January 22
This week’s NCAA Division I roundup is littered with milestones and standout performances and we begin with the prolific Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones who continues to rack up big numbers whilst steadily climbing up the ranks of all-time career numbers by a Kiwi.
UC San Diego Tritons (5-2) slipped to an 85-81 loss at UC Riverside but it didn’t prevent Tait-Jones continuing his prolific scoring form. He made a career high 32 points, the second highest individual score by a Triton in the programme’s Division I era.
Now with 812 career points Tait-Jones becomes just the 11th Kiwi to score over 800 points in Men’s NCAA Division I basketball. To get in the top 10 he needs to pass the 896 points scored by current BNZ Breakers forward Sam Mennenga in his three years at Davidson College (2020-23).
Playing his 90th game for Marquette, Ben Gold made a career high tying 4 three-pointers on his way to 14 points as the Golden Eagles (6-1) won 85-83 in an overtime thriller at DePaul. Gold is the 21st kiwi to make 90 Men’s NCAA Division I appearances.
Tafara Gapare scored 9 points as Maryland (4-4) were pipped 76-74 in overtime by Northwestern.
Tom Beattie also tallied 9 points as Hawaii (4-3) dropped a home encounter against Cal State Northridge 83-60.
Another 9-point outing was registered by Nick Book as South Carolina Upstate (1-4) fell 97-68 to Gardner Webb. Book was a force on the boards with a season high 8 rebounds.
Former Christ’s College standout Hunter Adam saw his 50th appearance for Davidson College (2-3) end in disappointment as Davidson were pipped at the death by Rhode Island 92-90. Adam had 2 points and 4 rebounds in the contest.
Women’s NCAA Division I
It was a terrifically efficient performance from Leah Mafua that led Central Arkansas to a 67-53 victory against North Florida. Mafua, on 4 from 6 from deep and 6 out of 6 from the foul line, scored a career high 24 points, hoovered up 12 rebounds, dished 4 assists and snared 3 steals.
Mafua made it a fine double as she totalled 18 points and 7 assists as Central Arkansas (5-1) won a home contest against Stetson 85-64. That’s eight consecutive double figure outings for the Wellingtonian who has passed 200 points this season.
Helen Matthews paced Wofford College (3-0) to a 66-53 home win against Western Carolina. Matthews was one point short of a career high in scoring 24 points on 7 of 11 from the field and 9 out of 10 from the foul line. The Cantabrian also added 7 rebounds, a pair of assists and two blocks.
Fairleigh Dickinson are 5-0 in the Northeast Conference after downing Central Connecticut 75-58 with Lilly Parke scoring 14 points (4/9FG, 5/5FT) in the win.
For the second time this month Portland (6-3) were pipped at the post by Gonzaga (6-2) going down 66-65. That meant it was all smiles for Tayla Dalton (2 points and 8 rebounds) while Emme Shearer (13 points and 5 rebounds) will rue another missed opportunity.
Making her 127th Division I game Dalton moved past Amiee Book (CSU Fullerton 2018-21, Fresno State 2021-23) into 10th spot on the New Zealand all-time list for Women’s Division I appearance .
A couple of days later Shearer and Portland bounced back from the loss in emphatic fashion winning 86-61 at Oregon State. The former Harbour guard had 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in the win.
Also in West Coast conference play Maia Jones pulled down a career high 9 rebounds to accompany 8 points as St Mary’s (6-2) dominated the second half against Pepperdine to win 56-41.
Also with 8 points was UC Irvine wing Olivia Williams – UCI (6-1) with a tight 68-66 win against Cal Poly.
Dani Bayes scored 11 points and plucked 5 rebounds as Boise State (4-3) won 93-64 against San Jose State.
Ritorya Tamilo also scored 11 points as Hawaii (5-2) won 75-47 at Cal State Northridge.
Hannah Richardson was just a single point shy of her season best in scoring 8 points for St Bonaventure in its heavy loss at Richmond (98-60).
LACEY LOWDOWN 