NEWBA Distributes Weekly Awards For February 20

Nicki Wurdeman
Babson College
Senior • Forward • Rowley, Mass.

Senior forward Nicki Wurdeman has earned the  NEWBA/PrestoSports Player of the Week Award after leading nationally-ranked Babson College to three straight home victories. Wurdeman piled up 19.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while converting 48.9% (22-45) of her shots from the floor. She also chipped in with eight blocked shots and seven assists. The forward was at her best on Tuesday, when she led the Beavers to an impressive 65-59 triumph over Colby College with her 24 points and nine rebounds. She followed that up with 21 points, nine boards and three blocked shots in an 84-58 victory over Clark University the following night. Wurdeman put the finishing touches on her outstanding week with 13 points and 11 rebounds in a 61-39 win over Springfield College on Saturday. In the process, Babson completed its third straight undefeated regular season in NEWMAC play.

Kirsten Morrison
University of Massachusetts Boston
First Year • Center • North Reading, Mass.

For the second week in a row, University of Massachusetts Boston center Kirsten Morrison has earned the NEWBA Rookie of the Week Award. This is the third time this season that she's been honored. Morrison averaged a double-double on 21.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in a 2-1 week for the Beacons. She scored 20 or more points in all three games, including 23 in a 75-53 triumph over Eastern Connecticut State University on Saturday. The center piled up 20 points and 12 boards against the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Tuesday. She followed that up with a 22-point, 9-rebounds performance in her team's 62-57 victory over Suffolk University on Thursday.

• Denisha Parks, Elms College (Fy, F, Fall River, Mass.) - Parks continued to shine for the Blazers, averaging 21 points and 10.5 rebounds per game over the final week of the regular season. After posting a double-double on 22 points and 13 boards against Becker College on Wednesday, the forward tallied 20 points and eight rebounds in a 65-50 win over Wheelock College on Saturday.  
• Courtney Cochran, University of Southern Maine (Sr, C, Waite, Maine) - Cochran became the 20th player in Husky in program history to reach 1,000 career points on Tuesday, when she recorded scored 18 in a 74-52 triumph over Plymouth State University. She also pulled down 15 rebounds in the contest. The center averaged 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in a 2-0 week.
• Taylor DeSanty, Colby-Sawyer College (Jr, G, North Adams, Mass.) - DeSanty racked up 23.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in a perfect 2-0 week for the Chargers. She was at her best on Saturday, when she exploded for 28 points in a 74-72 victory over Castleton State College. Two days earlier, the huard netted 18 points in a 75-59 win over Green Mountain College. She collected eight boards in each contest.  
• Catherine O'Connell, Newbury College (Jr, C, Quincy, Mass.) - O'Connell enjoyed another monster week for the Nighthawks, piling up 17.5 points and 19.5 rebounds per game in a pair of wins. The center was nearly unstoppable in her team's thrilling 60-59 victory over Daniel Webster College. She finished with 25 points and 23 rebounds in the contest. Her final basket in the waning seconds proved to be the winner.
• Shannon McCourt, Eastern Connecticut State University (Fy, F, New Fairfield, Conn.) - McCourt registered 19.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in a 1-1 week for the Warriors. After collecting 14 points and 14 rebounds in a 61-56 win over Keene State College on Tuesday, she erupted for 25 points and eight boards at the University of Massachusetts Boston on Saturday.