This week we recognize the major milestones brought up by Helen Matthews and Emme Shearer and also have news of a career performance from Taine Murray.
In her 100th appearance for Wofford College Helen Matthews scored 10 points in their narrow 57-54 win against Tennessee at Chattanooga. Matthews becomes the 32nd Kiwi to play 100 games in NCAA Division I Women’s hoops.
The Cantabrian then made 15 points as Wofford (6-1) suffered their first conference defeat going down 63-50 to East Tennessee State.
Emme Shearer set a new record in Portland’s women’s programme history by playing her 144th game for the Pilots in a 66-58 win against St Mary’s. At the same time she also set a new career mark of 10 assists as well as adding 7 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals and 2 blocks.
For St Mary’s, Maia Jones, in her 50th appearance for the Gaels matched Shearer’s half-dozen steals haul and also posted 11 points and 3 assists.
Shearer then scored a game high 24 points as Portland (9-3) eased away from Pepperdine to win 76-52.
Making 4 from 9 from beyond the arc Danni Bayes scored 18 points – one point shy of equaling her season best – as Boise State (5-4) won 89-80 at New Mexico.
Leah Mafua contributed 14 points and 6 assists as Central Arkansas moved to 8-1 in Atlantic Sun Conference play after a narrow 67-64 win against West Georgia.
Emilee Tahata, with 13 points (6/10FG), 6 rebounds and 3 assists, played a big part in Rider (3-8) squeezing past Merrimack 65-63.
Olivia Williams scored 10 points to help UC Irvine (8-2) defeat Long Beach State 61-47.
Tayla Dalton had 9 points and 7 rebounds as Gonzaga (9-2) defeated San Diego 64-48 to make it eight wins on the bounce.
Izzy Pugh also tallied 9 points in Wisconsin Milwaukee’s 89-81 loss to Cleveland State.
Lilly Parke added 7 rebounds to 8 points as Fairleigh Dickinson made it 7-0 in conference play with a commanding 75-45 win against Mercyhurst.
Taine Murray scored a career high 20 points, to accompany 7 assists, as Virginia (3-8) recorded an 82-71 road win at Miami. Murray was an impressive 8 from 12 from the field including 4 from 6 from beyond the arc.
The former Harbour standout followed up with 10 points as Virginia were edged out by Virginia Tech 75-74.
In a game featuring two Kiwis UC San Diego saw off the challenge of Hawaii to win 74-63.
Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones had 16 points and 9 rebounds for UCSD while Tom Beattie, playing his 50th game for Hawaii tallied 6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
Tom Beattie, on 7 from 10 shooting, scored 14 points and dished 5 assists as Hawaii (5-6) snapped a three game losing streak in downing California State Fullerton 82-57.
Zach Riley was also highly efficient as Fordham (2-6) beat La Salle 88-72. Riley had 7 points, making 3 from 5 from the field, and also claimed 5 rebounds.
Finn Lally scored 10 points – his second double figure outing of the season – despite William & Mary getting pounded 96-55 by Campbell.
LACEY LOWDOWN 