GNAC Women's Basketball Report: Week 8

( FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 6 - 12 )

	CO- PLAYER OF THE WEEK Rah-Rah Thompson, Albertus Magnus (Sr., C - Bridgeport, Conn.) - The senior forward collected two more double-doubles to push her season total to 10, averaging 20.0 points, 16.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in a 1-1 week. She opened the week by registering a team-high 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a loss to No. 4 Amherst. Thompson capped the week with 20 points, 23 rebounds and three blocks in a 72-65 win over Regis (Mass.) to open GNAC play. She shot 51.6% (16-31) overall and now for the season leads the league with 16.2 rebounds per game.
	CO- PLAYER OF THE WEEK Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Emmanuel (Mass.) (Sr, G - Cambridge, Mass.) - In just 18.0 minutes per game, Ramirez-Tejeda shot 52.8% (19-36 FG, 2-4 FT) en route to averaging 20.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.0 steals in another 2-0 week for Emmanuel. The senior scored 24 points to go along with 10 rebounds in just 19 minutes of action in an 87-48 road win over Salem State before scoring 16 points and grabbing 13 boards in just 17 minutes of action versus Rivier in an 85-34 victory as the Saints opened GNAC play.
	ROOKIE OF THE WEEK Caitlin Barker, Emmanuel (Mass.) (Fr, G - Plainville, Conn.) - Barker lifted the Saints to a 2-0 week averaging 13.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 20.0 minutes per game. The first-year netted a career-high 18 points in an 87-48 road victory over Salem State before scoring eight points to support the Saints in their 85-34 GNAC win over Rivier.

WEEK 8 HONOR ROLL

Amber Wilson, Anna Maria (Jr, G - New York, NY) - In Anna Maria's lone game of the week, Wilson put up a career high 36 points against Worcester State, shooting 45.5% (10-22 FG, 2-8 3PT, 14-17 FT) with five rebounds and five blocked shots in a 65-57 setback.

Maddy Moro, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Sr., C - Catawissa, Pa.) - Averaged a double-double in a 1-1 week with 21.5 points on 60% (18-30 FG, 7-15 FT) and 13.0 rebounds per game. She started the week with 21 points, 11 rebounds and four steals against Bridgewater State before notching 22 points and 15 rebounds in the GNAC opening-win against Lasell.

Deanna De La Cruz, St. Joseph (Conn.) (Jr., F - Winsted, Conn.) - Averaged 7.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games on the week (1-1). Recorded just her second career double-double (11 PTS, 10 REB, 2 BLK) in a 66-36 win vs. Pratt on January 9. Shot 7-for-16 (45%) on the week.

Cassandra Stapelfeld, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Junior, Guard - Brookline, N.H.) - Stapelfeld, a transfer from Simmons, averaged 18.5 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 48.1% (13-27) from the floor, 35.3% (6-17) from three-point distance, and 100% (5-5) from the FT line in a 1-1 week for the Monks. The junior guard netted 21 points off an 8-for-12 shooting effort in a hard-fought loss to Worcester State on Tuesday and added 16 points and five assists in a lopsided triumph over Norwich on Saturday.

Alexis Hackett, Suffolk (Sr., G - Charlton, Mass.) - Hackett shot 72.7% (8-11 FG, 3-5 3PT, 1-1 FT) to average 10.0 points, 6.0 boards and 3.0 blocks in a 1-1 week.