Henrico Times

#CAAHoops WBB Notebook - Feb. 13

WEEKLY HONORS:

PLAYER OF THE WEEK 

Riley Casey, William & Mary

Graduate | Guard | Brentwood, Tenn. / Franklin Road Academy

Casey averaged 25.0 points, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game, leading a shorthanded William & Mary team to a 2-0 weekend on the road. On Friday, Casey scored a game-high 30 points, dished out a season-best seven assists and tallied two steals in an 84-74 overtime victory over Elon. The graduate guard took over in overtime, scoring or assisting on 13 of the Tribe’s 15 points to lift William & Mary. She followed the performance with a team-high 20 points against North Carolina A&T on Sunday, adding three assists and two steals in a 79-64 win as William & Mary moved into a tie for second in the conference standings. Casey has score 20 or more in nine games this season, including three in a row. Additionally, Friday was her fifth game with at least 30.

 

CO-ROOKIE OF THE WEEK 

Kylie Lavelle, Drexel

Freshman | Forward | Moosic, Pa. / Riverside

Lavelle averaged 17.5 points per game on 50.0 percent (15-30) shooting in a pair of games for Drexel over the weekend. Lavelle led Drexel to an 86-61 victory over Charleston, scoring a game-high 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the floor in 24 minutes of action. The freshman forward also added seven points and two steals in the Dragons’ setback against Monmouth. Lavelle’s 28-point performance was her fourth game this season with 20 or more and the seventh time she has cracked double figures.

 

CO-ROOKIE OF THE WEEK 

Kayla Rolph, William & Mary

Freshman | Forward | Great Falls, Va. / The Potomac School  

Rolph had the best week of her freshman campaign, averaging 12.0 points per game on 75.0 percent (9-12) shooting to help William & Mary win two games over the weekend. In her first collegiate start on Friday, Rolph set a career-high with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including a career-best three trifectas. She played a season-high 36 minutes, helping the Tribe to an 84-74 overtime win over Elon. On Sunday, Rolph concluded the road trip with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting with a career-best three steals, one rebound and one assist as William & Mary defeated North Carolina A&T 79-64. It marks the first time she has reached double figures in back-to-back games and the third time this season.

CONFERENCE NOTES:

CAA HOOPS CHAOS: A chaotic week of CAA Women's Basketball concluded with the top five teams in the standings separated by just 1.5 games. Drexel remained in first after a weekend split, moving to 10-3 in league play. William & Mary, the CAA's hottest squad, moved into second at 9-4 after a 2-0 weekend, tied with North Carolina A&T after the Aggies dropped back-to-back games. Stony Brook and Towson went 1-1 and are half a game behind the Tribe and Aggies at 8-4. Looking ahead this weekend, William & Mary will host Towson in a pivotal matchup on Friday. 

WASHINGTON A SEMIFINALIST FOR MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Drexel guard Keishana Washington was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award by Her Hoop Stats. It marks the second consecutive season that a CAA student-athlete has made the midseason watch list.

CAA IN THE COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25: Three CAA teams were recognized in the latest edition of the College Insider Mid-Major top 25 poll. Drexel rose to No. 16 in the ranks, while North Carolina A&T and Stony Brook received votes. Drexel has been ranked every week this season, and Stony Brook has received votes 13-of-14. At least two conference teams have been recognized in the poll each week this season.  

NOTHING BUT NET: Five CAA teams ranked inside the top 200 in the latest NCAA NET rankings. Drexel continued to lead the way, ranking 114. Northeastern was 155, followed close by Towson at 158. Stony Brook and Delaware rounded out the top five, with the Seawolves at 170 ahead of the Blue Hens at 172.

TEAM NOTES:

Charleston (10-13, 5-8 CAA)

Last Week: 1-1; L, 86-61 at Drexel; W, 90-56 at Delaware 

• Charleston set a season-high in points (90) against Delaware and broke the single-game program record for made threes (17). 

• On Sunday, Anika McGarity poured in a career-high 32 points and tied a program record with 10 three-pointers. It marks her first career game over 30 points and 13th in double figures this season. McGarity has tallied at least four trifectas in seven games and ranks second in the CAA in threes per game (3.05) this winter.  

