As anticipated it is the fifth year seniors, along with Charlisse Leger-Walker, that are grabbing most of the headlines so far this NCAA Division I season. Tegan Graham, Kendell Heremaia, Tera Reed, Charlisse and Krystal Leger-Walker are performing some exceptional deeds for their respective teams.
5th Year Seniors
Tegan Graham (Brigham Young University)
On the cusp of setting a new record for NCAA Division I games played by a Kiwi (the current mark is 136 games played by Jillian Harmon at Stanford University, 2005-09). Graham has already set one record that will take some beating.Against Oklahoma she made 10 shots from behind the arc from 17 attempts (59%) for a career high 30 points.
Not only did those 30 points take her past 1,000 Division I career points – the 17th New Zealander to do so – but set a record for the most 3-pointers ever made by a Kiwi in a single game of college basketball.
This season GP 11 GS 11 Pts 131 Rebs 32 Assists 53
Div 1 Career GP 134 GS 59 Points 1039
Kendell Heremaia (Fordham University)
Heremaia recently passed 1,100 career points and 100 career starts. Matched her career high 29 points at Seton Hall in November and leads the Rams rebounding count this season.
Sits 9th on the all-time list for points scored by a Kiwi in Women’s Division I basketball and 5th on the all-time appearances list.
This season GP 11 GS 11 Pts 132 Rebs 61 Assists 27
Div 1 Career GP 128 GS 101 Points 1106 Rebs 693
Krystal Leger-Walker (Washington State University)
Krystal Leger-Walker has already amassed over 500 career assists, a record by a Kiwi in Women’s NCAA Division 1 play. Already with 50 for the season she is almost certain to pass the 100 dimes mark for her fifth straight year.
With 123 starts she is only 5 shy of Erin Rooney’s NZ record 128 Division I starts.
This season GP 11 GS 11 Pts 81 Rebs 49 Assists 50
Career Stats GP 123 GS 101 Points 875 Assists 537
Akienne-Tera Reed (University of Southern California)
Tera Reed now sits second on the NZ all-time Women’s Division I points scoring list (1,563 points) behind Erin Rooney (1,648pts). After an outstanding 4-year career at Virginia Commonwealth University Tera has transferred to USC where she has taken on a leadership role while also acting more of a facilitator (she leads USC in assists per game) than premier scorer.
This season GP 10 GS 10 Pts 77 Rebs 40 Assists 32
Career Stats GP 121 GS 117 Points 1563
Seniors
Aimee Book (Fresno State University)
Aimee Book has transferred to Fresno State University for her senior year after three years at California State University Fullerton. Still finding her feet after missing the second half of the 2020-21 season through injury, she scored a season best 18 points against UC Merced in December. Needs 2 points to pass Brooke Blair (835 points) and move up to 17th on the NZ all-time Division I scoring list.
This season GP 11 GS 7 Pts 74 Rebs 29
Career Stats GP 77 GS 50 Points 835
McKenna Dale (Senior at University of Virginia)
Played 45 games for Brown in two seasons scoring 432 points McKenna Dale has transferred to the University of Virginia. The former Junior Tall Fern is yet to make the impact for the Cavaliers that she did for Brown.
This season GP 11 GS 0 Pts 18 Rebs 18
Career Stats GP 56 GS 21 Points 450
Lauryn Mapusua (Houston Baptist University)
Lauryn Mapusua played two seasons at Hutchinson Community College followed by a year at Central Arkansas University (2020-21). Scored a season high 11 points against Dartford in November.
This season GP 10 GS 1 Pts 35, Rebounds 16
Career GP 22 GS 4 Points 44
Tsubasa Nisbet (Georgia Southern University)
The Eagles co-captain has started 6 of 10 games this season. Scored a season high 7 points on two occasions.
This season GP 10 GS 6 Pts 28, Rebounds 31
Career GP 70 GS 22 Points 168, Rebounds 154
Pareunora Pene (University of Tennessee Chattanooga)
Rotorua’s Pareunora Pene has played 58 games for the Mocs. A great role player she continues to do whatever is required for her team.
This season GP 8 GS 0 Pts 3, Assists 4
Career GP 58 GS 2 Points 60
Juniors
Kaitlin Burgess (Boise State University)
Kaitlin Burgess has joined Boise State after playing two years at Junior College for Southern Idaho Golden Eagles. Averaging 17 minutes per game for the Bulldogs and is second best on the team from beyond the arc at 33% (15/45). Scored a season best 11 points against Oregon Tech.
This season & Div I Career GP 10 GS 0 Pts 43 Rebs 10
Grace Hunter (Florida International University)
Porirua’s Grace Hunter has joined Florida International University after playing two years for South Plains Junior College. Scored a season best 13 points against Georgia Southern – has made all 12 of her free-throws so far this season.
