WEEKLY HONORS:

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Tess Brugler, Drexel

Graduate | Forward | Nazareth, Pa. / Nazareth Area

Brugler led Drexel to a 2-0 week with 20.5 points per game, shooting 57.7% (15-26) from the floor over the weekend. The graduate student added 8.0 rebounds per game and 2.5 blocks per contest for the Dragons as they extended their winning streak to six games. Brugler tallied 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting with seven rebounds and three blocks in a 63-43 win over William & Mary. She followed the performance on her senior day by recording 23 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks as Drexel defeated Elon 72-57. 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Claudia Soriano, Northeastern 

Freshman | Guard | Barcelona, Spain / Jesuites Gràcia Col · Legi Kostka

Soriano averaged 13.5 points per game in a weekend split for Northeastern. The freshman guard also contributed 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per contest throughout the week. In the weekend finale, Soriano tallied a game-high 18 points with three rebounds and two steals despite a one-point setback to Towson. On Friday, the Barcelona native helped the Huskies earn a season sweep of JMU, contributing nine points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists. It was the first win for Northeastern over the Dukes at home since 2012. Soriano leads the CAA with 3.16 steals per game and has recorded three or more steals in 16 games this season.

CONFERENCE NOTES:

REGULAR SEASON WINDS DOWN: Drexel, Delaware and Towson all went 2-0 last week to hold their position in the CAA standings, heading into the final week of the regular season. Drexel sits in first with a 15-1 record, followed by Delaware at 14-2 and Towson in third at 13-3. Towson will host Delaware on Thursday and Drexel on Friday to wrap up the regular season with a bang. 

DICKEY NAMED MID-MAJOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR SEMIFINALIST: CAA Preseason Player of the Year, Jasmine Dickey was named a semifinalist for the 2022 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award by Her Hoop Stats. It marks the second consecutive season that a CAA student-athlete has been announced as a semifinalist for the award. 

ON THE COURT AND IN THE CLASSROOM: Drexel's Tessa Brugler was named CoSIDA Academic All-District announced Thursday, Feb. 17. Brugler is the first Drexel player to earn honors since Michelle Maslowski in 2002 and is the fourth overall in program history. The graduate student has accumulated a 3.83 GPA pursuing a master's in Sports Business while averaging 14.0 points and 8.6 rebounds on the court. 

THE DRAGONS TURNING NATIONAL HEADS: Drexel has received national recognition following its program-best 16-2 start. On Feb. 1, the USBWA named Drexel the National Team of the Week following its road victories over Elon and William & Mary. The Dragons also received votes in the AP Poll on Feb. 8 and the past four USA Today/WBCA Top 25 Polls. Drexel is the first CAA team to receive votes in the AP Poll this season, while they are the second to do so in Coaches Poll and the first since Delaware in the preseason.

CAA IN THE COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25: Three CAA teams received recognition in the latest edition of the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. Drexel, Delaware and Towson remained ranked. The Dragons move up one spot, coming in at No. 12, while the Tigers jumped five to rank No. 18. Delaware was slotted at No. 23. It marks the fourth consecutive week at least three CAA teams have been ranked in the poll. 

NOTHING BUT NET: In the latest edition of the NCAA NET rankings, three CAA teams cracked the top 100 for the second week in a row. Towson ranked 76th to lead all CAA teams, while Drexel was 85th, and Delaware rose to its highest rank this season, coming in at 97th.    

DICKEY NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK: On Feb. 8, Delaware's Jasmine Dickey was honored as the USBWA National Player of the Week following her impressive performance last week. Dickey averaged 38.0 points and 17.0 rebounds, posting double-doubles in wins over Charleston and UNCW. Dicky poured in a career-high 52 points and tied a career-high 18 rebounds against the Cougars before 24 points and 16 rebounds versus the Seahawks.

NON-CONFERENCE, NO PROBLEM: It was an impressive statement throughout the non-conference slate as CAA teams have combined for a 60-42 record. Six teams posted at least six wins in non-conference play, with Towson earning a league-high nine victories. 

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: CAA teams have proved hard to beat on their home court this season, posting a 77-48 record at home, including a 45-35 record throughout CAA play. 

PROLIFIC SCORING: Delaware's Jasmine Dickey is third in NCAA women's basketball, averaging 25.2 points per game, while a pair of teams rank inside the top 25 in scoring offense. On Feb. 4, Dickey scored a career-high 52 points against Charleston, which ranks second in all-time Delaware and CAA history. She is the only player in DI with a 40+ and 50+ point performance this season. As a team, Towson ranks 19th in the nation averaging 75.8 points per game, while Charleston is 22nd with 75.5 points per game.

