RICHMOND, Va. (January 2, 2017) – Drexel University’s
Sarah Curran and William & Mary’s
Abby Rendle were named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Women’s Basketball Players of the Week while James Madison University’s
Lexie Barrier earned CAA Rookie of the Week honors
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Sarah Curran • Drexel University
Senior | Forward | Media, Pa./Archbishop Carroll
Senior Sarah Curran was named the Most Valuable Player of the FIU Holiday Classic after leading the Dragons to a pair of wins and the tournament title. She averaged 24.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. She shot nearly 57 percent (17-for-30) from the field, including a 50 percent clip from long range (7-for-14) for the week. She began the week with 29 points against George Mason, going 10-for-15 from the floor, 4-for-5 from three-point range and 5-for-5 from the free throw line in that game. She scored nine straight for Drexel after Mason had whittled a 16-point lead down to three in the fourth quarter by holding the Dragons without a field goal for over six minutes. Curran wrapped up the tournament with 20 points in the win over UMass. The games were her first 20+ point outings of the season.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Abby Rendle • College of William & Mary
Junior | Center | Reston, Va./South Lakes
Junior Abby Rendle recorded William & Mary’s second-ever triple-double (both are hers) as the Tribe won its 10th in a row with an 82-72 victory against the American Athletic Conference’s East Carolina. Rendle tallied 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. She went 6-for-8 from the field and added an assist and two steals in the victory. For the season, the center is averaging 8.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and leads the nation with 4.3 blocks a game.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Lexie Barrier • James Madison University
Freshman | Guard | Ironton, Ohio/Ironton
Freshman guard Lexie Barrier had a big week for the Dukes, averaging 16.0 points to help them to a 2-0 week. From the field, Barrier went 12-for-21 (.571) and was hot from three-point land, connecting on six of her 10 attempts. In the win at Saint Joseph’s, she poured in a career-best 13 points (5-for-8) before halftime and finished the game with a career-high 22 points against the Hawks. She went 9-for-16 from the floor, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, to reach career marks. Barrier followed that up with 10 points and three assists in the win against ACC foe Wake Forest.
#CAAHoops – The Week that Was
The CAA finished the non-conference portion of the season with a collective 66-46 record and has a league RPI of 8. Seven of the 10 CAA teams have records above .500 entering league play.
Charleston (3-8): The Cougars were off last week.
Delaware (6-5): The Blue Hens were off last week.
Drexel (9-2): The Dragons, winners of six straight games, captured the FIU Holiday Classic by topping a pair of A-10 foes in George Mason (82-71) and UMass (65-47). Senior
Sarah Curran was named the tournament MVP, averaging 24.5 points on 57 percent shooting. Point guard
Meghan Creighton extended her turnover-less streak to five games.
Elon (8-4): The Phoenix wrapped up non-league play with a 93-47 rout of King.
Jenifer Rhodes notched her third-straight double-figure game with a team-high 14 points and also down six rebounds. Elon rejected 12 shots in the win.
Hofstra (7-4): The Pride had their three-game winning streak snapped with a tough 69-67 overtime loss to Hartford.
Ashunae Durant led the Pride with 16 points and 16 rebounds, while
Sydni Epps posted her first career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
James Madison (7-4): The Dukes went 2-0 last week, picking up an 85-72 win at Saint Joseph’s before knocking off ACC foe Wake Forest, 83-76.
Precious Hall notched her third 30-point game of the season against Wake, finishing the night with 35 points.
UNCW (5-6): The Seahawks fell at Tennessee in their non-league finale. Junior center
Rebekah Banks led UNCW in the loss with 10 points while junior forward
Jenny DeGraaf added nine points and eight rebounds
Northeastern (4-8): The Huskies wrapped up non-conference play with a 61-50 win over Siena.
Claudia Ortiz led the Huskies with 13 points,
Jess Genco had 12 points while
Francesca Sally registered 11 points and seven boards.
Towson (7-4): Sophomore guard
Sianni Martin’s layup with 10 seconds to play helped Towson rally for a 61-58 win over Norfolk State at SECU Arena. The Tigers, who trailed by 10 points with 7:47 to play, snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory. Martin finished with 16 points to help Towson to its seventh non-league win of the year.
William & Mary (10-1): The Tribe won a program recording-setting tenth-straight game by knocking off American foe East Carolina, 82-72. Junior
Abby Rendle posted her second career triple-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks.
Marlena Tremba led all players with 27 points.