Brits in College: Week 1 Recap - Hoopsfix.com

Brits in College: Week 1 Recap

With exhibitions now done with, the official college basketball season is in full swing and we have a heap of games to report on, with a number of impressive performances.

Player of the Week

Former Sevenoaks Suns standout Cristal Turner’s Utah State Aggies put NCAA DIV II Black Hills State to the sword, running out 103-46 winners (video below). Turner matched a school record of 8 blocks in a single game, whilst adding 8 rebounds.

Utah State proved it was no fluke by taking Div 1 Loyola Marymount apart a few days later, winning big by 100 – 58. Cristal hit a career high 14 points in only 17 minutes of action, whilst adding 5 rebounds.

NCAA Division 1

University of Illinois Chicago flames and their stellar freshman Melita Emanuel-Carr suffered a cruel loss to St Xavier, losing by 1 point in a last second come from behind 80-79 win for St Xavier 80 – 79. Melita had another strong performance off the bench with 15 points, 3 assists and 3 steals in only 23 minutes.

The Flames, however, suffered a second defeat two nights later to Northwestern University, going down 63 – 79. Melita again hit double figures with 10 points in 22 minutes. Her efforts were recognised by being named amongst the Horizon league’s Top Freshman of the Week.

Olympian Temi Fagbenle and her Harvard Crimson held off Boston University 76 -67 for the opening win. Temi turned in stats of 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks in what was a very productive night for the Junior forward.

True freshman Shequila Joseph’s Ole Miss Rebels had a comfortable 83-62 win against Jacksonville State. The former Barking Abbey & Haringey Angels standout came off the bench and put up 4 points along with 6 rebounds. That was as good as it got this week for the Rebels, as they went down a couple a days later to Central Arkansas. Shequila started and top scored for the rebels with 14 points in only 18 minutes of action.

“I have to get her more minutes,” said Coach Matt Hansell about Shequila. “She didn’t get to campus until September, so she was behind from the start with her stamina and conditioning. We’re working on that, and she’s getting better every day. She wanted to win down the stretch. She wanted the ball in the huddle.”

Janice Monakana’s Toledo Rocket had an eventful week. First off, was the great news that former Barking Abbey, Haringey Angels and England U18 player Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott has signed a letter of intent to join Janice at Toledo next season. Hoopsfix would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Jay-Ann.

And then there was the Glass City Tournament, which Toledo hosted. They lost 52 – 65 to Drexel Dragons with former Haringey Angel and Barking Abbey player Jamila Thompson. Janice Came off the bench to top score for the Rockets with 11 points whilst also adding 5 rebounds in 20 minutes of play. Jamila started in her Drexel debut and contributed 2 points in 14 minutes.

In their second tournament game against Mississippi Valley State, the Toledo Rockets ran out huge 95-48 winners. Just shy of a double-double, Janice ended that game with 9 points and 9 rebounds in 18 minutes of play.

Jamila Thompson’s Drexel then lost 52-63 in the championship game. Redshirt Junior Jamila chipped in with 2 points in 11 minutes.

Becca Allison’s Old Dominion Monarchs split the 2 games they had this week. They had an easy time against Delaware state winning 97 – 67. Former City of Edinburgh Kool Kats and GB U20 player, Allison, got herself a nice line of 8 points in only 17 minutes of action.

Her second game of the week against Virginia Tech was an altogether different matter, as they went down 61-73. Becca had 5 points in 29 minutes of action.

In their lone game of the season so far, Renee Busch and her Penn University team had to endure a tough 51 – 56 loss against St Francis University. Former Sevenoaks star Renee came off the bench and contributed 1 point in 12 minutes of action.

Mollie Campbell and her University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff have notched up two straight losses in their first two games, albeit against powerhouse teams. In their first game against Marquette on Monday, they were blown out 44 – 96. Mollie made the starting line-up but did not score in 16 minutes of action.

In a somewhat closer 38 – 76 loss to the University of Iowa, Mollie came off the bench and garnered 1 point in 20 minutes of action.

Barking Abbey and Haringey Angel standout Chantel Charles enjoyed a comfortable 72 – 42 win in their second exhibition game against Southern Maine. Chantel’s very efficient stat line reads 20 minutes, 8 points and 5 rebounds.

Ella Clark’s Long beach state had to contend with last year’s Final Four participant University of California. It was a close affair in the first half but Cal pulled away in the second half to record a 70-51 win. Ella made the starting 5 and finished the night with 3 points in 23 minutes

Lana Doran and her Gardner Webb Bulldogs beat NAIA team Montreat College 86 to 46. Lana was the team’s marksman hitting 3 of 5 from long range. She finished that game with 11 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in 22 minutes of action.

