NEC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
JESSICA KOVATCH, SAINT FRANCIS U
Fr., G, 5-9, Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg
WEEK 3 STATS: 28.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 spg, 1.0 bpg, .478 FG pct., .462 3FG pct.
Kovatch continued along her torrid scoring pace en-route to her second consecutive NEC Rookie of the Week honor. The Red Flash freshman came up two points shy of a third straight 30-point performance. Reaching double figures for the fifth time in five collegiate appearances, the 5-foot-9 guard poured in a game-high 28 points on the road against Ivy League member Cornell. She also contributed three rebounds, two steals and one block as the Red Flash played their second of four straight road games. Upping her league-leading three-pointers made total to 22, Kovatch connected at a 6-for-13 clip from downtown. The Garden State product, who leads the NEC in scoring average (24.0) through the season’s first three weeks, shot 47.8 percent from the floor during the 75-69 setback in Ithaca.
FILLING THE VOIDS, VETS STEP UP
Senior year is a time when some players blossom.
With three years of collegiate experience under their belts, some players seamlessly step up and into larger roles during their senior season.
There have been at least three prime examples of this theory in the Northeast Conference alone through the first three weeks of the 2015-16 campaign.
Kelsey Cruz (Chester, VA) is no stranger to #NECWBB fans. As a sophomore, Fairleigh Dickinson’s 5-foot-7 guard captured the 2013-14 NCAA Division I statistical championship in free throw percentage.
One year later, Cruz raised her scoring average 3.0 points per game from her sophomore season and averaged 18.1 points per contest to rank fourth overall amongst NEC leaders at the conclusion of the 2014-15 campaign.
Cruz appears poised to increase her scoring output again this year, having been shot out of a cannon to start her senior season. She poured in 41 points in the lid-lifter against MAAC member Manhattan. Following a 23-point effort in a win over Grand Canyon, Cruz ranks second on the league leader board with 19.5 points per outing.
St. Francis Brooklyn senior Leah Fechko (Twinsburg, OH) should be a familiar name in NEC circles, too. The tenacious guard earned back-to-back selections to the conference’s All-Defensive Team.
As the lone returning starter from last year’s championship team, Fechko has the opportunity to increase her role as a scorer. Thus far, she has done just that.
After averaging 9.9 points per contest as a junior, Fechko is contributing a team-high 12.6 points per outing this season. She has scored at least 14 points in three of five games.
Fechko’s performance against Vermont (Nov. 27) and Georgetown (Nov. 28) earned her a spot on the TD Bank Classic All-Tournament Team. The 5-foot-9 guard averaged 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 steals per game throughout during the two-day event.
Sacred Heart’s Alissa Tarsi (Clinton, NJ) may not have garnered as much attention as Cruz and Fechko in previous seasons, but she has become an instant double-double threat in recent weeks.
Tarsi, a 6-foot senior forward, has added 8.1 points per game to her scoring average from last season. After averaging 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest as a junior, the Garden State product ranks tenth overall amongst NEC leaders in scoring (13.4 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (7.0 rpg).
Tarsi averaged 17.0 points per contest during SHU’s two-game swing through the San Juan Shootout. She has two double-doubles in her last three outing.
Her increased scoring is welcome on a team that lost Gabby Washington, who racked up 1,777 points during her time at SHU, to graduation.
Will Tarsi continue her tear? Will Cruz remain toward the top of the NEC scoring leader board? Will Fechko’s scoring average receive even more of a boost? Will any other NEC seniors join these women by thriving in an expanded role?
The answers are TBD.
MILESTONE MAKERS
ALISSA TARSI (Sacred Heart)
After recording her first career double-double in the Pioneers’ setback at crosstown rival Fairfield (Nov. 21), the senior forward tallied double digit points and rebounds in a 60-58 overtime affair against Louisiana Lafayette (Nov. 28) in the San Juan Shootout. Tarsi shot 62 percent from the field during two games in Puerto Rico.
HALEE ADAMS (Saint Francis U)
The sophomore guard set a career-high with 16 points in SFU’s loss at Cornell. Adams continued her sharp shooting to start the season, hitting on 67 percent of her three-point attempts in the 75-69 setback.
JASMINE NWAJEI (Wagner)
The junior guard tossed in a game-high 20 points against Ole Miss and moved into 11th place on the Seahawks’ all-time career scoring list as a result. Nwajei, who has exactly 1,300 points in two-plus seasons, passed Carrie Walker (2000-2004; 1,288 pts) to move within one spot of the Top 10.
