Boston University’s Rachael Vanderwal (Stoney Creek, Ontario/Bishop Ryan Catholic) and Northeastern’s Maralene Zwarich (Merriam, Kan./Shawnee Mission North) share this week’s Wilson Player of the Week accolade, while NU freshman guard Shaleyse Smallwood (Boston, Mass./O’Bryant) has been named Rookie of the Week for a conference-best fifth time this season.
Vanderwal scored 17 points with seven rebounds, five assists, and no turnovers against Florida and followed that up with a double-double (13 points and 10 assists) against Florida A&M. Also versus the Rattlers she had five rebounds, three steals, and a blocked shot enroute to being named to the State Farm Classic All-Tournament Team. On the week she averaged 15.0 ppg, 7.5 apg, 6.0 rpg and 2.5 spg.
Zwarich led the Huskies in scoring for the fifth straight game with 20 against Holy Cross. Zwarich shot 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from the floor and scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half. Zwarich keyed the Husky comeback with a jumper to give NU a lead it would cling to for the remainder of the contest. The junior guard continues to lead Northeastern in scoring with 15.0 points per game on the season.
Smallwood continued her league-high, nine-game double-digit scoring streak with 18 points against Holy Cross. Smallwood tied a season-high with five rebounds and four assists against the Crusaders in just her third career start. Smallwood stands second on the team in scoring with 14.7 points per game.