BOSTON - Conference play has reached the midway point in America East and for the third-straight year, a team completed the first half of the schedule unbeaten. After Albany completed the feat in 2015 and Stony Brook did so last season, Vermont is 8-0 at the turn for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign and is one of just eight teams in the country that is 8-0 or better in league play. Stony Brook (6-2), UMBC (5-3) and New Hampshire (5-3) round out the top four. The top four teams in the standings at the end of the season will host quarterfinal-round games in the #AEPlayoffs. Here are the week #12 award winners:
Player of the Week
Tanner Leissner, New Hampshire - Jr., Forward, Converse, Texas
- Averaged a league-best 30.0 points last week and also added 6.5 rebounds in two games.
- Shot 63 percent from the field (17-for-27) and was also a perfect 22-of-22 from the free throw line.
- Scored a career-best and America East season-high 36 points and added nine rebounds vs. UMBC Saturday.
- Had 24 points to lead UNH to a win over UMass Lowell Wednesday.
- Contributed 18 points and four steals in a win at UMBC Monday.
- This is Leissner's second Player of the Week honor of the season and his third of his career (11/28/16, 1/25/16).
Rookie of the Week
Rinardo Perry, UMass Lowell - Fr., Guard, Washington, D.C.
- Averaged 15.0 points and 3.0 assists in a pair of games last week.
- Set career highs in scoring in back-to-back games, scoring 14 points vs. New Hampshire Wednesday and 16 against Fisher Saturday.
- This is his first career Rookie of the Week honor.
Weekly Award Winners
Nov. 14 - Player of the Week: Joe Cremo, Albany; Rookie of the Week: Anthony Lamb, Vermont
Nov. 21 - Player of the Week: Jairus Lyles, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Arkel Lamar, UMBC
Nov. 28 - Co-Players of the Week: David Nichols, Albany & Tanner Leissner, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Anthony Lamb, Vermont
Dec. 5 - Player of the Week: Bobby Ahearn, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Andrew Fleming, Maine
Dec. 12 - Co-Player of the Week: Joe Cremo, Albany & Jaleen Smith, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Akwasi Yeboah, Stony Brook
Dec. 19 - Player of the Week: Jalen Ross, Hartford; Rookie of the Week: Anthony Lamb, Vermont
Dec. 26 - Player of the Week: Jairus Lyles, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Andrew Fleming, Maine
Jan. 2 - Player of the Week: Jahad Thomas, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Andrew Fleming, Maine
Jan. 9 - Player of the Week: Jahad Thomas, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Fard Muhammad, Binghamton
Jan. 16 - Player of the Week: Jahad Thomas, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Akwasi Yeboah, Stony Brook
Jan. 23 - Player of the Week: David Nichols, Albany; Rookie of the Week: Anthony Lamb, Vermont
Jan. 30 - Player of the Week: Tanner Leissner, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Rinardo Perry, UMass Lowell