The first Lowdown Team of the Week in NCAA Div I women’s basketball for 2020 is again headlined by former Waikato and St Peter’s School standout Kendell Heremaia
Kendell Heremaia, junior at Fordham University
Fordham University Rams got their Atlantic 10 Conference defence off to the best possible start with a 79-53 win against St Bonaventure. Once again Kendell Heremaia filled the stats line with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a block – her third double-double of the season.
Akiene-Tera Reed, junior at Virginia Commonwealth University
Also registering an Atlantic 10 Conference win were Akiene-Tera Reed and Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU gained a 75-54 away win at Rhode Island – Reed coming up with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Shalae Salmon, senior at BYU
Shalae Salmon came up with 4 rebounds and 4 blocks to go with a couple of blocks but BYU slipped to a second consecutive West Coast Conference loss going down 57-48 to Portland. The 4 blocks were a career high for the Wellingtonian.
Tegan Graham, senior guard at Colgate University
A week after posting a career high in steals (4) Colgate University guard produced a career-high equaling 7 assists as the Raiders won a high scoring affair against Army 100-93. Graham also scored 9 points and pulled down 4 boards.
Kayla Manuirirangi, senior guard at Tulane University
Taranaki native Kayla Manuirirangi followed up her season best 16 points last week with a team high 14 in the 61-56 win against Wichita State as the Green Wave opened American Athletic Conference play with a win.
Bubbling Under
Tsubasa Nisbett played her part in a little bit of history being made by Georgia Southern in their 83-67 win against Louisiana. Nisbett (7 points and 3 rebounds) scored a late three for the Eagles – their 14thof the game creating a new record high number of threes for the programme. GSU have opened Sun Belt Conference play with two straight wins.
Colorado University Buffaloes went to Oregon with an 12-0 record but were sent packing by the No 2 ranked Ducks 104-46. Freshman forward Charlotte Whittaker acquitted herself well in front of over 10,000 Ducks fans making 5 points in addition to 4 rebounds, 2 assists and a block.
Unfortunately Whittaker was sidelined with injury just three minutes into the Buffaloes next game – a 72-60 loss to #3 Oregon State.
LACEY LOWDOWN 