Stony Brook’s Jessica Smith (Bloomingdale, N.J./Butler) earns the first America East Player of the Week accolade of the 2005-06 season, while Hartford’s Erica Beverly (Bridgeport, Conn./Kolbe Cathedral) takes home Rookie of the Week honors. The awards were announced Monday (November 21).
Smith poured in 27 points on 12-for-18 shooting and added seven rebounds and four steals to pace the Seawolves to a season-opening victory over Bucknell, 81-72. The junior forward made just two of her first seven field goal attempts, but then caught fire, netting 10 of her next 11 attempts.
Beverly earned the start in her first game of her collegiate career and tallied her first career double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) as the Hawks defeated Rhode Island, 58-45. Against Rhody she shot 50.0 percent from the field (4-of-8) and 85.7 percent from the line (6-of-7). On the week, the 6-0 freshman averaged 8.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 2.0 bpg.