GNAC Players of the Week: January 5

By Melissa Maitland

GNAC Sports Information Specialist

Kristin LeBel (Women’s Basketball, Emmanuel) and Don Poitras (Men’s Basketball, Rivier) have been named Great Northeast Athletic Conference Players of the Week.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Women’s Basketball – Kristin LeBel, Emmanuel, Jr., Tolland, Conn.

Weekly Totals
Points (46/23.00 per game), Rebounds (5/2.50 per game) Assists (6/3.00 per game)

LeBel was named the Most Outstanding Player at the California Lutheran Holiday Classic after averaging 23 points per game at the tournament. LeBel lead the Saints to wins over North Park, 80-67, on Dec. 31 and over #10 ranked Messiah College, 60-56, on Jan. 2. The junior guard shot just under 50% from the floor for the tournament and recorded a game-high 26 points in Emmanuel’s upset win over Messiah. The victory over Messiah also positioned Emmanuel back in the Top 25 for the first time since the team suffered its lone game this season against #2 ranked Amherst College on Dec. 8. The Saints are now ranked #23 in Division III, while Messiah dropped down to #17. LeBel is currently ranked 4th in the GNAC in points (15.1 ppg) and free throw percentage (.855). Emmanuel is in 1st place in the GNAC with an overall record of 8-1. The Saints next face #15 ranked Tufts on Jan. 5 before beginning conference play against St. Joseph’s (ME) on Jan. 7.

Men’s Basketball – Don Poitras, Rivier, Jr., Bow, N.H.

Weekly Totals
Points (35/17.50 per game), Rebounds (13/6.50 per game), Assists (3/1.50 per game)

Poitras had a career-high 27 points against CalTech, along with 10 rebounds, to record a double-double on Jan. 2. The 66-49 victory over CalTech allowed the Raiders to advance to the championship game at the CalTech Invitational. In the championship round, Rivier lost to Claremont McKenna College, 49-54, on Jan. 3. Poitras is currently ranked 1st in field goal percentage in the GNAC (.658), 2nd in blocked shots (2.3 per game), 3rd in free throw percentage (.900), 9th in rebounding (6.6 rpg) and 15th in points (14.1 ppg). Rivier is currently in 9th place in the GNAC with a conference record of 0-2 and an overall record of 3-6. The Raiders next play Emerson on Jan. 9.