BOSTON – UAlbany, UMBC, & Maine were unbeaten this week. UAlbany remains the top seed after defeating Binghamton on Saturday. Maine and Vermont sit close behind with a 7-2 conference record heading into week 14 of the season.
The Week That Was
- Maine is on an impressive run as they took down New Hampshire on Thursday before defeating Vermont on Saturday. In a 2024 #AEHoops Championship rematch, Maine limited the Catamounts to three points in the fourth quarter & held Vermont to just 16-of-44 from the floor in a six-point victory.
- UMBC went a perfect 2-0 on the week. A game-winning lay-up from Jaliena Sanchez pushed the Retrievers past Bryant on Thursday night. UMBC kept the momentum going Saturday, starting the game on an 18-0 run against UMass Lowell. The Retrievers went on to defeat the Riverhawks 56-48.
- Bryant finished the week 1-1 after two competitive matchups. Following a tough lose Thursday, the Bulldogs returned home Saturday against NJIT where they defeated the Highlanders in another close finish. With three minutes remaining, Mia Mancini, of the Bulldogs, was able to score eight of Bryant’s final nine points while holding NJIT to four points in a 71-66 victory.
- UAlbany returned to conference play against Binghamton on Saturday. The Great Danes had an impressive first half on both ends of the floor as they scored 26 points in the first quarter and held Binghamton to just 20 points in the half. UAlbany remains the top seed in America East at 8-1.
- Vermont started the week with a 53-40 win over Binghamton. The Catamounts opened the contest on an 8-0 run and never looked back. The balanced attack helped advance Vermont to 7-1. Despite a tough fourth quarter, the Catamounts snapped a seven-game win streak Saturday against Maine. Vermont returns home February 8th to take on UAlbany.
Looking Ahead
- The Black Bears will travel to NJIT (4-5) on Thursday for a 6 p.m. match up
- Thursday UMass Lowell (1-8) welcomes Binghamton (3-6) for a 6 p.m. matchup.
- Also on Thursday, UMBC (3-5) hosts New Hampshire (2-7) while UAlbany (8-1) welcomes Bryant (5-4)
- On Saturday, Maine travels to UMBC and Vermont hosts UAlbany. Binghamton plays at Bryant and NJIT welcomes New Hampshire.
Need to Know
- 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 37th nationally in points & 21st in field goal percentage.
- Maine has won five-straight games after dropping two in a row.
- Maine’s Olivia Rockwood was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 'So You Want To Be A Coach' program.
- Vermont’s Anna Olsen is 27th nationally in field goal percentage (56.42).
- UMass Lowell’s Sydney Watkins ranks 15th nationally averaging 3.0 steals per game.
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. 3)
Player of the Week
Kayla Cooper – Grad., Forward, Frederick, Md
- Scored 21 points and 9 boards in a win over Binghamton. Went 3-for-3 from the foul line along with 9-of-12 from the floor in just 35 minutes of play.
- Cooper had two steals and one block in the win.
- This is Cooper’s fifth #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 7.0 points and 5 rebounds per game.
- Chipped in three points and five rebounds in a win over UMass Lowell on Thursday.
- Kulyk scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds while shooting 4-for-9 from the field against Bryant.
- She ranks 13th in the conference in scoring, first in three-point field goals made and in three-point field goal percentage. She also ranks 16th in the conference in rebounding.
- This is Kulyk’s seventh #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
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