LACEY LOWDOWN

Outstanding performances from Yanni Wetzell and Callum McRae that earned them Conference Player of the Week Awards highlight the latest performances by Kiwi Men playing NCAA Division I basketball .

It was a career night for Yanni Wetzell. The former Westlake Boys and Harbour forward came up with a career best 20 points (6/7FG) accompanied by 12 rebounds which was also a career high in San Diego State’s 66-49 win against local rivals San Diego. He also snared a couple of steals to cap a terrific performance which earned him the Mountain West Conference Player of the Week Award.

Wetzell reached double figures for the third game running with 10 points  (3/5FG) in the 62-49 win against Tennessee State.

Capturing Big West Player of the Week honours was Callum McRae. A double-double from the former PNBH and Manawatu centre, his third of the season in just five games, helped UC Riverside to a massive 76-44 win against Redlands. He scored 14 points on a perfect 7 from 7 shooting night and also added 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.

The sophomore was equally impressive two days later producing a game high 18 points to go with 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in a 73-49 demolition of Denver.

Team mate Angus McWilliam chipped in with 7 points and 4 rebounds against Denver.

Izayah Lea’fa had an incredible second half, scoring 21 of his career-high tying 23 points after halftime as Sacramento State came from behind to beat Pepperdine 77-72. During the second half, the fourth-year senior was 4-for-5 from the 3-point line and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. He finished with two assists and four steals to go along with his 23 points in 36 minutes of play. Le’afa now has nine steals in his last three games.

It was unlucky thirteen for Matt Freeman. 13 points (6/9FG) from the senior wing weren’t enough to get UC Santa Barbara the win, the Gauchos going down 78-67 to Oregon State. UCSB won their next outing with Freeman claiming 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in an 88-69 win against Menlo College.

Taki Fahrensohn made 6 from 10 threes in his last two outings for Portland University. He scored 11 points as the Pilots beat Portland State 82-75 and 10 points in the 72-62 defeat of UC Davis. Portland now 5-1 for the season.

Also in form from long range was Max de Geest who was one of just three Long Beach State players in double figures as they were dealt to by #14 Arizona 104-67. The Cantabrian shooting guard was 3 from 6 from deep as he notched 10 points.

Isaac Letoa scored a couple of points in 10 minutes of action as Dartmouth Big Green improved to 5-1 with a 108-59 thumping of Thomas College.

Dan Fotu saw more court time than he has of late as St Mary’s Gaels won a fourth straight game defeating Lehigh 77-66. Dan scored 7 points in 15 minutes and also added 3 rebounds.

Miami University starter Sam Waardenburg scored 6 points and snared 5 rebounds in 23 minutes but the Hurricanes went down 80-55 to UConn.

In the latest wrap on Kiwis playing NCAA Division I women’s basketball it’s hard to pick the performance of the week as no fewer than eight players scored in double figures whilst Kendell Heremaia pulled down 14 rebounds.

It’s a tough one but I’m giving player of the week to freshman forward Charlotte Whittaker.

Whittaker is adapting well to her new surroundings at the University of Colorado. Following 11 points (5/6FG) in a 79-75 victory at Colorado State the Cantabrian produced 15 points (5/6FG, 4/4FT) in a 66-44 victory against Jacksonville in just her fifth game for Colorado. The Buffaloes now have five winsfrom five outings.

“Charlotte’s been playing really well, she’s a big and strong player. We’ve been playing all these teams with three-point shooters and she’s probably never seen that,” said Colorado Head Coach JR Payne.

Colgate Raiders also moved to 5-0 with a 90-69 win against Canisius. Guard Tegan Graham scored a season high 16 points (7/10FG) and added 4 assists for Colgate.

A single point behind was Michelle Nicholls who scored 15 points and pulled down 5 rebounds as Purdue Fort Wayne proved far too good for Heidelberg winning 82-55.

Kendell Heremaia demonstrated her value to Fordham University as the Rams secured a comprehensive 76-51 win against Charlotte.

The Junior guard scored eight points, but more significantly contributed a season-high 14 rebounds and six assists across 32 minutes. Heremaia leads the team in rebounding this season averaging 7.7 boards per game.

Amiee Book came close to her season average (14 points) as she made a dozen (4/9FG) in California State Fullerton’s decisive 83-62 win against Utah State.

Akiene-Tera Reed is a perfect 5 from 5 from behind the arc in the three games she has played this season for Virginia Commonwealth. In the 53-40 win against East Carolina she was 3 from 3 from deep and also added a free-throw in scoring 10 points.

Also in good form was McKenna Dale who scored a dozen points (4/6FG) and added a team high 6 rebounds in Brown University’s 76-68 win at New Hampshire.

The matchup between BYU’s Shalae Salmon and Fresno State’s Katelin Noyer brought out the best in the two Kiwis. The pair posted their finest performances of the season to date as BYU Cougars held on to beat Fresno State Bulldogs 71-65.

In her first start of the year Salmon, the former Wellington Girls College standout produced her first career double-double registering 16 points and 11 rebounds – 5 of those rebounds off the offensive glass.

“Shalae was very physical inside and made some nice passes,” said BYU Head Coach Jeff Judkins.

Salmon shot a very handy 6 from 11 from the field whilst knocking down all four of her free-throws.

Interestingly Noyer, shot an identical 6 from 11 as she tallied 12 points and 2 boards.

“We had a great run there at the end, I just wish we wouldn’t have waited so long,” said Fresno State Head Coach Jaime White, referring to the fact the Bulldogs trailed by 17 points in the third quarter.

