Former Waikato and Melville High School standout Kaylee Smiler makes the Lowdown Team of the Week for the first time after starring in BYU’s win at St Mary’s. Tegan Graham is unlucky to miss the cut despite scoring a dozen points for Colgate Raiders.
Kaylee Smiler, freshman at Brigham Young University
Kaylee Smiler enjoyed a breakout performance in Brigham Young University’s (BYU) 65-55 win at St Mary’s, California on Sunday (NZT). Smiler produced career-best numbers in points (19), rebounds (6) and steals (2.) In 29 minutes of action Smiler put on something of a shooting clinic making 7 from 9 from the field including an impressive 4 from 4 from beyond the arc.
“Kaylee had a great game for us today, what a way to step up when we needed her to. I’m very happy for her and all her hard work,” said BYU head coach Jeff Judkins about his freshman guard.
Akiene-Tera Reed, junior at Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth won a tight one against Richmond (53-50) with Tera Reed scoring 14 points. That carried Reed past 1,000 career points at VCU in her third year with the Rams. Becoming the 24th player to reach that mark in VCU history it will be interesting to see where she sits on the Rams all-time list when her college career ends next year.
Amiee Book, sophomore at Cal State Fullerton
Fullerton lost back to back games (63-57 in overtime to CSUN and 79-72 at Hawaii) in Big West Conference play. Amiee Book amassed a career best 13 rebounds to accompany 22 points against CSUN, the Waimea product following that with 7 points and 11 rebounds in Hawaii.
Kendell Heremaia, junior at Fordham University
Stats stuffer Kendell Heremaia was busy again as Fordham moved to 3-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 66-54 win at George Mason. The Fordham co-captain had 8 points, 5 rebounds, a massive 7 assists, 1 block and a steal.
McKenna Dale, junior at Brown University
McKenna Dale grabbed a team high 7 rebounds as well as tallying 12 points and a couple of steals but it wasn’t enough to prevent Brown University going down to Yale 79-72 in Ivy League action. That’s five straight games in double figures for the former Junior Tall Fern.
Bubbling Under
Tegan Graham scored 12 points including 2 from 3 from behind the arc and also corralled 5 rebounds as Colgate improved to 5-1 in the Patriot League after a 70-61 victory over Boston.
Kayla Manuirirangi scored 10 points as Tulane University defeated Cincinnati 64-59 to remain unbeaten (5-0) in the American Athletic Conference.
Zara Jillings played a nice supportive role in Fordham’s win at George Mason. If Heremaia was the stats stuffer in the game the former Westlake guard was a more gentle stats filler. Jillings ended up with 2 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and a block in just 13 minutes for the Rams.
LACEY LOWDOWN 