Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, Emme Shearer Leah Mafua, Maia Jones and Lilly Parke each ticked off milestone numbers as their respective teams continued their winning ways.
NB Bracketed numbers indicate conference win/loss record.
Tait-Jones scored 20 points to pace UC San Diego (12-2) to a 73-54 win against CSU Bakersfield. That was followed by 16 points in an equally comfortable 85-60 victory over UC Davis.
With 971 career points Tait-Jones passes Mark Dickel (945) and Izayah Le’afa (941) to jump from 10th to 8th on the all-time career scoring by Kiwis in Men’s NCAA Division I hoops.
Emme Shearer and Maia Jones were outstanding in the Portland against St Mary’s tussle. Portland recovered from a 14-point deficit to pip the Gaels 71-69. Jones had 11 points, 4 assists and 2 steals for the Gaels as she brought up 500 career points.
Meanwhile Shearer equaled her career high with 26 points. Those 26 points pushed Shearer beyond the 1,500 career points mark – ahead of Megan Compain (1,497pts) – and up to 4th on the all-time list for career scoring by Kiwis in Women’s NCAA Division I hoops.
Leah Mafua scored 15 points as Central Arkansas completed a convincing 73-51 win against North Alabama. Mafua added 6 rebounds, 3 assists, a block and a steal as she brought up 600 career points in her second season at Central Arkansas.
The former Hutt Valley High standout followed that with a team high 18 points as Central Arkansas (13-1) made it 12 straight wins with a 77-67 defeat of Austin Peay.
Meanwhile Lilly Parke scored her 500th point in her 54th game (all starts) for Fairleigh Dickinson (11-0). Parke had 11 points in FDU’s narrow 74-70 win against Chicago State.
Ritorya Tamilo scored a conference best 15 points, to accompany 7 rebounds and 2 blocks, as Hawaii made it 12 wins on the bounce by defeating Long Beach State 72-65.
Then in a battle between the top two teams in the Big West Conference Tamilo secured a game high 10 rebounds to go with 8 points and 2 bocks as Hawaii (13-2) saw off the challenge of UC Irvine (10-4) to win a low scoring contest 49-44. Olivia Williams with 5 points for UCI.
Helen Matthews scored 16 points as Wofford (7-3) survived a fourth quarter fight back from Western Carolina to squeeze home 70-68.
Dani Bayes scored 11 points as Boise State (5-8) went down 88-83 after overtime against New Mexico.
Shawnessy Nordstrom also scored 11 points, on 4 from 7 shooting, as California Baptist won 90-79 against Texas Arlington.
Back to men’s action and Hunter Adam added 6 rebounds to 10 points (one point shy of equaling his season best) as Davidson College (5-6) beat Massachusetts 77-68.
Will Shortt scored 9 points as Niagara led all the way to beat Canisius 71-60.
Tom Beattie scored 8 points as Hawaii (6-8) held on to beat Long Beach State 62-60.
Freshman Kaia Berridge equalled his season best with 6 points as Evansville (7-9) beat Valparaiso 79-69.
LACEY LOWDOWN 