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE: Drexel leads the league in scoring defense and ranks second in field goal percentage defense (36.6%). The Dragons are 21st in the NCAA, allowing 55.2 ppg. Towson leads the conference in field goal percentage defense, ranking 12th nationally, holding opponents to 35.1% shooting from the floor. 

STONE COLD THIEVERY: Two CAA players are top 10 nationally in steals per game. Claudia Soriano of Northeastern ranks seventh in the NCAA with 3.16 steals per game and is ninth in total steals (79). Charleston's Jenna Annecchiarico is also ninth in total steals (79) and ranks ninth in steals per game (2.93).

DROPPING DIMES: Three CAA student-athletes rank top 30 nationally in assists per game this season. Charleston's Jenna Annecchiarico ranks 10th in the NCAA in assists per game (6.1) and total assists (166), while Brie Perpignan of Elon is 25th in assists per game (5.42) and 31st in total assists (141). Towson's Aleah Nelson is 28th nationally in assists per game (5.37) and 29th in total assists (145). 

CLEANING THE GLASS: Two CAA teams are top 10 in the NCAA in rebounds per game, while a pair of athletes crack the top 30. Towson ranks seventh nationally in rebounding (45.4 rpg), while Delaware is 10th (43.9 rpg). Delaware's Ty Battle is 20th in the NCAA with 10.8 rebounds per game, while JMU's Jaylin Carodine is 24th with 10.6 rebounds per game. Battle secured a career-high 22 rebounds against Charleston on Jan. 9, which is the third-highest single-game total in the NCAA this season.  

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: Drexel posts the fifth-best assist to turnover ratio (1.47) in the nation. The Dragons turn the ball over at the third-lowest rate nationally, averaging just 11.2 turnovers per game, and have the third-fewest turnovers (291) in the NCAA this year. 

FORCE MY HAND: Charleston causes havoc on defense, ranking ninth nationally in steals per game (11.8) and 18th in turnovers forced (20.37). Subsequently, the Cougars are eighth in the NCAA, maintaining a +6.59 turnover margin. Charleston has recorded 20+ steals twice this season, including a program-record 29 against Agnes Scott (Dec. 15).  

TRIPLE THREAT: On Feb. 9, Kylie Kornegay-Lucas recorded her first career triple-double, tallying 11 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists. She became the second player to post a triple-double in Towson's DI program history, and it marks the first CAA triple-double since March 1, 2018, when Elon's Shay Burnett complete the feat. Kornegay-Lucas is one of 25 NCAA DI players to record a triple-double this season.  

1K AND COUNTING: Nine CAA Players have eclipsed the 1,000 career point barrier this season. Drexel teammates Hannah Nihill and Keishana Washington surpassed the mark and now rank top 15 all-time on the Dragons scoring list. Charleston's Jenna Annecchiarico tallied the mark five days after setting the Charleston single-game points (36) record, and Elon's Brie Perpignan eclipsed the milestone the same night she set a career-high with 34 points. Additionally, JMU's Kiki Jefferson, Delaware's Ty Battle and Syndey Wanger of William & Mary eclipsed the milestone, while Hofstra's Jalen Hines and Kendall Currence of Northeastern were the most recent to accomplish the feat.

EADY BECOMES CHARLESTON'S REBOUNDING QUEEN: Senior Arynn Eady etched her name in the Charleston record book, becoming the program's all-time leader in rebounding on Sunday. Eady grabbed 11 boards to bring her career total to 849, surpassing Breanna Bolden's 845 rebounds. Eady ranks fourth in the CAA averaging 9.3 rebounds per game and third in the league, with 12 double-doubles this season.

DICKEY CLIMBS DELAWARE CAREER RANKS: Senior Jasmine Dickey eclipsed 1,500 career points in the Blue Hens' win over JMU on Jan. 19. Dickey has climbed to second in Delaware program history with 1,828 career points. She also ranks top 10 in Delaware program history in double-doubles (4th/43), rebounds (7th/965) and steals (8th/199).  

NIHILL RISING IN THE DREXEL RECORDS: Senior Hannah Nihill has been a staple in the Drexel program for the past five seasons, as is evident by her name rising through the Drexel records. Nihill surpassed 1,000 career points earlier this season and currently ranks 15th on the Dragons scoring list behind her teammate Keishana Washington. She has also climbed her way in the top five of assists (4th/491), steals (4th/296) and is the program leader for games played (145). 

DICKEY NAMED CHERYL MILLER AWARD TOP 10: Blue Hen Jasmine Dickey was named one of the top 10 candidates for the 2022 Cheryl Miller Award announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The award named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year and 1995 Hall of Famer, recognizes the top small forward in women’s NCAA Division I basketball.

