Nov. 19, 2012

A-10 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Dayton’s Andrea Hoover and Chatilla van Grinsven of Saint Joseph's were named the Atlantic 10 Conference Women’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week, the league office announced on Monday. Rhode Island’s Tayra Melendez and Xavier’s Jenna Crittendon were also honored as the Conference’s Co-Rookies of the Week. All three student-athletes were recognized for games played during the week of Nov. 12-18.

Hoover scored 22 points in Dayton’s 79-76 win over Toledo Wednesday, Nov. 14 in the Flyers’ home opener. The Bellbrook, Ohio, native’s 22 points tied her career high. She was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line, including clutch free throws to give the Flyers the lead for good with 1:16 left in the game and then again with four seconds left in the game to give UD a three-point cushion. Hoover followed with a team-high 14 points to lead Dayton to a 71-66 upset of No. 13 Vanderbilt on Sunday, Nov. 18. She played 39 minutes against the Commodores and provided the game-changing jumper to spark an 11-0 run that put the Flyers ahead 48-41 with 12:26 remaining in the game. Hoover had seven of UD’s points during the run.

van Grinsven, the Hawks’ starting forward, scored a game-high 18 points and added a team-best eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals in SJU’s upset win over No. 5 Maryland on Saturday, Nov. 17. Scoring 12 of her points in the second half, she helped spearhead the Saint Joseph’s defense that limited the Terps to just 14 second-half points. Earlier in the week, van Grinsven helped guide the Hawks to a last-second win at Drexel as the Helmond, Netherlands, native tallied 12 points to go with eight rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. On the week, she averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 assists per game to lead SJU to a 2-0 mark.

Crittendon earned her second start of the season Monday, Nov. 12 against Michigan, the Musketeers’ only game of the week. She scored a career-high and team-best 13 points versus the Wolverines. Crittendon made a career-high five fields goals, including her first collegiate 3-point basket, and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the line. She grabbed a career-high six rebounds and dished out two assists to go with a block and a steal for an all-around game.

Melendez averaged 32.0 minutes, 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in a 2-0 week for the Rams – Rhody’s first time posting back-to-back wins since November of 2010. She recorded a game-high 18 points, five assists and five blocked shots in URI’s win over Bryant, while adding eight rebounds and two steals against the Bulldogs. The Mattapan, Mass., native nearly reached double figures in Rhody’s next game, finishing with nine points and six rebounds in the win over Siena. Moreover she contributed to a defensive effort that held the Saints to just 39 points on the night. The last time Rhode Island held an opponent to less than 40 points was on Dec. 28, 2002 when the Rams defeated Stetson, 67-38.

A-10 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HONOR ROLL
- Butler’s DARESS McCLUNG scored a career-high 20 at Ball State and followed that with a 19-point, 10-rebound effort versus Fairfield.
- Charlotte’s JENNIFER HAILEY had a double-double in each of the 49ers’ wins this past week, on the road over the Big 12’s TCU Wednesday and at home Saturday against an NCAA Tournament team from a season ago, FGCU.
- Duquesne’s WUMI AGUNBIADE recorded her 11th career double-double of a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds in the Dukes’ win over No. 17/17 Delaware.
- Fordham’s MARAH STRICKLAND scored a game-high 16 points to go with five rebounds and two assists, helping Fordham to its first 3-0 start since 1995-96.
- George Washington’s TARA BOOKER averaged a team-best 13.0 points on 45.0 percent shooting, including 44.4 percent (4-for-9) from 3-point range in the Colonials’ two games last week.
- RASHIDA TIMBILLA of Massachusetts averaged 10.3 points and 7.3 rebounds over a team-high 34.0 minutes played per contest against Central Connecticut, Quinnipiac and #7/6 Notre Dame.
- BRITTANY WILSON of La Salle averaged 23.0 points and 4.5 rebounds against Northeastern and Drexel last week.
- Richmond’s GENEVIEVE OKORO averaged a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in the Spiders’ two games last week.
- St. Bonaventure’s DORIS ORTEGA averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds over the two games.
- LORREAL JONES of Saint Louis led the Billikens with 18 points at UMKC and had a game-high 10 rebounds against No. 11 Oklahoma.
- Temple’s VICTORIA MACAULAY scored a career-high 27 points in leading the Owls to a win over Northeastern, while adding 10 rebounds for her second double-double in as many games, and blocked five shots.
- VCU’s ROBYN PARKS scored a career-high 34 points at Manhattan and posted her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds at Old Dominion.