NEC Player of the Week: Nneka Ezeigbo, RMU

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NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
NNEKA EZEIGBO, ROBERT MORRIS
Sr., F, 6-2, Ewing, NJ/Notre Dame HS
Week 9 Stats: 2 starts, 21.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.5 spg, .654 FG pct., .727 FT pct., 0.89 point per minute
Ezeigbo’s efficiency powered Robert Morris to a two-win swing through New England. The senior center opened Northeast Conference play by netting 42 points in 47 minutes. Going up against Central Connecticut and Merrimack, Ezeigbo averaged 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per victory. She shot 65.4 percent from the field over the two-game span. Ezeigbo dropped a game-high 24 points over 22 minutes of floor time during the NEC opener, an 86-56 triumph over CCSU in New Britain. The Garden State product, who made 10 of 12 field goal attempts, also victimized the Blue Devils by securing six caroms and making six steals. Two days later, Ezeigbo paced four Colonial scorers in double digures. The 6-foot-2 post player tallied 18 points, nine rebounds and three steals in a 68-62 win over Merrimack. Helping Robert Morris take control down the stretch in its first-ever meeting with Merrimack, Ezeigbo converted a traditional three-point play to extend the lead to 64-56 with 1:53 remaining.


NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
SONIA SMITH, SACRED HEART
Fr., G, 5-7, Hyattsville, MD/National Christian
Week 9 Stats: 2 appearances, 14.0 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, .474 FG pct., .889 FT pct.
Smith sparked Sacred Heart to a 2-0 start to Northeast Conference play. The first-year Pioneer, who led the team in assists (12) last week, produced back-to-back double-digit scoring efforts for the first time during her collegiate career. The freshman guard averaged 14.0 points, 6.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per outing. Playing 26 minutes off the bench, Smith accounted for 12 points and six assists in a 63-60 comeback victory over Merrimack. Her clutch play propelled the Pioneers to a 24-16 edge over the final period. The 5-foot-7 rookie sank buckets on three consecutive fourth-quarter possessions, giving SHU a 55-54 advantage with 3:06 left. Two days later, Smith contributed a career-high 16 points to Sacred Heart’s 79-65 road win over Wagner. Earning her first start of the season, the Marylander recorded six assists, three rebounds and two blocks.


#NECWBB PRIME PERFORMERS (Week 9)
Nneka Ezeigbo, Robert Morris
2 starts (at CCSU; at MER), 21.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.5 spg, .654 FG pct., .727 FT pct., 0.89 point per minute

Olivia Dabney, Sacred Heart
2 starts (vs. MER; at WAG), 2 double-doubles, 17.0 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.0 bpg

Michaela Harrison, Mount St. Mary’s
2 starts (vs. LIU; vs. WAG), 19.5 ppg, 2.5 spg, 2.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, .519 FG pct., .412 3FG pct.

Karson Swogger, Saint Francis U
2 starts (at BRY; at CCSU), 18.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, .483 FG pct.; 25 points in win at Bryant

Denia Davis-Stewart, Merrimack
2 starts (at SHU; vs. RMU), 2 double-doubles, 20.5 ppg, 15.5 rpg, 4.5 bpg, .471 FG pct.

Adrianne Hagood, Sacred Heart
2 starts (vs. MER; at WAG), 15.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, .385 3FG pct.

Brandy Thomas, LIU
1 start (at MSM), 25 points, 8 rebounds, .714 FG pct.

Emilija Krista Grava, Wagner
3 starts (at Yale; at MSM; vs. SHU), 14.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .514 FG pct.; 18 points, 9 rebounds vs. Sacred Heart


TWEET SHEET
@GardellaDan
(Jan 4) When I talked with @jmnetter33 in the summer, she believed while this team was young, their non-conference schedule would prepare them to #NECWBB play. Behind Olivia Dabney, @SacredHeartWBB is off to a 2-0 start in conference play! #WeAreSHU

@CCurti_Trib
(Jan 4) .@RMUWBasketball 2-0 in NEC after 68-62 win over Merrimack. @nnekaezeigbo 18 points, 9 rebounds. 11 points each for @isabella_posset and @natvillaflor 11 each.
 
@bays34
(Jan 4) Continued to be impressed with @MerrimackWBB player Denia Davis-Stewart (28.1 wtPER) with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a 68-62 loss to Robert Morris. @CoachMoLeBlanc doing a good job taking this team from DII and moving up to DI.
 
@NelCastNY
(Jan 2) #LIUWBB also opens #NECWBB play on Saturday at Mount. Last Saturday, LIU added another player to their roster in the return of grad student guard Drew Winter after a year and a half absence from the program

@CraigCD13
(Jan 4) Fun fact...by taking the court today LIU's Drew Winter has now played in a game in 7 different calendar years: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 #NECWBB

@CraigCD13
(Jan 4) After voting for the 2010s NECWBB All-Decade team, I tried to think which players who are currently active might have a chance to be on the 2020s All-Decade team. The two I immediately thought of are currently in this game: LIU's Brandy Thomas & Mount's Michaela Harrison #NECWBB

@SFBKTerriers
(Jan 2) Great having @sfbkmbb alum Glenn Sanabria join @JonPerez_ on commentary for today's #NECWBB opener between @SFBK_WBB & FDU!

@CraigCD13
(Jan 4) Always great hopping on halftime with @SSWfan on the FDU Knights Front Row broadcast to talk #NECWBB. We'll be back here at Stratis Arena on 1/13 for SHU & FDU on SNY!
 
@SFBK_WBB
(Jan 3) Congratulations to our very own @JenLeedham on becoming the U16 Great Britain Girls' Head Coach!

@coachcim
(Jan 2) So proud of @JenLeedham!
 


FOUR OFF TO SUPER STARTS
Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, Saint Francis U and Mount St. Mary’s are all 2-for-2 in Northeast Conference games.

The quartet swept through #NECNewYear Opening Weekend, escaping as the lone four remaining unbeatens.

The four 2-0 teams all occupied top-four spots in the NEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll with defending champion Robert Morris leading the way as the unanimous favorite.

Saint Francis U is the lone member of the quartet with a first-year head coach as Keila Whittington guided the Flash to back-to-back road wins to tip off the league slate.