WASHINGTON -- The Massachusetts duo of senior Stephanie Kulesza and freshman Yahmani McKayle were selected as the Under Armour Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Player and Rookie of the Week. This is McKayle's second week in a row earning Rookie honors and third time this season. The awards were announced Monday and are for games played on February 10 - 16.
Kulesza averaged 12 points per game, 13.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 53.3-percent from the field and 80-percent from the free throw line in a 1-1 week for Massachusetts. In the Minutewomen's win over Duquesne, Kulesza tallied 14 points and 22 rebounds, the most rebounds in a single game by an Atlantic 10 player this season. The Wilmington, Del. native's 22 rebounds, which included 18 in the first half, were tied for the fourth-most in Massachusetts history. The senior added 10 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals in a narrow loss at George Mason on Sunday.
McKayle averaged 17 points per game, five assists per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, two steals per game and shot 40-percent from three for UMass this week. The now league-high three-time Rookie of the Week honoree had 13 points, five rebounds and one block in a 20-point win at Duquesne before scoring 21 points with eight assists, four steals and four rebounds in a narrow loss at George Mason, including 11 points in the first quarter. The Queens, N.Y. native has won back-to-back Rookie of the Week awards and also won on December 9.
HONOR ROLL
Davidson's
Katie Donovan averaged 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals per game to lead the Wildcats to a 2-0 week ... Dayton's
Arianna Smith averaged 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game last week against Davidson and George Washington, with her 11th double-double of the year with 10 points and 11 boards against the Wildcats ... Flyers rookie
Molly O'Riordan recorded career-highs of 11 points, three three pointers, and 22+ minutes of action in the road win at George Washington Saturday ... Duquesne's
Megan McConnell averaged 15.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 5.0 steals per game in helping the Dukes goes 1-1 on the week ... Fordham's
Irene Murua helped the Rams with 6 steals in a team high 19 steals against La Salle, while averaging 13.5 points per game in a 1-1 week for the Rams ... George Mason's
Paula Suárez averaged 15.5 points, on 45.8% shooting, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists over two wins, including 17 points against Rhode Island ... La Salle's
Aryss Macktoon scored 15 points in consecutive games for the Explorers while averaging four rebounds per game in her return to the starting lineup ... Richmond's
Addie Budnik was instrumental in Richmond’s 59-49 comeback win over Saint Louis on Sunday, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to open the fourth quarter and tie the game at 43, erasing a six-point deficit, finishing the game with a team-high 16 points, while also tallying 12 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, a steal and two assists, helping the Spiders take down one of the league’s top teams on Thursday ... St. Bonaventure rookie
Zoe Shaw tallied nine points to go along with four rebounds in the Bonnies lone game at Davidson last week ... Saint Joseph's
Mackenzie Smith scored 22 points and added six rebounds in the defeat to Richmond, finishing 8-15 from the field for 53.3 percent, shooting 5-7 from distance for a 71.4 percent clip.