Coastal Athletic Association (CAA Sports)

CAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY REPORT - DECEMBER 26 (pdf)

RICHMOND, Va. (December 26, 2016) - Elon University junior Shay Burnett was named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Women's Basketball Player of the Week while Drexel University's Bailey Greenberg earned CAA Rookie of the Week honors

Elon junior Shay Burnett helped the Phoenix go undefeated at the Georgia State University Holiday Classic last week. Burnett was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 17.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.5 steals in two games. She also shot 50 percent (10-for-20) from the field. She had 21 points and six steals in Elon's 65-62 win over Akron, going to the line twice in the final eight seconds and hitting two free throws that thwarted a Zips comeback. Burnett then had a double-double versus host Georgia State with 13 points and 10 rebounds while dishing out seven assists in the Phoenix's 84-67 victory. For the season, Burnett is averaging 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
 

Drexel forward Bailey Greenberg scored 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting in the win over Lafayette as the Dragons extended their winning streak to three games and improved to 7-2 on the season. The 13 points marked a career high for Greenberg, who has started all nine games for the Dragons this season. She was a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line and also added an assist and a steal in 24 minutes as Drexel cruised to a 42-point win and was able to rest its starters for long stretches. Greenberg is averaging 8.8 points per game so far this season, which ranks third in the CAA among all freshmen, and has scored in double figures five times this season. It is the second straight week in which a Dragon has earned CAA Rookie of the Week honors.

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Entering the final week of non-conference play, the CAA is a collective 58-44 and has a league RPI of 8. Eight of the 10 CAA teams have records above .500 entering this week. Conference play begins on Monday, January 2 with a full slate of games tipping off at 2 p.m.

Charleston (3-8): The Cougars split games last week, falling at home to Coastal Carolina before picking up a 79-76 win at Charleston Southern. Senior Bre Bolden averaged 21.5 points 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists with six steals last week.

Delaware (6-5): The Blue Hens' comeback fell just short as Hartford pulled out a 67-66 win. Four Blue Hens were in double digits, including Nicole Enabosi, who finished with a team-high 14 points and eight rebounds.

Drexel (7-2): The Dragons cruised to an 81-39 win at Lafayette. All 10 Dragons scored as Drexel took control with a 17-0 run in the first quarter and never looked back. Jessica Pellechio led the Dragons with 14 points. She was joined in double figures by Bailey Greenberg (13), Sarah Curran (11) and Ana Ferariu (10). Defensively, the Dragons forced 24 Lafayette turnovers and had 14 steals.

 

Elon (7-4): The Phoenix swept both games of the Georgia State Holiday Classic, topping Akron, 65-62, before downing the host Panthers, 84-67. The Phoenix has won three straight games. Essence Baucom and Shay Burnett were placed on the GSU Holiday Classic All-Tournament team.

Hofstra (7-3): The Pride won their third straight win as junior Ashunae Durant put up a career-high 28 points in the 75-64 victory at Saint Joseph's. Hofstra shot a season-best 54.5 to earn the victory. In addition to Durant's game-high 28 points, senior Krystal Luciano (13) and junior Aleana Leon (11) also finished in double-figures.

James Madison (6-3): The Dukes battled it out with defending Big East champion St. John's, but were clipped 74-63. Precious Hall led JMU with 22 points to push her double-digit scoring streak to nine games. Hall has scored at least 20 points on six occasions this season. Freshman guard Kamiah Smalls finished with 12 points.

UNCW (5-5): Madison Raque erupted for a career-high 28 points as the Seahawks used a record-setting effort from three-point range to earn a 91-65 victory over Catawba to close out their three-game homestand. Raque made 10-of-15 shots from the floor, including an 8-for-12 effort from long range. Led by Raque, the Seahawks connected on a school-record 15 three-point field goals, which are the most by a CAA team this season and tied for the third-most in CAA single game history.

Northeastern (3-7): The Huskies got back to their winning outlasting the University of Denver, 72-69, on the road. Francesca Sally, playing in front of her hometown crowd, shined for the Huskies with 23 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the year. Sally also had three blocks and her perfect 8-for-8 free throw shooting afternoon helped Northeastern earn the victory in the closing seconds. Gabby Giacone also had a strong outing with 18 points.

Towson (6-4): The Tigers have been off since December 11 and return to action on December 29 when they host Norfolk State.

William & Mary (9-1): The Tribe won their ninth-straight game, setting a program record, with a 73-60 decision over St. Francis (Pa.) At 9-1, W&M is off to its best 10-game start in program history. Abby Rendle (17pts, 12reb) and Alexandra Masaquel (15pts, 13reb) each had double-doubles while Rendle added six blocks. Senior Marlena Tremba added a team-high 18 points.