Player of the Week
Claire Pikett, Daemen
Senior | F | Holland, N.Y.
Pikett posted five steals and two blocks, helping Daemen defeat rival D'Youville. She also scored a career-high 26 points on 58% shooting (10-of-17) and 67% from beyond the arc (6-of-9). She helped the Wildcats force 26 turnovers from the Saints and held D'Youville to 45 points.
Defensive Player of the Week
Angelina Barrera, Mercy
Senior | F | Gloucester City, N.J.
Barrera averaged a team-high 19.0 points per game on 51.9 percent shooting with a team-high 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game as Mercy went 2-0 on the week to extend their winning streak to nine games. The senior opened the week with a team-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting with six rebounds, six blocks and one steal in the win over Queens on Wednesday. The forward ended the week with a game-high 21 points to go with seven rebounds, three blocks and one steal in the win at Molloy on Saturday. Barrera recorded her 100th career block in the win over the Lions.
Rookie of the Week
Le’Asia Todd, District of Columbia
Freshman | F | Cambridge, Md.
Le’Asia Todd delivered a dominant all-around performance to lead the Firebirds to a 64–55 victory over Roberts Wesleyan, posting a double-double with 14 points and 18 rebounds. The freshman was highly efficient offensively, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, while contributing across the box score with six blocks, two assists, and one steal. Todd’s presence on both ends of the floor was instrumental in securing the win, as she controlled the paint, and finished efficiently.
ECC Weekly Honor Roll
Ne’vaeh Buntley, Daemen
Sophomore | F | Rochester, N.Y.
Buntley logged 15 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, helping Daemen defeat rival D'Youville. It marked her 11th game this season with 15 or more points.
Aiyana Ellis, District of Columbia
Freshman | F | King George, Va.
Ellis played a pivotal role in the Firebirds’ 64–55 victory over Roberts Wesleyan, delivering a well-rounded performance on both ends of the floor. Ellis finished with 13 points, while also contributing seven assists, six rebounds, four blocks, and three steals, impacting the game in every facet. Her ability to facilitate offensively while anchoring the defense and creating transition opportunities was instrumental in UDC’s balanced team effort and overall success.
Grace Lesko, Mercy
Junior | F | Northampton, Pa.
Lesko averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game as Mercy went 2-0 on the week. The junior opened the week with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win over Queens on Wednesday. The forward ended the week with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting with five assists, three rebounds and two steals in the win at Molloy on Saturday.
Colleen McCullagh, Molloy
Senior | F | New Hyde Park, N.Y.
McCullagh totaled 41 points in a 2-0 week for the Lions. The senior topped 20 points for the 11th time this season against STAC, netting 23 on a .421 shooting percentage. She followed it up with a team-high 18 points against Mercy. On the week, the forward also tallied nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Sharmeela Ugbogbo, Molloy
Freshman | C | Bronx, N.Y.
Ugbogbo totaled 22 rebounds, 12 points, five assists, five blocks, and four steals in a 2-0 week for the Lions. The freshman shot 57 percent from the floor and averaged 11 rebounds per game. Against STAC, she matched a career-high 18 rebounds and four assists before matching a career-hight three steals against Mercy to end the week.
Nkiru Awaka, Queens
Junior | F | Hyde Park, N.Y.
Junior forward Nkiru Awaka averaged a double-double on the week, posting 16.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. The Hyde Park native opened the week with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and a steal against Mercy on Wednesday evening. She followed up with her ECC-leading and matched a career-best 12th double-double on Saturday at home, finishing with 13 points and 13 rebounds while tying a career-high five blocks and adding an assist against STAC.
Erin Frazier, Roberts Wesleyan
Sophomore | F | Teaneck, N.J.
Sophomore Erin Frazier led Roberts to a win over the weekend against CSI to cap a fine week for the forward. She played nearly every minute of the two ECC games and scored 24 points (12 in each game) and grabbed 24 rebounds with a double-double in each game. She added 10 assists two blocks and four steals. She hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds against CSI to secure the 75-74 conference win.
Dana Phelan, Staten Island
Senior | G | Tappan, N.Y.
Finished second on the team in the two game week with 18.0 ppg while notching a collective of seven threes throughout the week. In the non-conference contest with Caldwell, she posted a season high of five three pointers made while going 63% (5-8) from downtown.
Kyra Rose, Staten Island
Senior | G | Jersey City, N.J.
Led the team in the two game week with 21.5 ppg while shooting 55% (12-22) from the field and just came up shy from averaging a double-double with 9.5 rebounds per contest. She also posted 4.0 assists per game and 2.5 steals per game. In the ECC contest against Roberts Wesleyan, she led the team with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds along with four assists and two steals. From the charity stripe, she shot 73% (19-26) and went a week best of 83% (10-12) against Roberts.
Toni Schuetze, St. Thomas Aquinas
Freshman | G/F | Rossdorf, Germany
Schuetze averaged 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game in two contests last week for STAC. The freshman guard/forward tallied 21 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out three assists and swiped two steals in 32 minutes in a 71-64 home loss against Molloy before recording 19 points, three rebounds and two steals in 27 minutes in a 59-53 road victory at Queens. Toni shot 41.5 percent (17-41) from the field.
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)
Jan. 26 – Claire Pikett, Daemen
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
Jan. 26 – Angelina Barrera, 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 – Le’Asia Todd, District of Columbia
Jan. 12 – Molly O’Toole, D’Youville (3x)
Jan. 19 - Eva Gitto, Queens
Jan. 26 – Le’Asia Todd, District of Columbia (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