BOSTON – UAlbany continued its best start in over a decade last week, moving to 5-0 with wins over Syracuse and Cornell, while Bryant also won a pair to improve to 6-1 overall.
The Week That Was
- The Great Danes went on the road Wednesday and got a three from Lilly Phillips in the final five seconds to upend Syracuse at the Dome 73-70. Kayla Cooper had 21 points and 10 rebounds while Kaci Donovan (17 pts) and Phillips (14 pts) were also in double figures.
- UAlbany also outlasted Cornell at home for a 5-0 start to the year, its best beginning to a season since 2013-14.
- Bryant is 6-1 after taking down Cornell 60-53 on the road to start the week and then beat Stonehill 82-71 at home on Friday. Against the Skyhawks, Breezie Williams poured in a career-high 25 points with five rebounds and four assists.
- Binghamton came through with a 65-54 win over LIU on the road on Friday, as Jadyn Weltz led the team with 15 points and four rebounds.
- Vermont started the week with a 61-37 victory over Dartmouth, but dropped a pair of contests in the Great Alaskan Shootout, falling 58-52 to North Dakota State and then 68-52 to Alaska-Anchorage.
Looking Ahead
- There are 17 non-conference games this holiday week. The first contest got underway at 11 a.m. today as Binghamton played at Canisius.
- On Tuesday, UNH hosts Holy Cross while NJIT welcomes Lafayette and Maine plays at Stonehill.
- UAlbany looks to run its record to 7-0 this coming week, hosting RPI on Wednesday and then playing at Stonehill Sunday.
- Vermont travels down to Cancun to play Idaho State on Thanksgiving and then Rice on Friday.
- Also on Friday, UMBC, Bryant and UMass Lowell are in action.
- Saturday, UMBC is back in action while Binghamton hosts Loyola and UMass Lowell faces San Jose State.
- On Sunday, Maine plays at Indiana, while NJIT and UNH are on the road at Saint Peter’s and Dartmouth.
By the Numbers
- Kayla Cooper is averaging a league-best 21.6 points per game and has surpassed 20 points in each of her last four games. She’s also shooting a league-best 64.5 percent from the floor.
- NJIT leads the league in both three-point field goals per game (8.3) and percentage (33.9), thanks Enya Maguire (17 3pt) and Olivia Kulyk (12 3 pt) who are shooting 43.6% and 42.9% respectively.
- UAlbany ranks fifth nationally in free throw percentage at 83.9 percent.
- Nia Scott of Bryant ranks third nationally in total rebounds (73) and 24th with 10.4 rebounds per game.
America East Links
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2024-25 Weekly Award Winners (Nov. 18)
Player of the Week
Kayla Cooper, UAlbany – Gr., Guard, Frederick, Md.
- Averaged 22.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 74% in a pair of wins.
- Put up 21 points, ten rebounds and four assists in a victory over Syracuse.
- Scored 24 points with seven boards in a 54-47 win against Cornell.
- This is Cooper’s eighth career #AEHoops Player of the Week honor.
Rookie of the Week
Olivia Kulyk, NJIT – Fr., Guard, Edinboro, Pa.
- Averaged 10.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in two contests last week.
- Had seven points and four rebounds in an overtime loss to Army.
- Scored 14 points with three rebounds in a loss to Merrimack.
- This is Kulyk’s second career #AEHoops Rookie of the Week honor.
Weekly Award Winners
Nov. 11 – Player of the Week: Kayla Cooper, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Olivia Kulyk, NJIT
Nov. 18 – Player of the Week: Kayla Cooper, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Allison Cannon, NJIT
Nov. 25 – Player of the Week: Kayla Cooper, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Olivia Kulyk, NJIT
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