Pickunka Collects Second NEWBA Player of the Week Award

Katelyn Pickunka
Smith College
Sophomore • Forward • Westhampton, Mass.

In a 2-0 week for the Pioneers, Pickunka averaged a double-double of 19.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 72.0 percent from the floor and 75.0 percent from the free throw line. The sophomore forward scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds in a 97-70 win over Westfield State on Tuesday. She then led Smith to a 74-65 victory over RPI on Thursday with 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks. At 9-0, the Pioneers are off to their best start in program history.

Sam Hourihan
Springfield College
Freshman • Forward • Bridgewater, Mass.

Hourihan put together a pair of double-doubles last week, averaging 11.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.0 assists per game. She recorded 13 points and 11 rebounds against Worcester State on Tuesday, and followed that performance up with ten points, 12 boards, four assists, and five blocks in a 106-62 win over Westfield State on Friday. Hourihan shot 68.8 percent from the field for the week.

• Alex Goslin, Springfield College (Sr. | Guard | South Windsor, Conn.) - Goslin averaged 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game in a 1-1 week for the Pride. Goslin scored all 20 of her points in the second half in what was a near comeback effort against Worcester State on Tuesday. In a 106-62 victory over Westfield State on Friday night, the senior point guard set a new career-high with 26 points and also became the 16th player in program history to score over 1,000 points in a career. Goslin shot 57.6% from the field, 33.3% from deep, and 80% from the free throw line over the two games. 
• Lauren Plissey, Maine Maritime (So. | Forward | Hermon, Maine) - Plissey helped lead the Mariners to their first win over Saint Joseph's College of Maine since 2007 on Saturday, totaling 17 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting effort from the floor, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals in a 71-68 overtime victory. 
• Tianna Sugars, Colby-Sawyer (Sr. | Center | Oxford, Maine) - Sugars posted 26.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game in a pair of Charger road wins last week. The senior shot 54.3 percent from the floor and made all 13 of her free throw attempts, while recording her seventh and eighth double-doubles of the season. Sugars began the week with game-highs of 29 points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes of action in a 70-57 win at NVU-Lyndon. She shot 11-of-14 from the floor and was 7-of-7 from the line. The center ended the week by playing all 40 minutes in Colby-Sawyer's 67-64 win at Castleton, registering game-bests of 23 points and 13 rebounds.
• Catherine Sweeney, Worcester State (Sr. | Guard | Lowell, Mass.) - Sweeney had a solid game across the board as the Lancers defeated Springfield College 55-48 to close out the fall semester. The senior scored six points while adding 14 rebounds, six steals, five assists, and three blocks in the victory.
• Emily Velozo, Framingham State (Sr. | Guard | Tewksbury, Mass.) - Velozo averaged 26.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 assists per game in a 1-1 week for the Rams. After scoring 15 points to go along with four boards and two assists in an 80-69 loss at MIT on Tuesday, Velozo erupted for a career-high 37 points on Thursday in an 85-56 victory over Anna Maria. She shot 14-of-22 from the field, including 7-of-11 from long range, in her 37-point effort.