It got even better for the Bulldogs because a couple of days later, they beat their first Divison 1 opponent of the season, UNC Greensboro. Lana was used sparingly in this game, registering 1 point in 9 minutes of action.

In their lone game of the week, Houston Baptist defeated University Texas Arlington 72-60. Erin McGarrachan had a short but very productive outing, registering 5 points and 6 rebounds in only 8 minutes. Aspiring basketball coach, Maisie Elston, who hails from the Southend Swifts program, did not trouble the score board in only 4 minutes of action.

Femi Hamilton and her University of Massachusetts Lowell Riverhawks team look like they will be having a difficult season ahead of them. In their first game of the week, they played Providence College of the newly restructured Big East Conference. In what was a high scoring affair, the Riverhawks were soundly beaten 74 – 109. Femi posted 7 points and 3 rebounds in 18 minutes coming off the bench.

In their second game of the week, they lost to Yale University 77 – 90. Femi did not score in 7 minutes but had 2 assists

In their lone game of the week, former Sevenoaks suns and GB U20 player Ashleigh Munns only had a brief 1 minute cameo in the win over Boise State.

Lafayette kicked off their season with a win over Rider University, and followed that up two days later with a second win over Brown University. True freshman Harriett Ottewill-Soulsby was used sparingly in both wins.

Senior Forward Timeyin Oritsesan and her Florida International panthers went down 55-75 in their loss to Florida Gulf Coast. Timeyin from the Sevenoaks suns program had only 3 minutes of court time.

Injury Watch List
– Senior Kathryn Taylor of Colgate University
– Flo Ward of the North Florida Ospreys

NCAA Division 2

Former GB U20 Dee Hayward and her Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates team have started the regular season on a tear. They beat Benedict College 73 – 66. The Leeds Met University transfer came off the bench and added 5 points in 22 minutes.

In their second win of the week, the Pirates beat Columbia SC, an NAIA team, 96 – 59. Hayward went on a tear recording 19 points in 19 minutes off the bench.

Michelle Turner had a stellar debut with her Fort Lewis Skyhawk’s beating Northern New Mexico 101 – 62. Michelle knocked down 2 of 4 from long range, dished out 6 assists and ended with 12 points total in 17 minutes of court time

The feel good story from the Franklin Pierce Ravens must be that power forward/centre Jessica Hurd came through the week’s games unscathed, after only recently being medically cleared after her second ACL tear. The Ravens lost 71 – 80 to Goldey-Beacom at the Usciences tournament. Jess came off the bench, played 26 minutes and put up 6 points.

The Ravens fell again in the game against the hosts the following day, going down by 2 points 73 – 75. Jess only played 9 minutes, plagued by soreness around her knee.

Rosie Hynes and her Florida Tech Panthers fell to Albany state in their regular season opener 51 – 70. The Panthers trailed the whole game and had a torrid shooting night, making only 25%. Rosie started, played 32 minutes and put up 2 points.

The Panthers were able to make good on their defeat the very next day when they played and beat Fort Valley 70 – 64. The game was a close affair throughout, but the Panthers managed to pull away somewhat in the last 4 minutes. Rosie contributed 8 points and 5 rebounds in 28 minutes of action.

GB U20 and Scotland international Claire Paxton strong debut was not enough to prevent her Colorado Christian Cougars losing their season opener 65 – 84 to Southwestern Oklahoma State. Claire, who hails from Edinburgh, started and contributed 7 points and 4 rebounds in 30 minutes.

The Cougars were able to redeem themselves the next day as they took on and beat North Western Oklahoma State 68-63 in a game that was close throughout. Claire posted similar numbers to the previous day putting up 8 points and 6 rebounds in 33 minutes.

In their lone exhibition game of the season, Josephine Salmons’ Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs beat Bethel University 80 – 71. The former Haringey Angels and GB U20 player came off the bench and added 3 points in 8 minutes of action.

Canada

Former Manchester Mystics & GB women Kristie Sheils and her Calgary Dinos team took to the floor against Winnipeg in their 64-59 season opening win. Kristie, who transferred from the UWIC Archers, led from the front in her starting role and contributed 10 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds in 29 minutes of play.

The Dinos then completed the sweep over Winnipeg as they played them again on the very next day and won 63 – 56. Kristie added 14 pts in 31 minutes of open play.

Gemma Bullard and her Queens Gaels lost to the Western Mustangs 60 – 69. In her starting role, Gemma contributed 8 points and 7 rebounds in 26 minutes of court time.

The Dinos made it two losses in as many days when they lost to Windsor, last season’s championship team, on the very next day. No box score available.

Thoughts? Anyone we’ve missed who deserves a mention?

Image Credit: Utah State Aggies

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