JORDYN PECK (Wagner)
The senior guard tallied five points against Ole Miss andhas moved into 14th on the all-time Wagner scoring list, passing Cindy Bonforte (1981-85; 1,239 pts).
SAL BUSCAGLIA (Robert Morris)
Now in his 13th season at RMU, Buscaglia (208) is just three wins away from the team record of 211 victories held by Dan Swalga (1978-1990). Buscaglia has more 20 win seasons, NEC championships, and postseason tournament berths than the program’s other four coaches combined.
AROUND THE ARC
Bryant split a pair of non-conference contests last week. Led by senior Tiersa Winder’s 18.0 points per game, the Bulldogs handily defeated UMass Lowell before dropping a one-point decision at Patriot League member Holy Cross. Winder went 9-for-14 shooting and netted a team-high 21 points against Lowell.
Central Connecticut makes the short trip to Hartford (Dec. 2) this week to face an America East member for the fifth time this season. The Blue Devils own a win over UMass Lowell, but have lost to Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire.
Fairleigh Dickinson broke into the win column in its final game at the Naismith Hall of Fame Classic, topping Grand Canyon at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. Three Knights scored in double figures (Kelsey Cruz - 23, Erika Livermore - 21, Brianna Thomas - 16). Cruz (9) and Livermore (8) combined for 17 of the Knights’ 22 fourth-quarter points. FDU, which has played four consecutive contests away from home, remains on the road with pending visits to Bucknell (Dec. 4) and West Virginia (Dec. 6).
LIU Brooklyn hosted the annual Turkey Classic in the Steinberg Wellness Center, dropping games to ACC member Florida State (Nov. 27) and the Southland’s Sam Houston State (Nov. 29). Sophomore Paris Jones (Riverside, CA), who is averaged 11.3 points per contest (17th in NEC), led the Blackbirds in scoring in both games.
Mount St. Mary’s ends its five-game road swing at Maryland-Eastern Shore (Dec. 2). The Mountaineers have already faced a pair of MEAC members during the trip – topping Delaware State before falling to Coppin State. Senior center Sarafina Arthur-Williams (Potomac, MD) went 6-of-12 shooting as she registered a season-high 15 points against CSU. Sophomore forward Jessica Harris (Woodbridge, VA), who netted 12 points against Coppin, has scored in double figures in all five games this season.
Robert Morris was attempting to do something that Miami and Marquette failed to do earlier this season – defeat Northern Kentucky. The Colonials saw their four-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate in a 72-70 home loss to Norse, who moved to 5-1 overall. … RMU sophomore Megan Smith (Barrie, Canada) totaled a season-high 19 points, six rebounds and four assists against NKU.
Sacred Heart scored its first-ever victory over a Big South member, topping Coastal Carolina at the San Juan Shootout. … Veteran Hannah Kimmel (Harpursville, NY) has recorded a double-double in four of five games this season.
Saint Francis U will look to even its record against Ivy League opponents this season. Joe Haigh’s Red Flash visit Columbia (Dec. 1) with the hopes of cancelling out last week’s 75-69 setback to Cornell in Ithaca. SFU is in the midst of a stretch during which it plays six of seven games away from home.
St. Francis Brooklyn split a pair of games at the Td Bank Classic hosted by Vermont. The Terriers took down the host Catamounts in their opening game before falling to Big East member Georgetown in the event’s title tilt. Two Patriot League opponents are on tap next for John Thurston’s team. They visit Lafayette (Dec. 4) before hosting Army (Dec. 8).
Wagner completed its grueling four-game season-opening stretch that began with a contest at ACC member Pittsburgh (Nov. 13). Following road bouts at Conference USA member Old Dominion (Nov. 15) and No. 7 Ohio State (Nov. 22), Lisa Cermignano’s Seahawks finally returned to Staten Island for their home opener against the SEC’s Ole Miss (Nov. 29). Next up is a home game against Atlantic Sun member New Jersey Tech.
QUOTABLE
SAL BUSCAGLIA (Robert Morris), Head Coach
“We knew coming into the game that this was going to be a big challenge just by looking at who Northern Kentucky played and the wins they’ve had to date - all over high-profile schools from major conferences. These are the type of teams that we want to play. We had every opportunity to close this game out, but as we’ve been preaching, you have to play for 40 minutes and want to win more than the other team wants to in the last three or four minutes. You can’t allow them to win the 50-50 balls, grab offensive rebounds and collect loose balls on the floor, especially when the game is on the line. Having said that, I felt we took some positive steps.”
