FAIRFIELD, CONN. – Stags redshirt freshman Samantha Cooper became the first Stag this season to receive a regional award. Cooper, the reigning MAAC Player of the Week, was named the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Co-Player of the Week at the Division-I level.
Cooper set a couple of career-highs in Fairfield's 2-0 week. In the win against Iona, Cooper tallied a career-high 22 points, including a three-pointer with 17:58 that would break a 36-36 tie and give the Stags the lead for good. Cooper shot 64 percent in that game, and 86 percent from the line which was a personal best. Cooper also recorded three steals in the contest, which nearly doubled her career output (five prior). In the win against Monmouth, Cooper grabbed a personal-best 14 rebounds, the most by a Stags player this season. For the week, she averaged 15 points, 10.5 boards, three assists, and shot 44 percent from the field.
The Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association consists of 21 Division-I teams in a variety of conferences including the Big East (Seton Hall and St. Johns) and seven MAAC schools. Cooper shares her honor with Kelsey Minato of Army.