Martinez Earns Fifth Weekly Honors and Rampado Earns Second
MAAC Sports
MAAC Offensive Player of the Week
Damika Martinez, Iona
Jr., G, 5-7, Meriden, CT/Orville H. Platt
Iona College junior guard Damika Martinez averaged 33.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals over two games to help the Gaels to a 2-0 week in conference play. Over the two games, Martinez shots 59.5% (25-42) from the field and 53.3% (8-15) from behind the arc. Martinez had a historic day in the Maroon & Gold's home win over Rider, tying a MAAC record with 46 points in a 73-66 victory. The 46 points set a new Iona single game benchmark, four more than her 42 point effort earlier this season, and are the most points scored by a player, women's or men's, at the Hynes Center in a single game. Her 46 points are also the sixth most points scored in a single game this season in Division I and she is just one of two players in the nation with two 40 point efforts this season. Against the Broncs, Martinez shot 16-for-20 from the field (80.0%) including a perfect 6-for-6 effort from behind the arc, and an 8-for-9 (88.9%) mark from the line. Martinez scored 26 points in the first half, including a last second three pointer that vaulted her into second all-time in program history in scoring. Late in the second half, the Gaels saw a double digit lead dwindled to four before Martinez ignited a 13-4 run with 11 points, including six from behind the arc, which helped the Gaels put the game away. Martinez eclipsed 1,700 career points in the game, becoming just the second player in program history, and 20th in MAAAC history, to reach the mark. Additionally, she broke her own single season mark for three point field goals, which now sits at 84 this year, five more than her total during the 2012-13 campaign.
MAAC Rookie of the Week
Victoria Rampado, Niagara
Fr., F, 6-2, Niagara Falls, Ont./ A.N. Myer
Victoria Rampado led Niagara in rebounding in both games last week and tied for the team-high in scoring with 21 points in NU’s win over Siena. The freshman from Niagara Falls, Ont. scored her second-consecutive double-double in Thursday’s matchup with the Saints when she scored 21 points and added 10 rebounds. She went 8-for-13 from the floor, 5-for-7 from the charity stripe, and eight of her 10 rebounds came off the defensive glass in the second half as Niagara went on a 35-14 run to rally for the win. Rampado led the team with another 10 rebounds and added a career-high five blocks on Saturday against Manhattan. She finished the weekend shooting 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from the field on the way to a 14.5 points per game average.