Charlisse Leger-Walker moved into elite New Zealand women’s basketball company as Washington State University defeated Prairie View A&M 89-61 (on Monday morning NZT). Leger-Walker scored 24 points in the contest, her fourteenth point taking her to 1,000 career points – the 16th Kiwi to hit that mark in Women’s NCAA Division I college hoops.
By the end of the game the Tall Fern guard had overtaken Chev Paalvast (1,110 points) to move to fifteenth overall and only 22 points shy of sister Krystal’s mark of 1032.
CL-W has reached the milestone just three games into her junior (third) year, at Washington State in just 57 appearances – all of them starts.
The all-time record is held by Cantabrian Erin Rooney who scored 1,647 points in 131 games over four seasons – Monmouth University (2009-11) and Fordham University (2012-14).
Leger-Walker is currently averaging 17.7 points per game meaning, at her current rate of scoring, she would need to play 90 odd games to become the all-time leader. Barring major injuries one would imagine the record is well withing her grasp.
Worth noting from the list below is that Amiee Book, in her senior year at Fresno State University, is within 31 points of becoming the 17th player to join the illustrious group.
The full list of New Zealand women on the 1,000 NCAA Division I points list:
| 1,647 | Erin Rooney (Monmouth University Hawks, 2009-11/Fordham University Rams, 2012-14) | |||
| 1,624 | Akiene-Tera Reed (Virginia Commonwealth 2017-21, USC 2021-22) | |||
| 1,497 | Megan Compain (St Joseph’s University Hawks, 1993-97) | |||
| 1,439 | Stella Beck (St Mary’s College Gaels 2014-18) | |||
| 1,291 | Kendell Heremaia (Fordham University 2017-22) | |||
| 1,262 | Rhaiah Spooner-Knight (Monmouth 17-18, Utah Valley 13-16) | |||
| 1,209 | Tegan Graham (Colgate Uni 2016-20, BYU 2020-22) | |||
| 1,195 | Micaela Cocks (University of Oregon Ducks, 2006-10) | |||
| 1,167 | Ashleigh Karaitiana (University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine, 2012-16) | |||
| 1,144 | Margaret Johns (Utah State University, 1979-83) | |||
| 1,096 | Jillian Harmon (Stanford University Cardinals, 2005-09) | |||
| 1,089 | Tessa Boagni (California State University, Northridge Matadors 2014-18) | |||
| 1,081 | Josie Stockill (Colgate University Raiders, 2012-16) | |||
| 1,032 | Krystal Leger-Walker (Washington State 2020-22, Northern Colorado 2015-18) | |||
| 1,110 | Charlisse Leger-Walker (Washington State University 2020-present) | |||
| 1,006 | Chevannah Paalvast (Monmouth University Hawks, 2010-14) | |||
| 969 | Amiee Book (CSU Fullerton 2018-21, Fresno State University 2021-present) | |||
In other news Dani Bayes filled the stats line as Boise State beat Weber State 63-52. The 2021 Tall Ferns trialist made 16 points (7/15FG) and added 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block in 33 minutes.
Tayla Dalton scored 10 points (2/3 3PG) to help St Mary’s College to an 88-81 win at California Baptist. She also tallied 4 rebounds and 2 assists while Jade Kirisome dished 5 assists to go along with 4 points as the Gaels made a 2-0 start to the season.
Olivia Williams scored 8 points as UC Irvine edged a thriller against Sacramento State winning 60-58.
Kaylee Smiler made 3 from 3 from beyond the arc on her way to 12 points and Arielle Mackey-Williams added 7 points but BYU slipped to a 69-60 home defeat to Montana State.
Portland University Pilots found the going a little tough against Stanford, the second ranked team in Women’s Division I basketball, going down 87-47. Emme Shearer scored 9 points and Melika Samia 4 points in Portland’s first loss of the season.
In Men’s action South Dakota scored an 82-64 home win against Dakota State with Kruz Perrott-Hunt scoring 15 points to move to 717 career points – up to 10th spot amongst Kiwi points scorers in NCAA Division I Men’s basketball passing Sam Waardenburg (711 points).
Sam Mennenga continued his good early season form with 10 points, 6 rebounds and a couple of steals as Davidson College won a third straight game holding off Virginia Military Institute to win 75-71.
Other Results:
Sacramento State (Callum McRae 2pts, 6rebs, 4 assists)
Hartford 53 (Tom Webley 6pts, 4rebs, 1stl, 1 assist) St Francis 77
LACEY LOWDOWN 