NAC Hoops Weekly Accolades Announced (2/3/25)
WATERVILLE, Maine - The North Atlantic Conference weekly honors for the reporting period ending February 2nd are now available. This week's list of honorees includes two first-time 2024-25 recipients and four repeat selections.
Women’s Basketball:
Player of the Week:
Lauren Cook – Senior – Guard – Husson University
Husson senior guard Lauren Cook (Charlotte, Maine) led the Eagles to a pair of victories last week, when she averaged 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 61.9% (13-21) from the floor and 61.1% (11-18) from beyond the arc. In an 80-72 win over UMaine-Fort Kent on Friday, Cook tallied 15 points on a 5-of-9 shooting effort from three-point range. On Saturday, Cook netted 22 points and made 6-of-9 shots from downtown with five rebounds and three assists in a 71-61 conference win at UMaine-Presque Isle.
Defensive Player of the Week:
Sydney Briscoe – Senior – Forward – Maine Maritime Academy
Maine Maritime senior forward Sydney Briscoe (Englewood, N.J.) averaged 18.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game in a 1-1 week for the Mariners. In a hard fought loss at nationally-ranked Bowdoin College on Tuesday, Briscoe scored 20 points while pulling down eight boards and grabbing a pair of steals. In a 65-46 conference victory at Thomas College on Saturday, Briscoe produced an impressive double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds while picking up a steal and swatting away five shots.
Rookie of the Week:
Jaydn Pingree – Freshman – Guard – UMaine-Farmington
UMaine-Farmington freshman guard Jaydn Pingree (Jay, Maine) continued her phenomenal run, leading the Beavers to a pair of road victories last week. On Friday against UMPI, Pingree recorded a career-high 21 points on an efficient 6-of-10 shooting from the field, went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, and grabbed four rebounds in the Beavers’ 62-57 victory. Against Fort Kent on Saturday, she was one of five Beavers to score in double figures, finishing with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting while adding five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. For the week, Pingree averaged 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
Men’s Basketball:
Player of the Week:
Akhe McMichael – Junior – Guard – UMaine-Presque Isle
UMaine-Presque Isle junior guard Akhe McMichael (St. Petersburg, Fla.) continued his outstanding season this weekend, highlighted by a 36-point performance in a 93-89 overtime victory over the University of Maine at Farmington. McMichael shot 13-of-25 from the field and 6-of-12 from three-point range, including the game-tying three with under a minute left in regulation. He scored seven points in the final minute and a half to bring UMPI back from a six-point deficit and force overtime. McMichael also contributed six rebounds and three assists to his career-best performance. In a loss to Husson on Saturday, he once again led UMPI in scoring with 14 points, adding two more three-pointers.
Defensive Player of the Week:
Curt Heinz – Senior – Center – Maine Maritime Academy
Maine Maritime Academy senior center Curt Heinz (Stuttgart, Germany) averaged a double-double, leading the team in scoring (19.5 PPG), rebounding (17.5 RPG), assists (5.0 APG), and blocked shots (3.0 BPG) during a 1-1 week. In a close loss to Bates, he recorded game highs of 19 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists. He followed that performance with a dominant double-double, posting 20 points and a game-high 21 rebounds in a comeback NAC road win at Thomas. Of his 35 total rebounds for the week, 27 came on the defensive end. In the final 13 seconds against the Terriers, he secured two offensive rebounds and one defensive board to help preserve a three-point victory.
Rookie of the Week:
Tavon Rhodes – Freshman – Guard – Lesley University
Lesley University freshman guard Tavon Rhodes (Dorchester, Mass.) totaled 47 points (15.6 ppg) over three games, highlighted by a 24-point performance at Fisher College on 9-of-16 shooting. In Friday’s win at VTSU Lyndon, he scored 16 points, including two game-sealing free throws with 44 seconds left. Rhodes shot an impressive 55.0% from the field (22-of-40), adding seven assists (2.3 APG), 11 rebounds (3.6 RPG), and five steals (1.6 SPG). His week included a six-rebound game at Fisher and a four-steal effort in the win at VTSU Lyndon.