PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Gigi Gonzalez, Stony Brook

Graduate | G | Miramar, Fla. / Nova

Gonzalez averaged 25.0 points per game on 56.0 percent shooting (15-27) to lead Stony Brook to a 2-0 week and extend its winning streak to nine games. On Friday, the graduate guard poured in a career-high 30 points, including 11 of Stony Brook’s final 13, as the Seawolves used a 13-0 run to seal a 77-65 victory over Towson. Gonzalez went 9-of-14 from the floor, 4-for-4 from three and 8-of-9 at the charity stripe, adding six rebounds and two assists to her line. She followed the performance with 20 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals, leading Stony Brook to a 79-67 win at Delaware. Gonzalez had 10 of her game-high 20 in the fourth quarter, helping the Seawolves outscore Delaware 27-13 in the final frame after trailing for most of the first three quarters. Gonzalez surpassed 1,000 career points in the effort and has reached double figures in every game this season, leading the CAA with 16.7 points per game. 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Taryn Barbot, Charleston

Freshman | G | Floral Park, N.Y. / St. Mary

Barbot contributed 24.0 points per game as Charleston split a pair of games over the weekend. She added 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists per contest to continue an impressive stretch for the freshman. On Sunday, Barbot tallied a personal-best 36 points with four rebounds, four steals and two assists despite a setback to Monmouth. The 36-point performance is the highest scoring output by a CAA student-athlete in 2023-24 and marks her fifth game with 20 or more during her first collegiate season. Barbot opened the weekend with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal, helping Charleston defeat Drexel. 

CONFERENCE NOTES:

LAST SEAWOLF STANDING: Stony Brook continued its winning ways and emerged as the final team unbeaten in CAA play following back-to-back 2-0 weekends. The Seawolves have won nine straight games, and their four consecutive wins to begin conference play bests the three in a row to start last season. Four teams - Charleston, N.C. A&T, Drexel and William & Mary - follow at 3-1 in league play, while Monmouth and Delaware also have one setback at 2-1. 

LOOKING TO WEEK TWO: League play continues with six games on Friday and a seven-game slate on Sunday. Stony Brook hosts Charleston, and William & Mary entertains Delaware to highlight Friday. The Seawolves and Cougars have the top-two-win totals in the conference, while the Tribe and Blue Hens have found a spark at the start of league play. On Sunday, Monmouth visits Drexel and Delaware travels to N.C. A&T, all four of which could have just one CAA loss come Sunday.

NOTHING BUT NET: As of Monday, Jan. 15, Stony Brook remained in the top 100 of the NCAA NET Rankings at No. 66. In addition, seven more teams cracked the top 200. William & Mary rose to No. 158, followed by Monmouth at No. 162, both reaching their highest ranks this year. N.C. A&T rounds out the top four at No. 172, while Drexel (181), Charleston (183) and Delaware (190) remain among the top 200. 

CAA HOOPS IN THE MID-MAJOR TOP 25: Three CAA teams were recognized in the latest College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll. Stony Brook continued to rise, ranking seventh. In addition, Towson and Charleston received votes. The Seawolves have been ranked nine straight weeks, while the Tigers have been recognized in every poll this season. It marks the first votes Charleston has received in 2023-24.

TEAM NOTES:

Campbell

• Campbell went 1-1 over the weekend, including its first CAA win in program history. The Camels defeated Towson (69-59) after a setback to Elon (45-44). 

• Christabel Ezumah averaged 17.5 points and 10 rebounds per game. The senior had a career-high 24 points in the victory after a double-double (11p, 12r) on Friday. 

• Gemma Núñez chipped in a career-best 12 points against Towson, adding seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. She had 9.0 points per game for the weekend.

Charleston 

• Charleston split its games during the weekend, defeating Drexel (60-48) on Friday before its first setback in league play, falling to Monmouth (75-62) on Sunday. 

• Taryn Barbot averaged 24.0 points per game, including a career-best 36 on Sunday. It marks a CAA single-game high this season and her fifth game with 20 or more. 

• On Friday, Alexis Andrews scored a game-high 17 points. She knocked down four of Charleston’s five three-pointers on the night, adding three rebounds and three steals. 

Delaware 

• Delaware dropped its first CAA contest this season, falling to Stony Brook (79-67) on Sunday. UD led for over 28 minutes in the game but was outscored 27-13 in the fourth.

• Klarke Sconiers paced the Blue Hens with 16 points, adding seven rebounds and three blocks. It marks her seventh game in double figures this season and first in league play. 

• Sydney Boone reached double figures for the fourth straight game, contributing 10 points with three rebounds and three steals. Boone has 10 or more points in 11 games this season.

Drexel 

• Drexel was 1-1 during its road trip this weekend. The Dragons fell to Charleston (60-48) on Friday but bounced back to beat UNCW (59-45) on Sunday. 

