GNAC Women's Basketball Report: Week 12

( FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 30 - FEB. 5 )

PLAYER OF THE WEEK Jordan Ouellette, St. Joseph (Conn.) (Jr., G/F - Bristol, Conn.) - Ouellette had a monstrous week for the Blue Jays (1-1), averaging a double-double with 29.0 points and 12.0 rebounds while shooting 55.6% (25-45) from the floor and 8-of-10 from the FT line. She started off with a career-high 31 points and 16 rebounds (eight offensive) in a thrilling triple overtime game against Albertus Magnus, marking the first time USJ had a player with 30+ points this season. Across 51 minutes of run, she also had two steals and three blocks. She wrapped up the week by leading USJ to a bounce-back victory at home against Elms, scoring 27 points while hauling in eight boards.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK Kayla Jackson, Elms (First Year, F - Saugus, Mass.) - Jackson averaged 14.7 points, 14.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in a 2-1 week for the Blazers, in which the rookie double-doubled in each contest. She had 14 points and 20 rebounds (eight offensive) in a 79-66 win over Lasell, registered 14 points and 10 boards at USJ, and capped the week with 16 points and 13 caroms in a victory at Dean.

GNAC HONOR ROLL

Caitlyn Scott, Albertus Magnus (Jr., G - White Plains, N.Y.) - In a 2-1 stretch for the Falcons in conference play, Scott averaged 24.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.7 steals per game. Scott started the week by scoring a career-high 39 points with six rebounds, four assists, four steals, and a block in a triple-overtime victory over USJ. Two days later, Scott tallied another double-digit performance behind a 13-point performance and recorded four rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a home win over JWU. Scott concluded a stellar offensive week, racking up 24 points, here assists, an assist, and three steals in the Falcons' road setback to Rivier.

Megan Molettieri, Colby-Sawyer (So, G - Pelham, N.H.) - Molettieri haveraged 15.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in a 2-0 week for the Chargers, while shooting 50% (9-18 FG, 6-12 3PT, 6-6 FT) from the floor. She had a season-best 16 points on Saturday against Regis in a 61-52 win after registering 14 on the road at Norwich. 

Olivia Matela, Emmanuel (Mass.) (Jr, G - Swampscott, Mass.) - Matela averaged 20.5 points and 2.5 steals while shooting 55.2% (16-29 FG, 9-17 3PT) in a 2-0 week for the Saints. She netted 25 points (10-17 FG, 5-10 3PT) plus three assists in an 82-62 win over Norwich before registering 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting including 4-of-7 from three in just 21 minutes in an 87-44 blowout against JWU. 

Haley Brewster, Norwich (So, G - Virginia Beach, Va.) - Brewster was an offensive threat in a busy week for the Cadets, pouring in marks of 30, 21, and 29 points. The sophomore logged a double-double against Colby-Sawyer, behind 21 points and 11 boards while dishing out four assists and snagging four steals. Against Emmanuel, she scored 30 points while also logging five helpers and four steals. On the week, Brewster averaged 20.0 points, 7.0 caroms, 2.8 assists, and 2.8 steals.

Valerie Whalen, Regis (Mass.) (Gr., F - Stoughton, Mass.) - Whalen has been a major low-post presence for the Pride all year long, averaging 9.5 points and 13.0 rebounds in a 1-1 week. Thursday against Anna Maria, she finished with nine points and 14 rebounds, her third consecutive game with that exact total of boards. Saturday, she played at least 40 minutes for the third time this season, posting her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds, plus she nearly earned a triple-double by dishing out a career-high seven assists. Whalen continues to lead the GNAC in rebounding at 11.6 rebounds per game and, heading into the weekend, was sixth in Division III in offensive rebounds per game with 5.2. 

Madi Zancan, Regis (Mass.) (Fy., F - Cumberland, R.I.) - Zancan averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game over the past week. Thursday, she helped Regis extend its winning streak to seven games with 11 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Saturday, she kept the Pride close to Colby-Sawyer with a game-high 19 points along with eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. For the season, Zancan is now third in the GNAC in blocks with 1.8 blocks per game and fourth in field goal percentage (.520). 

Lyric Grumblatt, Rivier (Jr., G - Manchester, N.H.) - Grumblatt averaged 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals in a 2-1 week for the Raiders, which included a 76-70 victory over previously GNAC undefeated Albertus Magnus. During the upset, she went off for 29 points (10-22 FG, 4-9 3PT, 5-5 FT) to go with 10 rebounds and three steals. She also had 19 points while playing all 40 minutes against GNAC powerhouse Saint Joseph's of Maine and had 15 points (6-7 FG) in just 19 minutes in a blowout win on the road over Lasell. 

Taylor Verboven, St. Joseph (Conn.) (Jr., G - Columbia, Conn.) - Verboven averaged a double-double of 15.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in a 1-1 week, which included a 25-point, 22-rebound performance in a triple OT setback against Albertus. Playing 52 minutes, the 22 caroms marked the first time since the 2018-19 season that a Blue Jay recorded 20+ rebounds in a single game. Verboven wrapped up the week with six points, 11 rebounds and six assists (one turnover) in a bounce-back victory over Elms on Thursday.

Elisabeth Stapelfeld, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Freshman, G - Brookline, N.H.) - In a 3-0 conference week for the Monks, Stapelfeld averaged 13.7 points in just 21.0 minutes per game while shooting 53.8% (14-26) from the floor, .500 (5-10) from three-point range, and 100% (8-8) from the free throw line. The freshman guard scored a career high 20 points in an 84-53 victory at Rivier on Tuesday.

Hannah Talon, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (2024, G) - Talon averaged 12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting 62.5% (15-24) from the field, 42.9% (3-7) from downtown, and 83.3% (5-6) from the FT line in three GNAC victories last week. The junior guard netted 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting in an 84-53 win at Rivier University on Tuesday and averaged only 22.0 minutes per game in the Monks' three triumphs.