DICKEY NAMED TO DAWN STALEY AWARD LATE SEASON WATCH LIST: Delaware's Jasmine Dickey has been named to the late-season watch list for the 2022 Dawn Staley Award announced by the Phoenix Club of Philadelphia. The award is given to the player who exemplifies the skills that Dawn possessed throughout her career; ball handling, scoring, her ability to distribute the basketball and her will to win, recognizing the top guard in women’s NCAA Division I basketball annually. 

FRESHMEN PHENOMS: Two freshmen have shined bright in their first collegiate seasons as Charleston's Grace Abercrombie and Claudia Soriano of Northeastern have combined to take home CAA Rookie of the Week honors on nine of 11 occasions this winter. Soriano leads all freshman, collecting honors seven weeks a Northeastern single-season record. Abercrombie has earned accolades three times.  

TEAM NOTES:

Charleston

• Charleston went 1-1, falling to Hofstra in a mid-week matchup (73-61) before a victory over UNCW (87-56). 

• Jenna Annecchiarico averaged 24.5 points, 8.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game over the two contests.  

• Annecchiarico has scored at least 20 points in three of the past four games. She leads the CAA in assists (6.1) and is second in steals per game (2.9).  

• Against UNCW, Latrice Perkins contributed a season-high 24 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double this season. She has scored in double figures four straight games.

• On Sunday, Arynn Eady collected her 12th double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds. 

• Eady leads the CAA in blocks per game (2.1) and ranks sixth in steals per game (2.1). She has recorded at least one block and one steal in 17 games this season.  

• Eady became Charleston's all-time leading rebounder (849) with her effort on Sunday. 

• Charleston leads the CAA in steals per game (11.8) and turnover margin (+6.59).

Delaware

• Delaware completed a 2-0 week, ending its home slate with wins over Elon (65-61) and William & Mary (67-45).  

• Jasmine Dickey led the way with 23.5 points per game and 13.0 rebounds per game, including back-to-back double-doubles. 

• Dickey is third in the NCAA, averaging 25.5 points per game. She reached double figures in 16 straight and has a double-double in eight of her last nine. 

• Ty Battle also secured back-to-back double-doubles with 11 points and 10 rebounds against Elon, followed by 17 points and 10 rebounds versus William & Mary. 

• Battle leads the CAA with 18 double-doubles and 10.8 rebounds per game. She has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in nine straight games. 

• Lizzie Oleary contributed 11.0 ppg and 6.5 rpg, including 15 points and seven rebounds in the win over Elon. 

• Delaware leads the CAA in offensive rebounding (17.1) while ranking second in the league in rebounds per game (43.9) and rebounding margin (+7.73).

Drexel

• Drexel extended its winning streak to six games, defeating William & Mary (63-43) and Elon (72-52). 

• Tessa Brugler averaged 20.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game over the weekend.  

• Brugler ranks fourth in the CAA with 10 double-doubles. Previously, Drexel had three double-doubles in the past two years. 

• Keishana Washington tallied 23.5 points per game, scoring at least 20 in both games and 27 on Sunday. 

• Washington has reached double-figures in all 26 games this season and ranks second in the CAA, averaging 19.5 ppg. 

• Hannah Nihill contributed 14.0 points, 7.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game in the wins. 

• Nihill ranks fourth in the CAA in assists (5.0) and steals per game (2.2). She now has multiple steals in eight consecutive games.

• The Dragons lead the CAA in field goal percentage (43.2%), scoring defense (55.2 ppg), assists per game (16.4), turnovers per game (11.2) and assist/turnover ratio (1.47). 

Elon

• Elon went 1-2, defeating UNCW (64-43) before losses to Delaware (65-61) and Drexel (72-57). 

• The Phoenix scored 94 of its 182 points off the bench over the past three games.  

• Brie Perpignan scored in double figures in every game, averaging 14.0 points per contest. She also recorded at least five assists on all three occasions, averaging 6.3 per game. 

• Perpignan has scored in double figures 19 straight games. She ranks sixth in the CAA in scoring (16.9 ppg) and second in assists per game (5.4). 

• Evonna McGill recorded a career-high 21 points in just 22 minutes off the bench against Delaware. 

• McGill's performance comes after 13 points in the win over UNCW. She has reached double figures in six straight games. 

• Ajia James added 9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game off the bench for Elon. 

• Kayla Liles ranks fifth in the conference in steals per game (2.19). She has recorded two or more in 16 games this season.  

Hofstra

• Hofstra finished the week 1-2 with a win over Charleston (73-61) and setbacks to Towson (73-50) and James Madison (68-63). 

• All five starters reached double figures for Hofstra in its victory.  

• Jaylen Hines averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds a game to lead the Pride. She matched a season-high with 22 points and added nine rebounds against JMU. 