“I thought Kate did a good job coming and defending in the post and also scoring in the post,” said White referring to the good work from the 2016 Tall Fern.

Fresno State drop to 3-2 for the season with BYU 2-1 having played just the three games.

The match up between BYU’s Shalae Salmon and Fresno State’s Katelin Noyer brought out the best in the two Kiwi centres. The pair produced their finest performances of the season to date as BYU Cougars held on to beat Fresno State Bulldogs 71-65.

In her first start of the year Salmon, the former Wellington Girls College standout produced her first career double-double registering 16 points and 11 rebounds – 5 of those rebounds off the offensive glass.

“Shalae was very physical inside and made some nice passes,” said BYU Head Coach Jeff Judkins.

Salmon shot a very handy 6 from 11 from the field in addition to being a perfect four from four from the free-throw line.

Interestingly Noyer, shot an identical 6 from 11 as she tallied 12 points and 2 boards.

“We had a great run there at the end, I just wish we wouldn’t have waited so long,” said Fresno State Head Coach Jaime White, referring to the fact the Bulldogs trailed by 17 points in the third quarter.

“I thought Kate did a good job coming and defending in the post and also scoring in the post,” said White referring to the good work from the 2016 Tall Fern.

Fresno State drop to 3-2 for the season with BYU 2-1 having played just the three games.

Matt Freeman

Recap of the latest action from NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball featuring Kiwis.

Former Westlake forward Yanni Wetzel had a career best 3 blocks as San Diego State moved to 3-0 for the season with an 86-61 win at Grand Canyon. Wetzel also secured 6 rebounds to accompany 8 points.

Also recording a career best was Matt Freeman. Another Westlaker, he had his best game to date for UC Santa Barbara as he tied career highs in points (15) and rebounds (5) whilst also dishing a career best 7 assists in the Gauchos narrow 82-81 win against Rice University.

Callum McRae, the former Palmerston North Boys High standout recorded his second double double (11 points and 12 rebounds) in as many games but it wasn’t enough to prevent University of California Riverside going down 62-49 to Sacramento State. He almost made it a third in the 58-51 loss to Pacific producing 8 points and 10 rebounds.

It was nice to see Cantabrian Angus McWilliam playing meaningful minutes for Riverside. The Cantabrian forward played 15 minutes in his second outing for the Highlanders since transferring from Texas Christian University  and contributed 3 rebounds and 3 points.

Former Tall Blacks guard Izayah Le’afa had a solid game for Sacramento State. The Wellingtonian finished with 7 points, a pair of assists and 4 steals and knocked down perhaps the biggest shot of the game, a corner three that put the Hornets up with 2:13 to play.

Former Junior Tall Black and Westlake Boys forward James Moors has decided to redshirt this campaign meaning he will not play for Colorado State University in the current season. Instead he will concentrate on building his fitness and skill base for the 2020-21 season.

The latest wrap on NCAA Women’s basketball.

Fordham University have dropped their first four games but it’s not through the lack of contributions from Kendell Heremaia. The Fordham junior is averaging 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Rams and recently scored a career high 19 points (5/11 3PG) in the 72-59 loss to Penn State.

Amiee Book continues to make her mark scoring a career high equaling 27 points as Cal State Fullerton beat Loyola 79-74 in overtime. The rangy guard knocked down 6 from 12 three-point attempts and also contributed 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Akiene-Tera Reed top scored with 16 points but her Virginia Commonwealth Rams went down 77-55 to top-25 ranked South Florida. It was just the second game back for the 2018 Tall Fern after incurring a hand injury in pre-season training.

McKenna Dale scored a dozen points and added 5 boards as Ivy League school Brown University defeated Maine 76-70.

In just her second game for Arizona Tara Manumaleuga went a perfect three-from-three from beyond the arc. The 2018 Junior Tall Fern tallied 9 points in the  82-50 win against Chicago State.

Colgate University have begun the season with four straight wins. Tegan Graham scored 9 points (4/5FG) in the latest win, a 70-67 overtime victory  against Yale.

Freshman Kaylee Smiler saw 20 minutes of action as BYU Cougars pounded Texas A&M Kingsville 90-38. The Waikato guard scored 6 points and added 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Shalae Salmon was 4 from 6 from the field on her way to 8 points whilst the third Kiwi in the BYU lineup Khaedin Taito played 7 minutes but went scoreless.

Charlotte Whittaker (4 points) fouled out in just 9 minutes as Colorado defeated Wisconsin 74-57. The Cantabrian fared much better in her next outing contributing 6 points (3/4FG) and a pair of rebounds as the Buffaloes made it three wins from three outings with a 66-56 win at Wyoming.

Callum McRae

It’s not often an NCAA Division I Men’s basketball game involves three Kiwis but the match-up between Sacramento State Hornets and UC Riverside was just that.

Callum McRae, the former Palmerston North Boys High standout recorded his second double double (11 points and 12 rebounds) in as many games but it wasn’t enough to prevent University of California Riverside going down 62-49 to Sacramento State.

It was nice to see Angus McWilliam playing meaningful minutes for Riverside. The Cantabrian forward played 15 minutes in his second outing for the Highlanders since transferring from TCU and contributed 3 rebounds and 3 points.

Former Tall Blacks guard Izayah Le’afa had a solid game for Sacramento State. The Wellingtonian finished with 7 points, a pair of assists and 4 steals and knocked down perhaps the biggest shot of the game, a corner three that put the Hornets up with 2:13 to play.

The Hornets have begun the season 2-0, the Highlanders 2-1.