NORFOLK, Va., December 2, 2013 – Hampton forward Alyssa Bennett was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week, while teammate Malia Tate-DeFreitas earned Rookie of the Week honors, the conference announced on Monday. Rachel Gordon of Norfolk State was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week.
Bennett (F, 6-2, Sr., Hampton, Va.) led the Lady Pirates to a 2-1 mark last week, including a pair of victories at the Cal State Northridge Radisson Hotel Chatsworth Thanksgiving Classic. Bennett set a career-high in points (31) against Santa Clara and a career-high in rebounds against Utah State (17). She registered back-to-back double-doubles in points and rebounds during the week. Bennett averaged 26.7 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.3 assists and 1.0 blocks in the three non-conference games.
Tate-DeFreitas (G, 5-8, Fr., Harrisburg, Pa.) set career-highs in points (36), field-goals made (12) and made 3-pointers (6) against Utah State, while being named to the Cal State Northridge Radisson Hotel Chatsworth Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team. She averaged 25.0 points, 4.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in three non-conference games.
Gordon (F, 6-0, Sr., Woodbridge, Va.) finished the week with 40 rebounds, five blocks and four steals in two non-conference games. She recorded a career-high 26 rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist against UT-Pan American. Offensively, she added 21 points, shooting 10-of-22 from the field, in two games.
Other Top Performers:
Raven Bankston (DSU) dropped in 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals against Manhattan.
Kieera Basey (NSU) averaged 7.0 points, 3.5 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 steals against UT-Pan American and UT-San Antonio.
Shavonne Duckett (Howard) totaled 40 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in three non-conference games.
Persephone Goodwin (SCSU) scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds against Georgia.
Jasmine Grice (FAMU) averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.5 assists against Eastern Kentucky and Southern Miss, while being named to the USM All-Tournament Team.
Deanna Harmon (DSU) poured in 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Manhattan.
Tierra Hawkins (DSU) set a career-high in points (34) and made field goals (14) against Manhattan.
Te’Shya Heslip (Howard) registered 26 points, including 12 from the foul line, along with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals against Saint Francis (PA).
Jessica Long (UMES) recorded her first-career double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds against Lincoln (PA).
Alexis Udoji (UMES) registered 15 rebounds, 13 points, four blocks, two assists and one steal against Lincoln (PA).
Kourtney Williams (SCSU) recorded a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds against the College of Charleston.