• Jada Logan averaged 24.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for the Cougars. On Sunday, she recorded a double-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Logan has 10 or more points in 20 games this season, including 10 of the past 11. Delaware (13-10, 6-6 CAA)Last Week: 1-1; W, 83-47 vs UNCW; L, 90-56 vs Charleston• In the victory, the Blue Hens matched a season-high in points and recorded their largest margin of victory this season. • Makayla Pippin led the charge, averaging 21.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest. In the victory, she recorded her fifth double-double this season with a career-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. It marks the first 20-point performance of her career as the fifth-year guard has 12 games in double figures this winter. Pippin also added a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds in the setback. • Tara Cousins was the second Blue Hen to reach double figures in both games. She tallied 11 points and seven rebounds in the victory before 11 points and six boards against Charleston. The junior guard has reached double figures in three straight games, five of the past six and 10 times this year. Drexel (18-6, 10-3 CAA)Last Week: 1-1; W, 86-61 vs Charleston; L, 70-66 at Monmouth• Keishana Washington averaged 26.5 points, 8.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game over the weekend. She recorded her second double-double with 21 points and a career-high 11 assists, adding seven rebounds in the victory. Washington followed the effort with 32 points in the setback. The graduate guard has scored at least 20 points in nine of the past 11 games and 20 this year. She has reached double figures in 58 straight games and ranks third in the NCAA with 26.9 points per game.• On Friday, Kylie Lavelle tallied a game-high 28 points. The freshman forward went 12-of-21 from the floor with four rebounds and a steal. It marks her fourth game this season with 20 or more, but her first since Nov. 22. Lavelle has reached double figures seven times this season.  • Maura Hendrixson tallied 17 assists between the two games. The graduate guard has at least eight assists in 12 games this season to rank third in the NCAA with 7.7 assists per game. In addition, Hendrixson has a league-best six double-digit assist efforts this winter. 

Elon (7-16, 3-9 CAA)

Last Week: 0-1; L, 84-74 (OT) vs William & Mary

• Lenaejha Evans reset her season-high in points for the second straight game, leading Elon with 23. Evans pulled down a season-best nine rebounds, one shy of a double-double. It marks back-to-back games with at least 20 points for the graduate guard and four straight in double figures. Evans is tied for the team lead with 15 double-digit scoring outputs this season.

• Raven Preston flirted with a triple-double but had to settle for a double-double with 13 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high eight assists. It is her sixth double-double this year, the most by a CAA freshman since 2015-16. Preston has reached double figures in 15 games this season and 10 times in league play. 

• Kamryn Doty also finished in double figures for the Phoenix, scoring 12 points on four 3-pointers. The four trifectas are a career-best for Doty, who previously hit two on three occasions this season. The freshman guard has at least 10 points in five games this year. 

Hampton (8-14, 5-7 CAA)

Last Week: 1-1; W, 66-53 at North Carolina A&T; L, 72-67 vs Northeastern

• Nylah Young led Hampton with 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. In the victory, she had a game-high 18 points, adding five rebounds and a season-high five steals. On Sunday, the junior forward tallied a game-high 20 points with six rebounds, one steal and one block. Young has reached double figures in 14 games this season, including six in a row. Additionally, she has recorded at least one steal in 10 straight games. 

• Jermany Mapp also reached double figures in both games, scoring 10 on Thursday and 11 on Sunday. She added four against Northeastern and one against the Aggies, marking seven straight games with a steal. Mapp has at least 10 points in four of the past five games, and Mapp has eight this season. 

• In the victory, Camryn Hill added 15 points off the bench for the Lady Pirates, marking her 11th game in double figures this season. She added three rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Hill has scored 15 or more in nine of her double-figure efforts. 

Hofstra (9-14, 3-9 CAA)

Last Week: 1-1; W, 58-57 vs Towson; L, 70-60 at Stony Brook

• On Thursday, Sorelle Ineza paced Hofstra with 21 points, matching her career-high. She established a new career-best with nine made field goals, adding six rebounds, two assists and one steal. The senior guard added 11 points on Sunday, reaching double figures for the 12th time this season, including five straight. Thursday was her second 20-point performance of the year. 

• Emma Von Essen reached double figures in back-to-back games for the first time this season. The freshman guard contributed 12 points in the victory before 14 in the setback. She shot 61.1 percent (11-18) for the weekend, recording at least five makes in both games. Von Essen has four double-digit scoring efforts this season. 

• On Sunday, Zyheima Swint paced the Pride with 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting. It marks a season-high in field goal percentage and matches her career-best. It is the sixth time she has reached double figures this winter but the first since Dec. 18.

Monmouth (12-12, 7-6 CAA)

Last Week: 1-0; W, 70-66 vs Drexel

• Ariana Vanderhoop tallied a team-high 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor. Sixteen of her 20 came in the second half, including 11 in the fourth quarter. It marks her second 20-point effort this season and eight double-figure performances in the past nine games. Vanderhoop has at least 10 points in 12 games this winter. 

• Lucy Thomas reached double figures with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting. She went 5-of-7 from the free throw line, adding three rebounds in the victory. Thomas has reached double figures in five of the past six games and 10 times this season. She is averaging 14.3 points per game in her three starts. 

• Kaci Donovan was the third Hawk with at least 10, adding 11 points. Donovan went 5-of-9 from the floor with three rebounds and three assists. It's her second straight game in double figures and her third in the past four. Overall, she has reached double figures 10 times this year. 

North Carolina A&T (15-9, 9-4 CAA) 

Last Week: 0-2; L, 66-53 vs Hampton; L, 79-64 vs William & Mary

• Maleia Bracone reached double figures in both games, averaging 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game. The junior guard has 18 games with 10 or more this season, including five of the past six. Additionally, she has at least three steals in five straight games, ranking third in the CAA in steals per game (2.5), with multiple steals on 16 occasions. 

