Tsubasa Nisbett making her mark
The silly season has begun in NCAA Division I basketball. With conference play now in full swing teams are regularly playing two games a week. The Lowdown Team of the Week has a nice geographical spread with three North Islanders and two South Islanders gaining selection. A special mention for Tsubasa Nisbett who has worked her way into the Georgia Southern starting lineup and is making some strong contributions with increased minutes.
Amiee Book, sophomore at Cal State Fullerton University
Cal State Fullerton (10-5) is off to its best start to a season since 1990-91 and one player playing a major role for the Titans is Amiee Book. In the latest win against Long Beach State (69-65) the Nelson native led all scorers with 21 points, including 4 from 6 from deep, and completed an impressive stats line by adding a team high 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal.
Akiene-Tera Reed, junior at Virginia Commonwealth University
Also stats stuffing was Akiene-Tera Reed as Virginia Commonwealth made it three from three in Atlantic 10 Conference play with a 65-52 win against St Louis. Reed scored a game high 24 points (10/19FG) secured 7 rebounds as well as grabbing 3 steals and dishing 4 assists. The points haul also took Reed past the 200 points mark for the season at an average of over 14 points per game.
Kendell Heremaia, junior at Fordham University
Despite Fordham University Rams slipping to a 74-62 Atlantic 10 Conference loss at Davidson, Kendell Heremaia was still able to manage 14 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals. It was the sixth double figure rebounding haul of the season for Heremaia and her fourth double-double of the campaign.
She followed that with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals as Fordham returned to winning ways – presiding over George Washington University 53-47.
Tegan Graham, senior at Colgate University
Former Wellington Girls College guard Tegan Graham had 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a block as Colgate University Raiders sunk Navy 80-55. The Raiders, 11-4 overall have made their best start in programme history and have begun Patriot League play in a strong fashion with three wins and a loss.
Tsubasa Nisbett, sophomore at Georgia Southern University
Cantabrian Tsubasa Nisbett is finding her feet at Georgia Southern University. Despite GSU going down 69-62 to Arkansas State the sophomore claimed a career high 11 rebounds – 6 of those at the offensive end. She also added 8 points, a brace of assists and a steal. The Eagles are 2-2 in the Sun Belt Conference.
Bubbling Under
Shout out to Pareunuora Pene who made her first collegiate start as Tennessee Chattanooga opened Southern Conference play with a 59-52 win at Western Carolina. The Rotorua guard contributed 5 points, 3 rebounds and an assist.
BYU won a low scoring encounter against San Diego 52-36 with Shalae Salmon added 6 rebounds and a steal to half a dozen points (3/4FG). BYU now 3-2 in West Coast conference play.
It took overtime but Tulane Green Wave eventually got the job done against Tulsa squeezing home 64-62 in overtime. Playing 34 minutes Kayla Manuirirangi came up with 3 points and 4 assists. The former Junior Tall Fern followed that with 7 points in the tight 59-55 win against Memphis that makes Tulane three from three in American Athletic Conference play.
Michelle Nicholls came up with 6 points, a rebound, an assist and a steal as Purdue Fort Wayne suffered a fourth straight Summit League loss going down 100-69 to South Dakota State.
In other news Charlotte Whittaker is absent from the Colorado Buffaloes at present as she nurses a hip injury.
LACEY LOWDOWN 