Philly Women’s College Basketball Weekly Awards and Review

PhillyCollegeSports.com Weekly Awards

Players of the Week – Mia Davis, Temple and Keishana Washington, Drexel – Davis led the Owls in scoring and rebounding in each game of the week averaging 18 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. The graduate forward converted 10 of 14 from the free throw line, and made half of her 26 shots. Davis posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Duquesne, her second of the season. Washington became the first player for the Dragons to eclipse the 20-point mark scoring 25 at Maine on 11 of 18 shooting. Over the week Washington totaled 43 points making 18 of 29 from the floor and 5 of 7 from beyond the arc.

Honor Roll

Hannah Nihill, Drexel

Kayla Spruill, La Salle

Kennedy Suttle, Penn

Alayna Gribble, Saint Joseph’s

Aniya Gourdine, Temple

Brianna Herlihy, Villanova

Player of the Week and Honor Roll selections are made by Glenn Papazian of PhillyCollegeSports.com, Mel Greenberg the Women’s Hoop Guru, Matt Leon from KYW News Radio, and Josh Verlin City of College Basketball Love

Games of November 12 – 28, 2021

Drexel (6 – 2, 0 – 0 CAA) – Won 67 – 44 vs. Dartmouth, Won 57 – 33 at Maine

Noteworthy: Drexel turned up the defense this week limiting Dartmouth and Maine to less than 27% shooting. Hannah Nihill registered a steal at Maine giving her a career 250 swipes. On offense Nihill handed out 8 assists giving her 394, fifth most in program history. Tessa Brugler totaled 28 points over the week.

Next Game: December 11 vs. Longwood at the DAC

La Salle (5 – 3, 0 – 0 Atlantic 10, 1 – 0 Big Five) – Won 63 – 49 at Penn, Won 64 – 59 at Saint Francis PA

Noteworthy: The Explorers won their first Big Five game of the season, and collected road wins over the week. Both were come from behind victories. Kayla Spruill led the way with 17 points at Penn and 18 at Saint Francis. Spruill has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games, and was a perfect 16 for 16 from the free throw line. On defense the Explorers stole the ball 34 times. Molly Masciantonio accounted for 12.

Next Game: December 8 vs. UMES at the Gola Arena

Penn (4 – 5, 0 – 0 Ivy League, 0 – 2 Big Five) – Lost 63 – 49 vs. La Salle, Lost 62 – 46 at Bucknell, Lost 77 – 55 vs. Duke

Noteworthy: The good news for the University of Pennsylvania is the suspensions are over, and can field a full team. The not so good news was the Quakers dropped all three games over the week. Kennedy Suttle recorded double figures in rebounds against La Salle (10) and Duke getting a game-high 12. Mia Lakstigala had her first career double-double in the La Salle contest. She scored a career-high 18 points and had 10 caroms. Lakstigala added 11 points against Duke.  

Next Game: December 7 vs. Saint Joseph’s at the Palestra

Saint Joseph’s (2 – 6, 0 – 0 Atlantic 10, 0 – 1 Big Five) – Won 52 – 49 vs. Yale  

Noteworthy: The Hawks took to the floor once this week and made it exciting defeating Yale on a three-pointer by Alayna Gribble from the corner with 2.6 seconds on the clock. Gribble scored a game-high 14 points. Katie Jekot got the assist on the game-winner, and had 4 for the game. Saint Joe’s led by as many as 19 points, but trailed by 5 with 3:28 to play. Gribble capped the rally sinking her fourth from beyond the arc. Jekot scored 11 points and Laila Fair added 12 points which tied her career-high. She also matched her collegiate-best in rebounds with 6.

Next Game: December 7 at Penn

Temple (5 – 3, 0 – 0 American, 1 – 0 Big Five) – Won 49 – 47 at Georgetown, Won 67 – 55 at Duquesne

Noteworthy: The Owls are on a three-game winning streak. Temple got two wins on the road over Georgetown and Duquesne. The Cherry and White trailed by 11 going into the fourth quarter. They won the final ten minutes 22 – 9. After getting to within a point, Temple took their first lead of the contest on a driving layup by Aniya Gourdine. Alexa Williamson closed out the scoring sinking a free throw. Gourdine scored 10 points while dishing out a game-high 7 assists on the Bluffs.

Next Game: December 11 vs. Saint Joseph’s at McGonigle Hall

Villanova (3 – 5, 0 – 2 Big East, 2 – 1 Big Five) – Won 65 – 60 vs. Lehigh, Lost 66 – 47 at Providence, Lost 72 – 58 at Creighton

Noteworthy: Villanova posted its first home win of the season defeating Lehigh. Lucy Olsen led the way with a game-high 22 points, and Brooke Mullin contributed 16 points. Big East play commenced two-days afterward. Nova dropped its first two conference games over the weekend road trip. Brianna Herlihy averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds over the three games. The best shooting day of the week for the Wildcats came in Omaha where they shot 42% from the floor and made 7 of 21 (33.3%) from three-point land.

Next Game: December 99 at James Madison University