• Hines has scored in double figures, a team-best 18 games this season, including nine straight. 

• Against Charleston, Jahshyni Knight nearly missed a triple-double, recording 16 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. She also tallied three steals. 

• On Wednesday, Rosi Nicholson recorded a game-high five steals with 10 points and four rebounds. 

• Nicholson ranks third in the CAA with 2.4 steals per game. She has recorded multiple steals 16 times this season.  

• On Sunday, Selma Markisic recorded a career-high 18 points, shooting 4-of-7 from three with two rebounds and two steals. 

James Madison

• James Madison went 1-1, defeating Hofstra 68-63 after a 65-52 setback to Northeastern. 

• Jaylin Carodine tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds against Hofstra, marking her fifth double-double this season. She averaged 13.0 rebounds per game, grabbing 14 against the Huskies. 

• Carodine ranks second in the conference with 10.6 rebounds per game. She has recorded 10 or more rebounds in 14 contests this year.  

• Kiki Jefferson scored a game-high 23 points in the Dukes' victory, adding six rebounds, four assists and two steals. 

• Jefferson ranks third in the conference scoring 18.6 points per game. She has eclipsed double figures in 23 games this season. 

• Brianna Tinsley scored in double figures in both contests, adding 14 against Hofstra and 11 at Northeastern. 

• Steph Ouderkrik tallied a season-high 13 points to lead JMU against Northeastern. She shot 4-of-5 from the field, including 3-for-3 from behind the arc. 

UNCW

• UNCW dropped a pair of games, falling to Elon (64-43) and Charleston (87-56). 

• On Sunday, Allie Best recorded a season-high 16 points with five assists, four steals and two rebounds. 

• Best ranks second in the CAA in three-point field goal percentage (36.2%) this season. She has hit at least one three in 17 straight games. 

• Against Elon, Carrie Gross led UNCW with 16 points and a season-high five assists. She added 14 points and six rebounds against Charleston. 

• Micah Hoggatt grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds against Charleston.

• Against Charleston, Rinnah Green scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting with four rebounds, two assists and one block.  

• On Wednesday, Asia Henderson tallied a season-high four blocks and added five rebounds.

• Sierra DaCosta has reached double-figures, scoring in her past four straight games and 10 of the last 11. 

Northeastern

• Northeastern split a pair of games, defeating James Madison 65-52 before a 57-56 setback to Towson.  

• Against JMU, Kendall Currence paced Northeastern with a game-high 22 points, adding four rebounds and two assists.  

• Claudia Soriano averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. She scored a team-best 18 points in the effort versus Towson. 

• Soriano has recorded multiple steals in 22 games this season and has four or more on 11 occasions. She leads the conference with 3.2 steals per game. 

• Gemima Motema added nine points in each contest while averaging 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game for the week. 

• On Friday, Emily Calabrese grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds to lead Northeastern on the boards, while Donne Ntambue led the way with 10 rebounds on Sunday. 

• The victory earned Northeastern a season sweep over JMU and marked the first win over the Dukes at home since 2012.

Towson

• Towson earned its fourth and fifth straight wins, defeating Hofstra (73-50) and Northeastern (57-56). 

• Aleah Nelson averaged 17.0 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. 

• Nelson ranks fourth in the CAA in scoring (17.0 ppg) and third in assists per game (5.4). She has reached double figures scoring in 24 of 26 games this year, including 13 straight. 

• Allie Kubek recorded a game-high 18 points in the effort against Hofstra.  

• Anissa Rivera tallied 14 points, four rebounds and two blocks at Northeastern. 

• Kylie Kornegay-Lucas added 7.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, including a game-high 11 rebounds against Hofstra. 

• Towson leads the CAA in scoring margin (+15.9) and rebounding margin (+8.6). 

• With the victory over the Pride, the Tigers set the new program record for most wins in the regular season with 21 victories. The previous best of 20 wins was set in 2007-08. 

William & Mary

• William & Mary fell in a pair of road contests to Drexel (63-43) and Delaware (67-45). 

• Riley Casey scored a team-high 10 points against Delaware. She added four assists, two rebounds and two steals.

• Casey leads the CAA with 2.86 three-pointers per game and tops the conference in three-point field goal percentage (38.6%).

• Dani McTeer and Kate Sramac scored nine points to lead William & Mary against the Dragons. 

• After 23.0 ppg last week, scoring 20+ in all three games, William & Mary was without Sydney Wagner in both games this week.

• Wagner has scored in double figures a team-best 20 times this season, including four straight. 

• William & Mary leads the CAA in team three-point field goal percentage, shooting 32.4% from behind the arc. 

• The Tribe is tied for the league-lead in team free throw percentage, converting on 76.3% of its opportunities at the charity stripe.