• Amaris Baker averaged 10.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for Drexel, including her first career double-double. Baker tallied 10 points and 10 rebounds against UNCW.

• Hetta Saatman and Jasmine Valentine reached new season highs during the weekend. Saatman recorded 14 points in the victory, and Valentine had a team-high 11 on Friday.

Elon 

• Elon won its first CAA contest this season, defeating Campbell on Friday before a setback to William & Mary on Sunday. Charlotte Smith claimed her 200th victory on Friday.

• Iycez Adams contributed 11.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, including her third double-double (13p, 10r) against W&M. She reached double figures in both games and has at least 10 points in six of the past seven. 

• On Friday, Vanessa Taylor paced Elon with 10 points, adding a season-high eight rebounds and a career-best five steals. 

Hampton 

• Hampton fell to N.C. A&T 67-57 on Sunday. The Lady Pirates erased a double-digit deficit to pull even in the fourth but were outscored 15-6 in the final five minutes.

• Le’Asia Foreman set career highs with 14 points and 10 rebounds for her first-ever double-double. She shot 5-of-11 for her second double-figure effort this year.

• Camryn Hill added 12 points, reaching double digits for the third straight game. Hill has surpassed double figures 10 times this season. 

Hofstra 

• Hofstra dropped its second straight game in league play, falling to Northeastern 66-53. Hofstra outscored NU 45-38 over the final 30 minutes but could not overcome a 20-point first-quarter deficit.

• Emma Von Essen paced the Pride with 10 points. She has reached double figures in 12 games this season, including 11 of her past 12 outings. 

• Tionna Baker contributed eight points, four rebounds and two steals off the bench for Hofstra. 

Monmouth 

• Monmouth defeated Charleston 75-62 on Sunday. The Hawks won their second straight game while handing the Cougars their first CAA and home loss of the season. 

• Ariana Vanderhoop led Monmouth with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting. It was one point shy of her season-high and sixth game in double figures this year.

• Belle Kranbuhl tallied a career-high 18 rebounds and matched a personal best with five blocks, adding eight points. She has multiple blocks in 10 games this winter.

North Carolina A&T 

• N.C. A&T went 2-0 in league play over the weekend, defeating William & Mary (53-51) and Hampton (67-57) on the road. The Aggies have now won six of their past seven.

• Jordyn Dorsey averaged 14.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game to lead A&T. She reached double figures in both games and has at least 10 points in all four conference contests. 

• Chaniya Clark contributed 9.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per contest. Clark had over 10 boards in both games, notching her third double-double (12p, 10r) against Hampton.

UNCW 

• UNCW suffered back-to-back losses in conference play, falling to Northeastern (79-49) on Friday and Drexel (59-45) on Sunday. 

• Taylor Henderson averaged 15.5 points per game, reaching double figures in both. She has 10 or more in six straight contests and is averaging 18.0 ppg in CAA play.

• Evan Miller has reached double figures in seven straight games. Miller had 14 points on Friday, followed by 10 on Sunday. She averaged 12.0 ppg and 5.5 rpg for the week.

Northeastern 

• Northeastern went 2-0 this weekend, defeating UNCW (79-49) and Hofstra (66-53) for its first conference victories this season. 

• Deja Bristol averaged 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game to pace NU. Bristol had her second double-double this year with 15 points and 12 boards versus Hofstra. 

• Jaelyn Batts and Yirsy Quéliz notched new career highs over the weekend. Batts had a team-high 17 points against UNCW, and Quéliz tallied 11 points versus Hofstra.

Stony Brook 

• Stony Brook extended its winning streak to nine games following wins over Towson (77-65) and Delaware (79-67). The Seawolves have won all their games this year by double-digits.

• Gigi Gonzalez averaged 25.0 points per game on 52.0 percent (17-25) shooting. She poured in a career-high 30 points at TU before 20 against UD. She leads the CAA with 16.7 ppg this season. 

• Khari Clark and Shamarla King each had a points/rebounds double-double over the weekend. Clark tallied 10 and 10 against TU before King recorded 11 and 11 at UD. 

Towson 

• Towson dropped both its conference contests this weekend, suffering setbacks to Stony Brook (77-65) and Campbell (69-59). 

• Kylie Kornegay-Lucas stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 17.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game. Kornegay-Lucas surpassed 1,000 career points with 17 at Campbell. 

• Patricia Anumgba averaged 17.5 points per game and matched her career-high with 21 points against Campbell. 

William & Mary

• W&M was 1-1 this weekend, falling to N.C. A&T (53-51) before beating Elon (62-43). W&M has won its first three CAA road games for the first time in program history. 

• Bella Nascimento paced W&M in both games, averaging 17.5 points per game. Additionally, Nascimento had her first double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds at Elon. It also marked her fourth 20-point effort this year.

• Rebekah Frisby-Smith also reached double figures with 10 points against Elon. It was her second game with at least 10 points this winter.