This season & Div I Career GP 8 GS 0 Pts 45 Rebs 10
Jade Kirisome (St Mary’s College, California)
Fourth on the team in scoring (7.2ppg) Jade Kirisome scored a season high 17 points against North Carolina State before missing the last two games prior to Xmas.
This season GP 9 GS 5 Pts 65 Rebs 21
Career GP 67 GS 32 Points 387
Tara Manumaleuga (Texas Christian University)
Tara Manumaleuga transferred to Texas Christian after two years at the University of Arizona where she played 25 games for the Wildcats. Has scored a season best 9 points on two occasions.
This season GP 8 GS 1 Pts 28 Rebounds 9
Career GP 34 GS 1 Points 78
Kaylee Smiler (Brigham Young University)
A defensive spark off the bench Kaylee Smiler has unfortunately missed 5 of BYU’s 10 games this season due to injury. Will be a key player for BYU in upcoming conference play.
This season GP 5 GS 0 Pts 19, Rebounds 11
Career GP 54 GS 0 Points 141, Rebounds 76
Amy West (St Mary’s College, California)
Amy West is one of only two players to have started all 11 games for the Gaels this season. Is second on the team for total rebounds.
This season GP 11 GS 11 Pts 31, Rebounds 39
Career GP 40 GS 18 Points 135
Charlotte Whittaker (Redshirt Junior at University of Colorado)
Charlotte is sitting out the 2021-22 season as she recovers from hip surgery.
Career GP 50 GS 11 PPG 5.5 RPG 2.6
Sophomores
Tayla Dalton (St Mary’s College, California)
A 90% free-throw shooter Tayla Dalton is averaging 18.5 minutes per game – has scored a season best 11 points twice.
This season GP 11 GS 7 Pts 63 Rebs 20
Career GP 37 GS 10 Points 186
Victoria Ikenasio (St Peter’s University, New Jersey)
Only a small sample size but Victoria Ikenasio leads St Peter’s Peacocks field goal percentage at 50% (5/10). Averaging 7.2 minutes per game.
This season GP 10 GS 0 Pts 26 Rebs 21
Career GP 36 GS 2 Points 85, Rebounds 83
Kobe King-Hawea (University of Texas at Austin)
Melbourne educated, Kobe King-Hawea played two-years in junior college before signing with UTA. She has struggled for opportunities at the highly rated Texas with the 9-1 Longhorns ranked #12 in the country.
This season & Div I Career GP 3 GS 0 Points 10
Charlisse Leger-Walker (Washington State University)
Charlisse recently picked up the Pac 12 Player of the Week Award as she continues to put up big numbers. Currently leads the team in minutes played (36.1mpg), scoring (17.2ppg) and steals (2.3spg). Has scored in double figures in all but one game and 20 points or more on five occasions.
This season GP 11 GS 11 Pts 189 Rebounds 61, Assists 38, Steals 25
Career GP 35 GS 35 Points 594, Rebounds 188, 113 assists, 79 steals
Helen Matthews (Wofford College)
Helen Matthews is second on the team for assists made (2.1apg). Scored a season best 14 points against Brevard in early December – had 8 rebounds and 4 assists in the same game.
This season GP 12 GS 2 Pts 76 Rebounds 33, Assists 25
Career GP 35 GS 8 Points 217
Emme Shearer (University of Portland)
Emme Shearer equaled her career high with 16 points against Weber State. Also had 5 steals in that game and leads the Pilots in that statistical category with 2.2spg.
This season GP 12 GS 11 Pts 77, Rebounds 28, Steals 25
Career GP 39 GS 26 Points 266
Freshmen
Arielle Mackey-Williams (Brigham Young University)
Arielle Mackey-Williams is getting limited opportunity on a senior laden roster at #20 BYU but did score a season best 9 points in the final game before Xmas against Montana State.
This season GP 8 GS 0 Pts 15
Jess Moors (Colorado State University)
Jess Moors played a season high 13 minutes against Colorado Christian snaring 3 rebounds to add to her first collegiate field goal.
This season GP 7 GS 0 Points 3 Rebs 11
Olivia Williams (University of California Irvine)
Olivia Williams has made a strong start to her collegiate career making a start in every game to date. Averaging 5.3ppg she scored a season high 13 points against Westcliff.
This season GP 11 GS 11 Pts 58 Rebounds 19
Redshirt Freshmen
Rochelle Fourie (University of California, Northridge) Emilee Tahata (La Salle University) and Jayzelee Waihi (Wichita State University)
All three players are sitting out the 2021-22 season as they recover from injuries.
LACEY LOWDOWN 