PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Ariana Vanderhoop, Monmouth

Senior | G | Boston, Mass. / Cathedral 

Vanderhoop averaged 23.5 points per game on 63.0 percent (17-27) shooting to lead Monmouth to a 2-0 weekend. On Friday, the senior guard tallied a game-high 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting with five rebounds and one assist. Vanderhoop scored 14 points in the second half to help the Hawks secure a 61-55 victory over Drexel. The 21 points were a season-high until Sunday, when Vanderhoop poured in a career-high 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting with five rebounds and two assists, leading Monmouth to a pivotal 73-63 victory over Charleston. The Hawks moved into third place in the CAA standings as Vanderhoop notched her fourth career game with 20-plus points. In addition, she has reached double figures in five straight games and 13 times this season. 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Paris Locke, North Carolina A&T

Freshman | F | Baltimore, Md. / McDonough 

Locke contributed 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting in North Carolina A&T’s 77-46 road victory over Elon. The freshman forward scored 10 points during A&T’s decisive 42-7 run, which broke a 26-26 tie. Locke added three rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes. The freshman – who scored a career-high 18 points in her previous outing – has reached double figures in back-to-back games for the first time.  

CONFERENCE NOTES:

TIGHT TOP FIVE: The top five teams in the CAA standings are separated by 2.0 games with two weeks remaining. Stony Brook remained in first place at 12-2, and North Carolina A&T took sole possession of second at 11-3. The Aggies are half a game ahead of Monmouth (11-4), who moved into third following a 2-0 weekend. William & Mary climbed into a tie for fourth with Charleston after the Tribe went 2-0 and a weekend split for the Cougars. 

PENULTIMATE WEEKEND AHEAD: The penultimate weekend in CAA Women’s Basketball has arrived and will prove pivotal in the conference race. Two huge games on Sunday, including a battle for first place on Long Island between Stony Brook and North Carolina A&T. In addition, Charleston and William & Mary - tied in the standings - face off in the Low Country. The weekend begins on Friday, with Stony Brook traveling to Drexel and Towson visiting Charleston, highlighting Friday's slate.

CAA HOOPS CANCELATION: Northeastern forfeited its conference game at Stony Brook, scheduled for Sunday, February 25. Northeastern informed the conference office that it was unable to play due to limited roster availability. Per NCAA policy, the game will be declared a “no contest” and not count in the overall standings. However, per CAA policy, Stony Brook will be credited with a win, and Northeastern will be given a loss in the conference standings.

NOTHING BUT NET: As of Monday, Feb. 26, Stony Brook remained in the top 100 of the NCAA NET Rankings at No. 68, while North Carolina A&T and Charleston reached their highest ranks this season, cracking the top 150 at No. 137 and No. 139, respectively. Additionally, Monmouth (159), William & Mary (174), Delaware (178), Drexel (188), and Towson (190) remained among the top 200. 

CAA HOOPS IN THE MID-MAJOR TOP 25: Three CAA teams were recognized in the latest College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll. Stony Brook remained ranked, climbing to No. 11, while North Carolina A&T and Charleston received votes. At least one conference team has been recognized in every poll, with multiple teams acknowledged in 14 of 16 weeks.  

TEAM NOTES:

Campbell

• Campbell defeated Hofstra 65-51 at home on Sunday. The Camels outscored the Pride 23-10 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. 

• Shy Tuelle poured in a season-high 20 points, shooting 7-of-10 from the floor and 6-of-9 from deep. It marks her first 20-point effort since the opening game last season and the ninth in her career. 

• Brittany Staves also reached double figures with 14 points. Staves has 10 or more points eight times this season.

Charleston 

• Charleston went 1-1 on the road this weekend to conclude a three-game road swing. CofC defeated Hofstra (88-59) before falling to Monmouth (73-63).

• Jada Logan averaged 25.0 points per game to lead CofC. She had back-to-back 20-point efforts, scoring 24 against Hofstra and 26 at Monmouth. Logan has five 20-point performances this season.

• Taryn Barbot averaged 14.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. She recorded her second double-double (12p, 13r) this season on Friday. 

Delaware

• Delaware split its contests over the weekend, defeating UNCW (73-35) at home on Friday before falling on the road to Towson (70-57) Sunday. 

• On Friday, Rebecca Demeke paced UD with a career-high 20 points behind 6-of-8 shooting from distance. It marks her eighth game in double figures this winter.

• On Sunday, Chloe Wilson tallied a season-high 23 points with nine rebounds. It is the second time she has surpassed 20 points this season and 13th game in double figures.

Drexel

• Drexel went 1-1 this weekend, falling at Monmouth (61-55) on Friday before returning home for a victory over UNCW (63-39) on Sunday.

