Women's Basketball

Women’s #AEHoops Week 15: Vermont Makes Their Way to the Top

BOSTON – Vermont, Binghamton, and UAlbany went unbeaten this week in conference play. UAlbany defeated UMass Lowell in their lone game of the week while Vermont and Binghamton took the sweep this week. The Great Danes and Catamounts have secured the top two spots in conference play, each with a 10-2 record.
 
The Week That Was
  • Vermont went unbeaten on the week with wins over New Hampshire and Maine. In their second match-up of the year, the Catamounts faced off against defending champions, Maine on Saturday. With a dominant first quarter, ending with a score of 21 to 2, the Catamounts did not look back as they cruised to a 65-34 point victory. The Catamounts have now won three straight and are at the top of the standings with a 10-2 conference record.
  • Binghamton had an impressive week that included a win over UMBC and NJIT. Following a dominant win on Thursday, the Bearcats pulled off the comeback with a 65-55 point victory over NJIT on Saturday.  The game featured three ties, five lead changes and four players scoring in double digits for NJIT.
  • In their lone game of the week, UAlbany defeated UMass Lowell 59-44 to improve to 10-2 in conference play.
  • New Hampshire bounced back from a loss Thursday to take down UMass Lowell on the road. After a large second half comeback the Wildcats forced the game into overtime where they outscored the Riverhawks 12-5 to secure the win.
  • Returning home after a road loss, UMBC was able to secure a crucial win over Bryant. The Retrievers were led by Jaden Walker, who had a career-high night featuring 21 points, five boards, and two assists. UMBC is now 6-6 in conference play, landing them in the middle of America East standings.
  • NJIT went 1-1 this week as they took down Bryant Thursday but could not hold on in a defeat to Binghamton on Saturday. With three conference games left in the regular season, the Highlanders are 7-6 in conference play and are in search of a top-4 seed and home playoff game.
 
Looking Ahead
  • UAlbany will travel to Maine on Thursday for a 6 p.m. match up
  • Bryant hosts Vermont Thursday at 6 p.m.
  • UMass Lowell travels to UMBC and New Hampshire hosts Binghamton Thursday at 6 p.m.
  • On Saturday, UAlbany travels to New Hampshire, Maine hosts Binghamton, NJIT hosts UMBC, and Vermont travels to UMass Lowell.
 
Need to Know
  • Vermont has won 10 of their last 11 conference match ups, including three in a row.
  • The Great Danes are receiving votes in the College Insider Women’s Mid-Major Top 25.
  • Kayla Cooper was named to the 15-player mid-season watch list for the Her Hoops Stats Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year. She currently ranks 46th nationally in points & 25th in field goal percentage.
  • Maine’s Olivia Rockwood was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 'So You Want To Be A Coach' program.
  • With 455 points this season, New Hampshire’s Eva DeChent ranks 40th in points nationally.
  • UMass Lowell’s Sydney Watkins ranks 21st in steals nationally.

 America East Links Fans will once again be able to watch every #AEHoops game this season regardless of where they live! The majority games will air on The AE on ESPN, either ESPN+ or ESPN3, in the United States. Games will also be available internationally on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the brand new America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.

2024-25 Weekly Award Winners (Feb. 17)
Player of the Week
Jordon Lewis – Gr., Guard, Houston, Texas
  • Averaged 19.5 points on 50% shooting both overall and from three, and 5.5 rebounds in a 1-1 week.
  • Had 20 points, five boards, and a block in a loss to Binghamton
  • Lewis followed it up with 19 points and six boards in 28 minutes in a win over Bryant. She shot 6-9 from the field and 3-4 from beyond the arc.
  • This is Lewis’s first #AEHoops Player of the Week honor this year.
 
Rookie of the Week
Olivia Kulyk, NJIT – Fr., Guard, Edinboro, PA
  • In a 1-1 week for the Highlanders, Kulyk averaged 12.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
  • Scored 11 points, two boards, and two steals in a win over Bryant Thursday.  
  • Kulyk shot 50% from the field and beyond the arc in a loss to Binghamton Saturday. Leading her team with 14 points, nine rebounds, and a steal, Kulyk also went 4-of-8 from three.
  • She ranks 14th in the conference in scoring and second in three-point field goals made. She also ranks 13th in the conference in rebounding.  
  • This is Kulyk’s ninth #AEHoops Rookie of the Week honor this season.

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
Dec. 2 – Player of the Week: Eva DeChent, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Abby Misier, Binghamton
Dec. 9 – Player of the Week: Jaden Walker, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Olivia Kulyk, NJIT
Dec. 16 – Player of the Week: Kayla Cooper, UAlbany; Martina Borrellas, UAlbany
Dec. 23 – Player of the Week: Kaci Donovan, UAlbany; Delanie Hill, UAlbany
Dec. 31 – Player of the Week: Clara Gomez, New Hampshire; Rookie of the Week: Elizabeth Lavoie, New Hampshire
Jan. 6 – Player of the Week: Olivia Kulyk, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Olivia Kulyk, NJIT
Jan. 13 – Player of the Week: Jadyn Weltz, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Olivia Kulyk, NJIT
Jan. 20 – Player of the Week: Caroline Bornemann, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Martina Borrellas, UAlbany
Jan. 27 – Player of the Week: Ali Brigham, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Olivia Kulyk, NJIT
Feb. 3 – Player of the Week: Kayla Cooper, UAlbany; Rookie of the Week: Olivia Kulyk, NJIT
Feb. 10 – Player of the Week: Alejandra Zuniga, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Olivia Kulyk, NJIT
Feb. 17 – Player of the Week: Jordon Lewis, UMBC; Rookie of the Week: Olivia Kulyk, NJIT
 
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