CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Jackie Valderas, Loyola College
6-0, Sr., F, Catonsville, MD/Seton Keogh
Averaged nearly a double-double this week with 15. points and 9.5 rebounds a game while helping Loyola improve to 8-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference ? shot 68.8% from the field and 87.5% from the free-throw line on the week ? was one of five Greyhounds in double figures with 11 points in a 69-54 win over Saint Peter?™s ? scored a season-high 19 points and pulled down 12 boards to post a double-double in a 72-68 win over Manhattan ? currently leads the Greyhounds in scoring (10.3), rebounds (7.8), blocks (17 total) and field-goal percentage (.541).
Fifi Camara, Marist College
6-0, Sr., F, Conakry, Guinea/Genesse CC
Fifi Camara was dynamic in Marist?™s two MAAC road wins this weekend, shooting 56.5% from the field to average 17.5 points along with six rebounds per game. The senior forward was a much improved 9-11 from the free-throw line and in both games jumpstarted scoring runs that put her team ahead for good. Against Canisius, Camara scored 10 of Marist?™s first 15 points including a pair of free throws to give the Red Foxes the 15-10 lead that they would never relinquish. She averaged 23 minutes played each game, due in large part to her helping Marist gain sizeable leads on its opponents. Defensively, she was a crucial part of the unit that held Canisius to 24.6% shooting (40 points) and Niagara to 26.2% shooting (50 points). In MAAC games, she leads the conference in scoring and field goal percentage at 63.2%, continuing to establish herself as one of the conference?™s premier offensive threats.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Erika Harris, Niagara University
5-6, Fr., G, Gahanna, OH/Gahanna
Harris helped Niagara to a 1-1 week, its first MAAC win and end a nine-game losing streak. The freshman averaged a team-leading 11 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game in two outings. The guard also shot 50 percent from the field. Against Marist, Harris came off the bench to score six points, grab three rebounds, dish out an assist and snag a steal. In just her second career start, Harris scored a career- and team-high 16 points to help Niagara beat Siena. She was 8 of 10 from the floor and added five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Harris led the Purple Eagles on a 12-4 run in which she scored six of her points in the run, including a short jump shot in the lane with 11 seconds remaining. Earlier, Harris?™ jump shot tied the score at 52-52 with 3:19 remaining.