A pair of Univeristy of Maine at Farmington basketbal stars garnered North Atlantic Conference Athlete of the Week awards this past week. Junior forward Sean Murphy was named the week’s top men’s basketball rookie, and senior forward Meghan Smith was the conference’s top women’s basketball player this week.
Murphy was named the NAC’s Rookie of the Week for the second time this season after averaging 13 points, six rebounds, two blocks and 1.7 assists across three games for the week ending January 10. The three-game stretch ended with a season-high 15 points for the 6-foot-5 Westbrook native.
Smith’s Player of the Week honor was her third of the season, and she earned it by averaging 15.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 blocks in a 3-0 week for the Beavers. Smith continued her propensity for getting to the free-throw line, stepping to the charity stripe a combined 20 times in the three games.
Smith also received praise from the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, landing on the MWBCA’s weekly honor roll. That list also included Bates’ Chelsea Nason, who averaged 16 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks in three games for the Bobcats.
Bates was also recognized as a team for making a team-record 13 3-pointers in a win over Lasell. The Bobcats hit on 46 percent of their 28 attempts.
Locals stand out for St. Joe’s
The awards keep stacking up for Saint Joseph’s College men’s basketball freshman Ian Mileikis, who was named the Maine Men’s Basketball Coaches and Writers Association’s Rookie of the Week this past week. The former Edward Little standout averaged 8.6 points and four rebounds (both above his season averages) to capture his second MMBCWA top rookie honor.
On the St. Joe’s women’s side, junior guard Abbie Eastman went a perfect 6 for 6 from the free-throw line and pulled down six rebounds in the Monks’ win over Colby on Tuesday. The Norway native and former Oxford Hills player equaled a season-high in free-throw attempts and set a new high in makes. Eastman is averaging 3.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game for the Monks.
Jacques scores skiing award
Maine-Farmington alpine skier Lindsey Jacques was selected as the Reynolds Division Female Athlete of the Week this past week by the United States Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association. The Jay native finished second in the USCSA Thompson Division slalom race at Sunday River on January 9. Jacques had an overall time of 1:14.79, including an opening run that clocked in a 36.34 seconds.
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