- following a 72-70 loss to Northern Kentucky, which improved to 5-1
JOHN THURSTON (St. Francis Brooklyn), Head Coach
“Anytime you get a split in a tournament, you’re happy, esspecially if you beat the home team [Vermont] on the road. I was happy that we got a win. We played well enough against Georgetown that if we were playing most of the teams in the NEC you’re being competitive. I think it makes you better because for postseason play the only thing that counts in our league is your NEC record, and getting into the tournament. You’re trying to get better that way. I think a tournament like this is great, especially if you can get everyone in because it allows you to evaluate who’s coming to play, and who is going to compete, and who you’re going to move forward with.
- following the Terriers’ 74-52 loss to Georgetown in the TD Bank Classic championship game
PETER CINELLA (Fairleigh Dickinson), Head Coach
“It was an overall very good team effort on the defensive end. Erika [Livermore] had her best game of the season, Kelsey [Cruz] hit tough shots and Brianna [Thomas] came up big. The team showed grit and oughness down the stretch to close the game out.”
- following the Knights’ first win of the season, a 74-68 triumph over Grand Canyon
TWEET SHEET
@jmnetter33
(Nov 30) Wheels up - heading home from beautiful Puerto Rico with @SacredHeartWBB after an amazing road trip! #goheart #backtoreality
@SHUBigRed
(Nov 27) Fourth quarter comeback led by junior Adaysha Williams leads to @SacredHeartWBB first win of the season 71-62 over Coastal Carolina #gopios
@NECralph
(Nov 27) Nice win for @jmnetter33’s Pios down in Puerto Rico. Overcame 5-pt halftime deficit. #NECWBB #SanJuanShootout
@jmnetter33
(Nov 27) Great TEAM win today for @SacredHeartWBB v a tough Coastal Carolina team down here in sunny Puerto Rico! ?????????? #hungry #goheart
@FDU_WBB
(Nov 29) FINAL - FDU WINS 74-68!! Cruz w/ 23 to lead FDU, Livermore w/ 21p
@stoodio54
(Nov 29) @FDU_WBB great great game today; best of what college student athletes and athletics are all about
@SFBKTerriers
(Nov 28) #SFBKWBB: Did you know that tonight's matchup between the Terriers and Hoyas marks the first in history between the two programs?
ROOKIES MAKING MOVES
Although no one has been scoring quite like her, Saint Francis’ Jessica Kovatch isn’t the lone NEC freshman making contributions this season.
Kovatch has some company on her own team. SFU freshman Madison Johnson has appeared in all five games this season, averaging 5.0 points and 11.0 minutes per outing. She captured the first NEC Rookie of the Week award this season following an 18-point performance at Cincinnati.
Fairleigh Dickinson broke into the win column at Mohegan Sun and freshman Madelynn Comly was a factor in the triumphant effort. The 5-foot-9 rookie totaled six points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals in a victory over Grand Canyon (Nov. 29).
Comly leads FDU in assists (17) and steals (8) so far this season and head coach Peter Cinella singled her out as a contributor during his postgame comments, saying “Good to see an overall effort from Madelynn [against Grand Canyon today].”
St. Francis Brooklyn lost four starters to graduation, so, naturally, there would be opportunities for newcomers to step up.
Freshman Maria Palarino did just that during the Terriers’ appearance at Vermont’s TD Bank Classic. The rookie forward averaged 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per outing against the host Catamounts and Big East member Georgetown. She scored 12 points in a 59-55 triumph over UVM.
SFBK received a spark from freshman post player Lorraine Hickman during the tournament’s title tilt vs. the Hoyas. In eight minutes off the bench, Hickman scored eight points and was perfect shooting the basketball.
“She played aggressively and I think that's what you want your post-players to do,” said SFBK head coach John Thurston of Hickman’s effort. “She came in and played really hard, she has to pick up in other areas of the game that she's deficient in – but she does play hard. I was impressed with her play and the way that she approached the end of the game because she didn't just shoot the ball – she also made some good passes, and rebounded the ball.”
CCSU Sophomore Surging
So far, it’s been the opposite of sophomore slump for Camden Musgrave (Bowie, MD).
The second-year Blue Devil scored in double figures in back-to-back games last week. Shooting 46 percent from the floor, the 5-foot-7 guard averaged 13.5 points and 2.5 steals per game against a pair of America East members.
Musgrave leads CCSU with an 11.5 points per game scoring average this season, more than a 2.0 ppg increase from her 2014-15 output.
As a freshman, Musgrave was CCSU’s second-leading scorer. She averaged 9.3 points per outing en-route to earning one of five spots on the NEC All-Rookie Team.