NEWBA Announces Weekly Awards for Jan. 2

Nakira Examond
UMass Dartmouth
Sophomore • Forward • New Bedford, Mass.

Sophomore forward Nakira Examond of UMass Dartmouth is the Presto Sports NEWBA Player of the Week for games played from December 12-January 1. Examond, who was also named the Little East Conference Player of the Week, averaged 20.3 points on 71.1% shooting, 12.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game as the Corsairs went 2-1. She established new career-highs for points in consecutive games over the weekend, scoring 25 to go with a career-high 16 boards in a 66-35 win over Wellesley on Thursday, before posting a 27-point, eight-rebound effort the next day as the Corsairs snapped Babson's eight-game winning streak.  

Gabrielle Hurlbert
Western Connecticut State University
Freshman • Guard • Thomaston, Conn.

Freshman guard Gabrielle Hurlbert of Western Connecticut State University earns NEWBA Rookie of the Week honors after leading the Colonials to the Hat City Tournament title over the weekend. Hurlbert, who averaged 10.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals over Western Connecticut's three games, scored 19 points in Saturday's 70-63 victory over Trinity in the championship game on her way to Tournament MVP honors. Hurlbert shot 53.8% from the field against the Bantams and also compiled six rebounds, two assists and two steals.  

• Ama Biney, WPI (Jr., G, Worcester, Mass.) - Biney earned MVP honors at the WPI Holiday Tournament after averaging 17.5 points, nine rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 4.5 steals per game. In the championship contest against Wesleyan, she logged seven points and six rebounds, two assists and an impressive baseline swipe in the fourth quarter. Including the trip to Bates, Biney averaged 15.3 points, eight rebounds and 4.3 steals over three games. 
• Kennedy Guest-Pritchett, Smith (So., F, Fairburn, Ga.) - Guest-Pritchett averaged 16 points and 15 rebounds in a 2-0 stretch for the Pioneers. Against Bridgewater State on December 15, the sophomore forward finished with 17 points and 14 boards in a 60-41 victory. She then registered her fifth double-double (15 pts, 16 reb) of the season on 7-of-12 shooting in Smith's 66-25 win at Salve Regina. 
• Kara Holinski, MIT (So., G, Livonia, Mich.) - Holinski averaged 17.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists as MIT went 2-1 and won the Salem State Holiday Tournament. She posted 10 points and seven rebounds in a 71-57 loss at Framingham State on December 13. Holinski generated 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists in an 82-52 win over Bates in the opener of the Salem State Holiday Tournament on December 29. She followed this up with a career-high 30 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists in a 72-45 victory over the host Vikings in the championship game en route to Tournament MVP honors.
• Maria Jackson, Brandeis (Sr., F/C, Rochester, N.Y.) - In Brandeis' only contest, Jackson recorded 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line to go with nine rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist in a 64-46 win at Endicott. 
• Giovanna Pickering, Babson (Sr., G, Hull, Mass.) - Pickering averaged 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.8 steals to help Babson win three of four games over the holiday break. She finished with eight points, 11 boards, four assists and three steals in a 61-59 OT victory over Emory & Henry on December 20, and then followed it up with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 62-50 win over Mount Saint Mary on December 21 in Daytona Beach. Pickering scored 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting in Thursday's 74-59 victory against Salisbury, and wrapped up the week with 15 points, and four rebounds in a 70-62 loss to UMass Dartmouth.