BOSTON – Eight America East teams have 21 total wins following a strong performance in the America East – Metro Challenge during the opening weekend of women’s basketball.
Five America East programs are still undefeated and eight total have a winning record after the first week of action. As a league the entire group is 21-5 following the opening week of basketball.
Need to Know
- Four teams are a perfect 3-0, highlighted by NJIT and UAlbany which have three Division I victories. Bryant and UMBC are also 3-0 and went perfect in the AE-Metro challenge.
- UMBC beat both of its Metro opponents by 24+ points, in victories over Mount St. Mary’s and Quinnipiac, led by sophomore Heidi Williams’ 17.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
- Mariss Gingrich is tied for the league lead with 18 points per game in pacing NJIT to wins over Rider, Merrimack and Marist.
- UAlbany opened its season with a four-point win over Northeastern and then came back to beat Manhattan 62-61 at home before a dominant 77-57 victory at Mount St. Mary’s on Sunday.
- Maine is 2-0 for the first time since the 2020 season. The Black Bears beat Siena 70-68 on a last-second layup by Olivia Alvarez and then the offense was firing in its 87-62 victory over Merrimack.
- Bryant earned a tight 65-63 win over Marist on Thursday and then on the road dispatched Manhattan 63-46 with four players in double figures.
- Vermont earned a hard-fought 76-66 win over Quinnipiac at home before falling to Fairfield 74-50 on the road Sunday.
- Binghamton started the year 1-2, falling to CAA favorite Monmouth and Metro favorite Fairfield before taking down Siena 79-73 on the road.
- UMass Lowell and New Hampshire each split their AE-Metro challenge contests. Lowell blew out Niagara by 25 points while New Hampshire beat them by 21 points.
Looking Ahead:
- This week 16 games are on the docket for women’s basketball, including a pair of Power 4 home games.
- Oregon will play at Vermont on Wednesday and then will travel to face Maine on Friday evening. The Catamounts will then host Lehigh on Sunday while Maine welcomes Brown.
- Bryant travels to face Providence on Wednesday, while UAlbany is at Ole Miss and UMass Lowell battles Boston College on the road.
- Binghamton looks to get on track with a game at St. Bonaventure on Saturday while UMBC faces Morgan State on Friday and then plays on Sunday as well.
2026-27 Weekly Award Winners (Nov. 9)
Player of the Week
Maddie Fitzpatrick, Maine – So., G/F, Cumberland, Maine
- Averaged 16.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in wins over Siena and Merrimack leading Maine to its first 2-0 start since 2020
- Finished with 14 points and a career-high 17 rebounds with three assists in a 70-68 win over Siena.
- Posted 19 points and nine rebounds in a dominant 87-62 victory over Merrimack.
- This is Fitzpatrick’s first career Player of the Week honor.
Rookie of the Week
Alexia Bujold, UAlbany – Fr., Guard, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
- Averaged 16.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in a 3-0 week.
- Finished with 13 points and five rebounds in a 62-61 victory against Manhattan.
- Had a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds in a 77-57 over Mount St. Mary’s.
- This is Bujold’s first career Rookie of the Week honor.
America East Links
Weekly Award Winners
Nov. 9 – Player of the Week: Maddie Fitzpatrick, Maine Rookie of the Week: Alexia Bujold, UAlbany
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Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit
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