NEWBA Hands Out Weekly Awards for January 31

Melissa Teel
Western Connecticut State University
Senior • Center • Hamden, Conn.

Western Connecticut State University senior center Melissa Teel has earned the NEWBA/PrestoSports Player of the Week award for the week of January 24-30. Teel exploded for 28.5 points, 15.5 rebounds and 6.5 blocked shots per game in a perfect 2-0 week for the Colonials. She converted 65.7% (23-35) of her shots from the field and 64.7% (11-17) of her free throw attempts. The reigning NEWBA Player of the Year was nearly unstoppable in Western Connecticut State's 58-50 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University on Tuesday. In addition to racking up 35 points and 15 rebounds, she recorded an eye popping 10 blocks. It was the first triple-double for a post player in program history. Teel was at it again in the Colonials' 67-40 win over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Saturday, when she registered a double-double on 22 points and 16 boards. In the process, she became Western Connecticut State's all-time leading rebounder, surpassing Tina Shanahan (1993-97). She will enter the final weeks of her collegiate career with 923 career caroms.

Larla Brown
Coast Guard Academy
First Year • Forward • Kingwood, Texas

Coast Guard Academy first year forward Larla Brown has been named NEWBA Rookie of  the Week for the week of January 24-30. Brown recorded 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in two games for the Bears. She shot 36.1% )13-36) from the floor and canned a pair of three-pointers. Brown was at her best on Saturday, when she finished with 24 points on 10-of-25 shooting from the floor against Wheaton College. The forward pulled down five rebounds in the contest and also dished out three assists. Two days earlier, she collected 10 points and nine boards at MIT.

• Courtney Cirillo, Keene State College (Jr, F, Windsor Locks, Conn.) - Cirillo amassed 21.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in a 2-1 week for Keene State College. She knocked down 66.7% (26-39) of her shots from the floor and also added 12 assists and 10 steals. The forward was at her best in a 67-57 win over Middlebury College on Thursday, when she racked up 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Two days later, Cirillo notched another double-double on 24 points and 11 boards in a eartbreaking 72-67 loss to the University of Southern Maine.
• Cailin Bullett, Colby-Sawyer College (Sr, F, Belfast, Maine) - Bullett guided Colby-Sawyer College to a 2-1 week with her outstanding play at the point guard position. She averaged 14.3 points and 11.3 assists per contest while also collecting 16 rebounds and seven steals. Bullett opened her week with 18 points and a career best 12 assists in the Chargers' 87-70 loss to Middlebury College on Tuesday. Two days later, she handed out 12 more helpers while also scoring 16 points in a 95-62 triumph over Eastern Nazarene College. Bullett went 9-of-11 from the free throw stripe over the course of the week.
• Nicole Wurdeman, Babson College (Jr, F, Rowley, Mass.) - Wurdeman helped nationally ranked Babson College remain unbeaten with her 23.3points and 7.7 rebounds per game this week. The forward drained 54.5% (24-44) of her shots from the field and 83.3% (15-18) of her free throw attempts in three games. After posting 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots in her team's 74-43 win over Wheaton College on Tuesday, she amassed 27 points (23 second half), 10 boards and four assists in a 78-55 victory over Smith College on Saturday. Wurdeman closed out the week with 21 points in an 85-60 win over Salem State University on Sunday.
• Kathy Andrade, Emerson College (Sr, F, Hull, Mass.) - Andrade led Emerson to a 2-1 mark with her outstanding play in the post. The forward averaged a double-double on 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while also chipping in with 10 assists. She converted 45.7% (16-35) of her shots from the field and 75.9% (22-29) of her free throws. Andrade was at her best on Thursday, when she erupted for 26 points and 16 boards in a 75-63 triumph over Pine Manor College. Two days later, she collected 20 points and 10 rebounds in an 83-52 win over Johnson and Wales University. The forward became the second player in program history to reach 1,000 career points with her 19 against Western New England College on January 13.
• Vanessa Miller, Tufts University (Sr, G, Cincinnati, Ohio) - Miller boosted Tufts University to a perfect 3-0 week with her 15.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 6.0 steals per game. After recording a double-double on 17 points and 10 boards in a 63-56 triumph over Emmanuel College on Tuesday, the guard tallied 14 points and seven boards in a 64-32 win over Connecticut College on Friday. She finished with seven steals in both contests. Miller rounded out her week with 16 points and eight rebounds in the Jumbos' 57-47 victory over Wesleyan University on Saturday.