• On Friday, Laine McGurk recorded a career-high 21 points to pace the Dragons. It marks her second 20-point effort this year. The freshman averaged 14.0 ppg for the week.

• Amaris Baker reached double figures in both games, averaging 12.0 points per contest. Baker has at least 10 points in three straight games and 13 this season.

Elon

• Elon dropped back-to-back contests over the weekend. The Phoenix fell on the road against William & Mary (73-61) before a home setback versus N.C. A&T (77-46).

• Maya Johnson recorded double-doubles in both games, the first two in her career. She averaged 14.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, and her 17 points on Friday were a career high.

• Maraja Pass reached double figures in both games, with 11 and 10 points, respectively. She has eclipsed double figures 11 times this season.

Hampton

• Hampton went 0-2 this weekend, falling to Towson (78-65) at home on Friday before a setback on the road against William & Mary (66-58) on Sunday. 

• Amayah Reaves paced Hampton in scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game. Reaves reached double figures in both games and has 10 or more points seven times this year.

• On Sunday, Casey Miller tallied a career-high 12 points. She shot 5-pf-9 from the floor to record her first double-digit scoring performance.

Hofstra 

• Hofstra dropped back-to-back contests this weekend. The Pride fell at home to Charleston (88-59) on Friday before a road setback to Campbell (65-51) on Sunday. 

• On Sunday, Zyheima Swint had team highs of 15 points and eight rebounds to lead Hofstra. It marks her ninth game in double figures this season. 

• On Friday, Sorelle Ineza paced Hofstra with 15 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. The graduate guard shot 5-of-10 for her 12th game in double figures this winter. 

Monmouth 

• Monmouth moved into third place in the CAA standings following a 2-0 weekend at home. The Hawks defeated Drexel (61-55) on Friday and Charleston (73-63) on Sunday.

• Ariana Vanderhoop averaged 23.5 points per game on 63.0 percent (17-27) shooting to lead Monmouth. On Sunday, she tallied a career-high 26 points following a 21-point effort on Friday.  

• Kaci Donovan reached double figures in both games, averaging 16.0 points per contest. Donovan has eclipsed 10 points in 17 games this season. 

North Carolina A&T

• Five scored in double figures as N.C. A&T defeated Elon 77-46 on Sunday. Tied at 26, A&T used a 42-7 run to blow the game open, moving into sole possession of second place in the CAA. 

• Jordyn Dorsey stuffed the stat sheet, recording 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists and one steal. Dorsey has reached double figures in 12 of the past 13 games and 21 times this season.

• Maleia Bracone and Paris Locke contributed 15 points each. Bracone has reached double figures in six straight games, and Locke has done so in back-to-back contests.

UNCW

• UNCW went 0-2 on the road this weekend. The Seahawks fell to Delaware (73-35) on Friday before a setback against Drexel (63-39) on Sunday. 

• Kylah Sliver averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds to pace UNCW. Silver reached double figures for the 13th time this season with 16 points against Drexel. 

• On Sunday, Mingaile Urmuleviciute had a team-high 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting with five rebounds. It marks her fourth game in double figures this season. 

Northeastern

• Northeastern has made the decision to forfeit its CAA women’s basketball game at Stony Brook, which was scheduled to be played on Sunday, February 25.

• Last time out, the Huskies went 0-2 against during the weekend of February 16 through 18. Northeastern fell to Elon at home and Hofstra on the road.

• The Huskies look to get healthy and snap a four-game skid this upcoming weekend. NU is scheduled to face N.C. A&T on Friday and Hampton on Sunday.

Stony Brook

• Per CAA policy, Stony Brook was credited with a win, and Northeastern was given a loss in the conference standings via Northeastern forfeiture on February 25. 

• Last time out, the Seawolves improved to 21-3 this season following a 2-0 weekend, with wins over Elon and Hofstra. Stony Brook has won all 21 games by double-digits this winter.

• Up next, Stony Brook will visit Drexel on Friday before returning home for a first-place showdown against N.C. A&T on Sunday.

Towson

• Towson went 2-0 over the weekend, defeating Hampton (78-65) on the road Friday before a victory over Delaware (70-57) at home on Sunday. 

• Alexia Nelson surpassed double figures in both games, averaging 15.0 points per contest. Nelson has reached double figures in seven of the past eight games.

• On Sunday, Kylie Kornegay-Lucas recorded her fifth double-double this season. She tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds, adding six assists.

William & Mary

• W&M went 2-0 at home this weekend, defeating Elon (73-61) on Friday and Hampton (66-58) on Sunday. The Tribe has won five of its past six games. 

• Nylah Young averaged 21.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, including her third double-double (24p, 10r) this season. Young has reached double figures in seven straight games and 19 this season. 

• Bella Nascimento eclipsed double figures in both games, with 15 and 11 points, respectively. She has at least 10 points 17 times this season.