Junior Jaytornah Wisseh and freshman Julian Boyd the weekly men’s basketball awards handed out by the Northeast Conference, it was announced on Monday. Wisseh picked up his first career Choice Hotels/NEC Player of the Week award, while Boyd earned his third rookie of the week honor after the pair helped LIU to a 3-0 week and extend the team’s win streak to a season-high four games.
Wisseh averaged 19.0 points, along with 7.0 assists and 4.6 rebounds to help LIU move to 4-1 in NEC play. The point guard capped his week with his best game of the season, posting 25 points, nine assists and five rebounds, while not committing a turnover in a 76-61 win at Wagner on Jan. 10. Wisseh notched 17 points, six rebounds and five assists in a 74-67 win over Sacred Heart on Jan. 5 and then followed that with 15 points and seven assists in a 76-61 victory over future NEC member Bryant on Jan. 7.
Boyd averaged 10.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals, plus shot 60.9 percent from the floor (9-15) in three games last week. He posted his second double-double of the year with 11 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes against Bryant. He started the week with 13 points and five rebounds in a 24 minutes stint against Sacred Heart. In a 76-61 victory at Wagner on Saturday, Boyd battled foul trouble, but still contributed six points, three rebounds.
Esonwune, John earn CUNY honors: York’s Marcel Esonwune, who averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game, was named CUNY player of the week as the Cardinals swept a pair of CUNYAC games. York (5-11, 2-2 CUNYAC South) beat Medgar Evers 85-64 and Staten Island 64-47.
Hot shooting helped Amil John claim this week’s Rookie of the Week – he connected on 14 of his 18 shots for Brooklyn College. He averaged 10.7 points per game as Brooklyn (10-3, 4-0 CUNYAC North) defeated Stevenson (Md.) 78-77, City Tech 92-62 and Medgar Evers 88-65.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
McLean garners weekly awards: St. John’s women’s basketball player Monique McLean has been named the Met Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Player of the Week in addition to earning Big East Honor Roll accolades, as announced by the organizations Monday.
The senior scored a season-high 30 points against USF in an 81-71 overtime loss on Jan. 10. The only player to see action in all 45 minutes, she gave the Red Storm a chance for the win, as she converted two free throws with one second left in regulation to send the contest into overtime.
McLean shot 47.4 from the field, going 9-of-19. She was even better from long distance, shooting a blistering 62.5 on a 5-of-8 effort. Her five treys tied her career high and tied for 10th in the Red Storm single game record books.
Davis, Straughn earn CUNY honors: Kalea Davis of Baruch College returns to Player of the Week status, as she led the Bearcats to a 3-0 week. Baruch (10-3, 4-0 CUNYAC North) defeated Richard Stockton75-64, Hunter 84-71 and John Jay 74-41. Davis averaged a double-double, recording 17.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.
CCNY’s Ashley Straughn earned Rookie of the Week honors. The Beavers (9-4, 2-2 CUNYAC North) swept a trio of road games, beating John Jay 55-48, City Tech 82-25 and St. Joseph’s (Conn.) 73-52. A large part of the team’s success was Straughn, who averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds.
