Women's Basketball

Women’s #AEHoops Week 14: Bearcats Take Over First

BOSTON – Binghamton and Maine both went 2-0 last week, and the Black Bears' victory over Vermont put Binghamton alone atop the women’s #AEHoops standings with three weeks left in the regular season.

Need to Know
  • Maine had its best week of conference play, taking down Vermont 55-46 in Burlington and then outlasting Bryant 64-56 at home on Saturday. Adrianna Smith didn’t shoot well but still averaged 23 points and 12 rebounds per game in the two victories as Maine moved into third in the conference standings.
  • Bella Pucci and Kendall Bennett led Binghamton to a pair of victories. Each player averaged over 20 points per game as the Bearcats beat UMBC 73-59 and then edged NJIT 72-67 on Saturday.
  • Vermont fell to Maine, its second conference loss, but rebounded with a 60-35 win over New Hampshire to remain just behind the Bearcats in the standings.
  • Bryant, NJIT and UMass Lowell also each won a single game, with the River Hawks securing their first conference victory of the year. 
                                                                                                            
Looking Ahead:
  • Thursday features a pair of matchups that will have massive playoff implications. Vermont plays host to Binghamton and should the Bearcats pull off the win they would be two games up on UVM with just five games remaining while owning the tiebreak for the No. 1 seed.
  • Elsewhere, Maine plays at UMBC in a battle for the No. 3 Seed. The Retrievers could pull within a half game of the Black Bears and earn the season split with a home victory.
  • On Saturday, Vermont plays at Bryant, while Maine travels to NJIT. UMBC welcomes New Hampshire and Binghamton is at UAlbany.

2025-26 Weekly Award Winners (Feb. 9)
Player of the Week
Bella Pucci, Binghamton – Jr., Guard, Fairport, N.Y.
  • Averaged 27.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 64% in two wins.
  • Finished with career-high 31 points with five threes, five rebounds and three assists in a win over NJIT
  • Scored 23 points with four threes, seven rebounds and five assists in a win over UMBC.
  • This is Pucci’s second #AEHoops Player of the Week honor this season.
 
Rookie of the Week
Amaya Stewart UAlbany – Fr., Forward, West Reading, Pa.
  • Averaged 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
  • Had a career-high 23 points and three rebounds in a loss to UMass Lowell.
  • This is Stewart’s third #AEHoops Rookie of the Week honor of the season.

 America East Links  
 
Weekly Award Winners
Nov. 11 – Player of the Week: Alejandra Zuniga, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Amaya Stewart, UAlbany
Nov. 17 – Player of the Week: Maddie Rice, UMass Lowell; Rookie of the Week: Heidi Williams, UMBC
Nov. 24 – Co-Player of the Week: Nia Scott, Bryant; Co-Player of the Week: Bella Pucci, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Amaya Stewart, UAlbany
Dec. 1 - Player of the Week: Adrianna Amith, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Kennedy Austin, UMBC
Dec. 8 - Player of the Week: Ava Locklear, NJIT; Rookie of the Week: Kennedy Austin, UMBC
Dec. 15 - Player of the Week: Mia Mancini, Bryant; Rookie of the Week: Carletta Bennett, Binghamton
Dec. 22- Co-Player of the Week: Eva DeChent, New Hampshire, Co-Player of the Week: Adrianna Amith, Maine Rookie of the Week: Ashley Redd, Binghamton
Dec. 31 – Player of the Week: Kendall Bennett, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Heidi Williams, UMBC
Jan. 5 – Player of the Week: Nikola Priede, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Izzy Adams, Bryant
Jan. 12 - Player of the Week: Adrianna Amith, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Heidi Williams, UMBC
Jan. 19 - Player of the Week: Jade Tillman; Rookie of the Week: Heidi Williams, UMBC
Jan. 26 - Player of the Week: Adrianna Amith, Maine; Rookie of the Week: Heidi Williams, UMBC
Feb. 2 - Player of the Week: Nikola Priede, Vermont; Rookie of the Week: Carletta Bennett, Binghamton
Feb. 9 - Player of the Week: Bella Pucci, Binghamton; Rookie of the Week: Amaya Stewart, UAlbany
 
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