knights, junior forward Nkiru Awaka averaged 11.5 points on 62.5 percent shooting, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks, and 1.5 assists per game. Awaka opened the week with 10 points, nine rebounds, one block, one assist, and one steal against No. 23 Daemen on Friday evening. In a thrilling 57–56 victory over D’Youville on Sunday afternoon, the Hyde Park native recorded her ECC-leading 10th double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and two steals as Queens earned its first victory over the Saints since January 2023.
Defensive Player of the Week
Sophia Hoyt, Mercy
Sophomore | F | Middle Village, N.Y.
Hoyt averaged 9.0 points per game and a team-high 10.0 rebounds and 3.5- steals per game with 0.5 blocks and 1.5 assists per game as Mercy went 2-0 on the week, holding opponents to 29.7 percent shooting from the floor. The sophomore opened the week with three points, seven rebounds, one block, one steal and one assist in the win at UDC on Wednesday. The forward ended the week with her first career double-double by way of a career-high 15 points and 13 rebounds to go with six steals and two assists in the win over CSI on Saturday.
Rookie of the Week
Eva Gitto, Queens
Freshman | G | Albany, N.Y.
Rookie guard Eva Gitto recorded a career-high 12 points off of the bench in the Knights’ thrilling victory over D’Youville. Gitto connected on a career-best four three-pointers, including three triples during a dominant third quarter, where she scored nine points as Queens outscored D’Youville 22-13.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Ne’vaeh Buntley, Daemen
Sophomore | F | Rochester, N.Y.
Buntley averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game, helping #23 Daemen earn two road wins. Against Queens on Friday, Buntley logged a team-high 22 points on 52.9% shooting, while recording five rebounds, four steals, and a block. Against Molloy on Sunday, the sophomore scored nine points and recorded four rebounds, a steal, and an assist.
Claire Pikett, Daemen
Senior | F | Holland, N.Y.
Pikett averaged 7.5 rebounds, including 5.0 defensive rebounds, 6.0 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game, helping the #23 Wildcats earn two road wins over the weekend. She also averaged 19.0 points per game and 2.5 assists per game. Against Queens on Friday, the senior logged five steals and two blocks, while grabbing six rebounds, including four defensive rebounds, and scoring 19 points. Pikett helped Daemen hold the Knights to 43 points and 32.7% shooting from the field, including a 14.3% mark from three. On Sunday against Molloy, Pikett grabbed a season-high nine rebounds, including six defensive rebounds, and recorded seven steals and three blocks, while scoring 15 points.
Molly O’Toole, D’Youville
Freshman | G | Rochester, N.Y.
O'Toole led the Saints offense in both games this week, averaging 19 points per game with 38 total points over the weekend. The Freshman shot 57% overall and 58% from the three-point line while also recording her third double-double of the season on Sunday.
Grace Lesko, Mercy
Junior | F | Northampton, Pa.
Lesko averaged a team-high 16.0 points per game with 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game as Mercy went 2-0 on the week. The junior opened the week with 18 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals in the win at UDC on Wednesday. The forward ended the week with 14 points, nine rebounds, one assist and one steal in the win over CSI on Saturday.
Aiyana Ellis, District of Columbia
Graduate Student | F | King George, Va.
Ellis delivered another strong all-around week for the Firebirds, leading UDC during a 1–1 stretch in East Coast Conference play. Across two games, Ellis averaged 16.5 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 block per contest, continuing to anchor the Firebirds on both ends of the floor. Against Mercy, Ellis was just shy of a double-double, finishing with 15 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, providing interior scoring and rim protection throughout the contest. She followed that effort with a standout performance in the win over St. Thomas Aquinas, posting a game-high 18 points while adding six rebounds, two steals, and two assists, leading the Firebirds to the conference victory and the season sweep over the Spartans.
Rosa Rizzitelli, Molloy
Senior | G | Derby, Conn.
Rizzitelli excelled across the stat sheet in a 1-1 week for the Lions. The senior averaged 15.5 points per game, shooting 48 percent from the field, to go with 6.0 rebounds per game, and 6.5 assists per game. The senior reached double figures in both contests, putting up 19 points to go with eight assists, seven rebounds, and a block against D'Youville before 12 points, five assists, five rebounds, and two steals against #23 Daemen.
Kyra Rose, Staten Island
Senior | G | Jersey City, N.J.
Averaged 16.5 across two games last week, netting 21 points on 41.2 percent shooting (7-17) and six rebounds a game against Mercy. Against STAC, she had 12 points and four rebounds.
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
Jan. 5 – Aiyana Ellis, District of Columbia
Jan. 12 – Grace Lesko, Mercy (2x) and Claire Pikett, Daemen
Jan. 19 – Nkiru Awaka, Queens (3x)
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)
Jan. 5 - Angelina Barrera, Mercy
Jan. 12 – Colleen McClullagh, Molloy
Jan. 19 – Sophia Hoyt, 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
Dec. 15 - Molly O'Toole, D'Youville (2x)
Dec. 22 - Arielle Barnes, Staten Island
Jan. 5 - LeAsia Todd, District of Columbia
Jan. 12 – Molly O’Toole, D’Youville (3x)
Jan. 19 - Eva Gitto, Queens
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