NEWBA Announces Weekly Awards for February 26

Rene Hudson
New England College
Junior • Guard • Gallatin, Tenn.

Hudson was named the MVP of the NECC Tournament after averaging 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game as the Pilgrims captured their first conference championship in 26 years. She scored 20 points to go with seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks in an 85-48 quarterfinal win over Southern Vermont, before recording a double-double with 25 points, 14 boards and six assists as NEC defeated Eastern Nazarene 66-64 in the semifinals. Hudson saved her best for last with 28 points on 9-of-16 shooting (7-11 3-pt), ten rebounds, seven assists and two steals in a 61-40 victory over Becker in the championship.  

Anna Barry
Eastern Connecticut
Freshman • Forward • Andover, Conn.

Barry made significant contributions for an Eastern Connecticut squad that claimed its third Little East Conference crown in the last five years. She averaged 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.5 blocks per game and shot 54.5 percent from the field. In a 77-72 overtime victory at No. 1 seed UMass Dartmouth in the championship game, Barry had a career-high 18 points (7-of-16 from the floor) and her second double-double of the year with ten rebounds along with four blocked shot and three steals. In a 93-58 semifinal win over Southern Maine, Barry had 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals, sinking six of seven field goals.

• Lucy Barrett, Westfield State (Senior | Guard | Williamstown, Mass.) - Barrett garnered MASCAC Tournament MVP accolades after leading Westfield State to it's fourth straight conference title. She averaged 23.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game. Barrett totaled 27 points in the Owls' 94-85 win over Bridgewater State in the semifinals, before netting 20 in Westfield State's 84-73 title game win over Worcester State. She shot 53 percent from the floor and 90.9 percent at the line.
• Courtney Carlson, Western New England (Junior | Forward | Woodbury, Conn.) - Carlson played a key role in Western New England's run to the CCC title last week, averaging 18.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. She had 16 points and nine boards in Tuesday's 64-52 quarterfinal win over Salve Regina, before scoring 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting to go with five rebounds on Thursday as the Golden Bears defeated UNE on the road in the semifinals. Carlson turned in another clutch effort in the championship game with a team-high 18 points and game-high nine rebounds to help Western New England secure its first-ever conference title. She shot 55.8% (24-of-43) from the field over the three-game stretch.
• Kara Holinski, MIT (Senior | Guard | Livonia, Mich.) - In a 3-0 week that resulted in MIT winning its second straight NEWMAC championship, Holinski averaged 12.0 points, 3.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game en route to being named the Tournament Most Outstanding Player. She generated 15 points while shooting 60 percent from the floor (6-of-10) and three-point range (3-of-5) and dishing out two assists in a 76-58 quarterfinal win over Emerson on Tuesday. Two days later in a 73-46 semifinal win at Babson, Holinski produced 11 points, a career-high six assists, three rebounds, and three steals. She capped off the week with 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a steal in a 66-50 title game victory at Springfield on Saturday.
• Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Emmanuel (Junior | Guard | Cambridge, Mass.) - Ramirez-Tejeda led Emmanuel to the 2019 GNAC championship, averaging 23.0 points and 12.3 rebounds over three games for the Saints on her way to Tournament MVP honors. The junior recorded double-doubles in all three wins, beginning with a 19-point, 12-rebound, four-steal effort in Emmanuel's 61-39 quarterfinal win over Colby-Sawyer. She followed that up by producing 26 points, 14 boards, four steals and two assists in a 78-72 victory over Albertus Magnus in the semifinals, before capping the week with 24 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game as the Saints upset No. 8/10 Saint Joseph's (Maine), 65-64. 
• Mya Villard, Eastern Connecticut (Junior | Forward | Cromwell, Conn.) - Villard averaged 18.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, shooting 59.1 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the free throw line as Eastern Connecticut won its third Little East Conference title in five years. After recording ten points, five rebounds and three assists in a 93-58 semifinal win over Southern Maine, she broke out with game-highs of 27 points and 17 boards in the championship game as the Warriors beat UMass Dartmouth in overtime, 77-72. Villard was named Tournament MVP.   
• Kenzie Worcester, Husson (Senior | Guard | Washburn, Maine) - Worcester was recognized as the NAC Tournament MVP after leading the Eagles to their fourth consecutive conference title. She averaged 18.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 80 percent (12-of-15) from the free throw line. She scored 15 points and added seven rebounds and five assists in a 77-39 semifinal win over Northern Vermont-Lyndon, before scoring 21 points to go with six boards, two steals and two assists in the championship game as Husson topped Maine Maritime, 58-51.