GNAC Rookies of the Week: December 8

By Natalie West

GNAC Communications and Special Events Specialist

Keith Jones (Men's Basketball, Mount Ida), Olivia DiNucci (Women's Basketball, Emerson), and Tessa Dudanake (Women's Swimming & Diving, Elms) have been named Great Northeast Athletic Conference Rookies of the Week.

Men’s Basketball - Keith Jones, Mount Ida College, Sophomore, Boston, Mass.

Returning Rookie of the Week, Keith Jones continues to be the driving force of the Mustangs. Once again he leads the team to another GNAC victory. In last Tuesday’s game against Emmanuel, Jones notched 33 points including 6 three-pointers in an 88-83 win. The Boston native also assisted in Mount Ida’s 102-80 win over Mitchell College at the Eastern Nazarene College Classic. Jones scored 13 points and once again shooting 3-5 from the three point arch.

Women’s Basketball - Olivia DiNucci, Emerson College, Freshman, Pittsburgh, Penn.

Olivia DiNucci was named to the All-Tournament team at the Williams College Tournament this past week. The Emerson freshman averaged 21.5 points and four rebounds in two games. DiNucci shot .500 in the field for the entire week and also hit 11-19 three- pointers. Not only can she shoot outside the arch, but went an incredible 6-7 from the free throw line as well.

Women’s Swimming - Tessa Dudanake, Elms College, Freshman, Northampton, Mass.

This past weekend Tessa Dudanake led Elms College to a recorded breaking weekend in the GNAC Championships. On the first day, not only did she finished 2nd in the 50-yard freestyle but also managed to set an Elms’ school record with a time of 26.09. On Sunday, she recorded two first place finishes both in the 50-yard breasts and 100-yard IM. The Northampton, Mass. native set a new GNAC Championship meet record in the 100 IM (1:06.16), which is a Simmons pool record also. Then again she was part of the two GNAC record-breaking relay teams; the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 2:01.28 and the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:56.40.