• Jordyn Dorsey also tallied double figures twice over the weekend. Dorsey had 12 points and six rebounds on Thursday, followed by 11 points and five rebounds on Sunday. The sophomore guard has at least 10 points in four of the past five games and 14 this winter. 

• On Thursday, Chaniya Clark matched a career-high with 13 points. She went 6-of-7 from the free throw line, adding five rebounds, one block and one steal in the effort. The freshman center has four games with 10 or more this season.

UNCW (4-19, 1-11 CAA)

Last Week: 0-2; L, 83-47 at Delaware; L, 60-44 at Towson

• Carrie Gross paced UNCW with 16.0 points per game, reaching double figures in both contests. On Friday, Gross surpassed 1,000 career points, becoming the first Seahawk to accomplish the feat since 2020. Gross has reached double figures in 17 games this season, including nine of the past 10 and six straight.

• Evan Miller contributed a career-high 13 points against Delaware and matched the scoring total at Towson. Miller added six rebounds on Friday and four on Sunday. She has three double-digit scoring performances this season, and it marks the first time she has done it in back-to-back games.Northeastern (12-11, 7-5 CAA)Last Week: 2-0; W, 68-63 vs Stony Brook; W, 72-67 at Hampton• Derin Erdogan scored 19 points in each game, adding 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game to pace Northeastern. Erdogan has at least 10 points and five assists in five of the past six games. The junior guard has reached double figures a team-best 20 times this season, including 15-of-16 and 10 consecutive games. • Gemima Motema reached double figures in both games for the Huskies, averaging 14.5 points per contest. She scored 19 on 9-of-12 shooting versus Stony Brook and added 10 points against Hampton. The sophomore guard reached double figures five of the past six games and 16 times this year. • On Thursday, Jaelyn Batts grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds to lead the effort on the glass. It matches the second-most in a game by a CAA player this season and is her first double-digit rebounding effort this winter. Batts also added five points, four assists, two blocks and two steals. 

Stony Brook (14-9, 8-4 CAA) 

Last Week: 1-1; L, 68-63 at Northeastern; W, 70-60 vs Hofstra 

• Gigi Gonzalez averaged 19.5 points and 5.0 assists per game for the Seawolves. She scored a game-high 23 points with four assists in the setback and added 14 points with six assists in the win. It marks her sixth game with 20 or more this season, while the senior guard has reached double figures 14 times.

• Annie Warren contributed 19 points in each game and a season-best eight rebounds on Thursday. Additionally, Warren became the all-time career record holder for made three-pointers (199) in Stony Brook program history. Warren leads the CAA in three-pointers per game (3.09) and three-point field goal percentage (.399). 

• Sherese Pittman recorded double-doubles in back-to-back games. Pittman tallied 15 points and 11 rebounds on Thursday before 13 and 10 on Sunday. The sophomore forward reached double figures in four straight games and 18 this winter. Additionally, she has at least eight rebounds in seven straight games, ranking second in the CAA in rebounds per game (8.3).

Towson (14-9, 8-4 CAA) 

Last Week: 1-1; L, 58-57 at Hofstra; W, 60-44 vs UNCW

• Kylie Kornegay-Lucas had 13 points and six rebounds in both games, adding five assists and four steals on Thursday. She was the leading scorer in both contests for Towson. Kornegay-Lucas has finished with double figures in 21 of the 23 games. Additionally, she has a steal in 21 games, with four or more on eight occasions. The junior guard is second in the CAA with 2.7 steals per game. 

• On Thursday, Alexia Nelson reached double figures for the fourth time in the past five games, adding 11 points. She also tallied a team-high five assists with two rebounds and two steals in the setback. Nelson has scored 10 or more in six games this season, with five coming in CAA play.  

• Against Hofstra, Anissa Rivera was the third Tiger in double figures with 11 points off the bench. Rivera also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds in the effort. It marks her 10th game with 10 or more points this season, with six coming as a reserve. William & Mary (14-10, 9-4 CAA)Last Week: 2-0; W, 84-74 (OT) at Elon; W, 79-64 at North Carolina A&T• Riley Casey led the way with 25.0 points and 5.0 assists per game. Against Elon, she tallied her fifth 30-point effort this season and added a season-best seven assists. On Sunday, she paced the Tribe with 20 for her 10th game with at least 20 points. She has 17 games this season with 10 or more points, including five in a row.• Rebekah Frisby-Smith averaged 17.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest for the Tribe. The junior forward tallied a career-high 18 points with seven rebounds on Friday before 17 points and five boards against N.C. A&T. Frisby-Smith's career-high coming into the weekend was 12 points twice. She has seven double-figure efforts this season, all in CAA play.• Kayla Rolph averaged 12.0 points per game on 75.0 percent (9-12) shooting in her first two career starts. The freshman forward had a career-high 13 points against Elon before adding 11 at N.C. A&T. It marks the first time she has reached double figures in back-to-back games and the third time this season.

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