NEWBA Names Award Winners For February 28

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 February 21-27. Teel was named Mount Outstanding Player of the LEC Tournament after back-to-back record breaking performances. The center was nearly unstoppable for the Colonials, who cruised to their second straight conference championship. Over the course of the weekend, she racked up 38.5 points, 18.5 rebounds and 7.5 blocked shots per game while converting 68.8% (33-48) of her shots from the floor. In addition to exploding for a then program record 38 points in Western Connnecticut State's 77-68 triumph over Rhode Island College in the semifinal round on Friday, Teel also collected 24 boards and eight blocks. The senior then broke her own mark with 39 points in the Colonials' 74-58 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University the following day. She added 13 rebounds and seven blocks, as her team qualified for the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the third straight year and 13th time in school history. Western Connecticut State's record for points in a game stood for 19 years before Teel's exploits this weekend. This is the second time this season that she has been named the NEWBA/PrestoSports Player of the Week.

Alyssa Leonard
Castleton State College
First Year • Guard • Amherst, Mass.

Castleton State College first year guard Alyssa Leonard has been named NEWBA Rookie of the Week for the week of February 21-27. This is the second time in the past month that she has earned the honor. Leonard averaged 11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game in a 1-1 week for the Spartans. The guard knocked down 46.7% (7-15) of her shots from the field and 66.7% (6-9) of her free throws. She drained a pair of shots from beyond the arc en route to 12 points in ther team's 51-46 triumph over the Maine Maritime Academy on Friday. With the win, the Spartans advanced to the NAC Championship for the third straight season. Leonard also added eight rebounds and five assists in the contest. One day later, she tallied 10 points and three assists in Castleton State's 67-53 setback to Husson University in the title tilt.

• Brittney Chappron, Bridgewater State University (Sr, G, Braintree, Mass.) - Chappron was named MASCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading Bridgewater State University to a 47-42 triumph over Westfield State University in the championship game on Saturday. The guard drained four shots from beyond the arc en route to 22 points in the contest. Two days earlier, she came up with 20 points in her team's 88-73 semifinal round victory over the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
• Vanessa Bosques, Daniel Webster College (Jr, G, Windham, Conn.) - Bosques piled up 27 points to boost Daniel Webster College to a 64-52 triumph over Lesley University in the NECC Championship on Saturday. She was named Tournament Most Valuable Player after shooting 11-of-19 from the field. The guard canned three shots from beyond the arc and was also a standout on the defensive end. She tallied 25 points in the her team's 80-62 win over Elms College in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Eagles qualified for the NCAA Divsion III National Tournament for the first time in school history.
• Carrie Bunnell, University of New England (Sr, G, Barnet, Vt.) - Bunnell averaged 21.3 points per game in a 2-1 week for the University of New England. The guard netted 10 three-pointers for the Nor'easters, who advaned to the TCCC Championship with wins over Western New England College (68-56) and Roger Williams University (74-42). After scoring 22 points against Western New England and 19 against Roger Williams, she racked up 23 in her team's heartbreaking 76-74 setback to Salve Regina University in the title tilt on Saturday.
• Jen Wehner, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (Jr, F, Cooperstown, N.Y.) - Wehner piled up 20.5 points and 17.5 rebounds per outing in a 1-1 week for the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. The forward knocked down 81.0% (17-21) of her shots from the field. She was at her best in the Trailblazers' 88-73 loss to eventual champion Bridgwater State University on Friday. In addition to recording 28 points on 13-of-14 shooting from the floor, she also added 12 boards and three blocked shots.
• Kathleen King, Babson College (Jr, F, Framingham, Mass.) - King was named NEWMAC Co-Most Outstanding Player after leading nationally ranked Babson College to its third straight league title. The forward amassed 24.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game in her team's two wins. After totaling 25 points and 14 boards in the Beavers' 82-64 triumph over Springfield College on Saturday, she collected 23 points, seven rebounds and six steals in their 74-49 championship game victory over Smith College on Sunday. Babson will take an unblemished 27-0 record into the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

• A total of nine NEWBA head coaches will lead their teams in the NCAA Division III National Tournamament over the upcoming weeks. Congratulations and good luck to Kissy Walker (Husson University), Judy Blinstrub (Babson College), Christine Clancy (Colby College), Kim Rybczyk (Western Connecticut State University), Adrienne Shibles (Bowdoin College), Bridgett Casey (Bridgewater State University), Kristin Kunzman (Daniel Webster College), Pat Manning (Williams College) and Andy Yosinoff (Emmanuel College). Tournament play will begin on March 4. The tournament bracket can be accessed here.