NEC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cici Hernandez, Mercyhurst
Guard, Sophomore, 5-6. Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic
Hernandez was instrumental in Mercyhurst’s 2-0 road trip over the weekend as she averaged 22.0 points per game. In Saturday afternoon’s 63-58 comeback victory at Stonehill, Hernandez netted 24 points while dishing three assists and grabbing two boards. The sophomore guard spearheaded the Lakers’ six-point fourth quarter comeback during a back-and-forth game with the Skyhawks. She scored 11 in the final 10 minutes, including a three-pointer to put Mercyhurst up four with just over 90 seconds left in the contest. Hernandez added 20 points and a pair of dimes in an 80-63 win at CCSU on Thursday night. Additionally, the Bethlehem, PA native averaged 2.5 assists and 1.0 rebound per game while shooting 58.0 percent from the field and 36.3 from beyond the arc. She also went an efficient 80.0 percent at the charity stripe. Through the first six games of league play, Hernandez has averaged 17.0 ppg – ranking second in the conference. Overall, she has drained 38 three-pointers so far this season for an average of 2.24 per game, which is the second-most among NEC players. Mercyhurst is out to a 4-2 start in league play to come in at third in the league standings through the first three weeks of the conference slate.

NEC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Peyton Dincher, Le Moyne
Guard, Freshman, 5-10, Jersey Shore, PA/Jersey Shore
Dincher balled out at LIU last Thursday night as she went for 23 points while shooting 70.0 percent from the field in 31 minutes off the bench. The 5-10 freshman cashed in on a trio of three-pointers for the Dolphins while going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. The rookie guard added a rebound and a steal in the road setback against the Sharks. On the week, Dincher averaged 12.0 points and 1.0 rebound per game while shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 37.5 from three-point land. Her 23 points on Thursday night are tied for the second-most in a game by a NEC freshman this season. Dincher has shot 92.9 percent from the charity stripe through the Dolphins’ first six conference games – coming in at third in the league rankings and first among all NEC rookies. The Jersey Shore, PA native is the second Le Moyne player to be tabbed NEC Rookie of the week this season, joining Kayden Clark, who took home the honor on November 11, 2025.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Lucia Noin, CCSU (Sr., F)
Last week: 23.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 spg, 51.2 FG%, 42.8 3FG%, 80.0 FT%

- Netted a career-high 30 points against Saint Francis on Saturday - becoming just the second NEC player to hit 30 or more points in a game this season.
- Ranks third in scoring through first six games of league play with 17.2 ppg.
- Hit a NEC season-high 12 field goals in Saturday's contest. 

Ava Renninger, FDU (So., G)
Last week: 16.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 35.2 FG%, 100.0 FT%

- Scored the eventual game-winning bucket with seven seconds left in FDU's thrilling one-point victory at LIU on Saturday.
- Leads the conference in assists (5.2 apg) while ranking second in scoring (14.3 ppg) and free throw percentage (83.3).
- Scored 17 points in the Knights' 55-45 win over Wagner on Thursday night.

Ashley Buragas, LEM (Jr., F)
Last week: 22.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 66.6 FG%, 80.0 FT%

- Set a career-high with 23 points against Chicago State on Saturday afternoon.
- Owns the second-best field goal percentage in the conference making 53.7 percent of her shots.
- Made nine field goals in each game last week.

Solengelei Akridge, LIU (Jr., G)
Last week: 17.0 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 61.1 FG%, 69.2 3FG%

- Tied a NEC season-high with seven three-point field goals in LIU's 79-68 win over Le Moyne on Thursday.
- Matched her career-high with 23 points against the Dolphins. 
- Dished six assists in Saturday's nail-biter with FDU.

Kadidia Toure, LIU (Sr., F)
Last week: 18.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.55 spg, 55.5 FG%, 100.0 FT%

- Recorded her ninth game with at least 20 points with 22 on 10-of-17 (58.8%) shooting on Saturday.
- Canned a late three-pointer to give LIU a one-point advantage over FDU with 30 seconds left.
- Went a perfect 5-for-5 from the chairty stripe over the weekend.
- Leads the league in socring (19.5 ppg), rebounding (9.9 rpg) and blocks (1.3).

Janessa Williams, LIU (Jr., G)
Last week: 16.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 61.9 FG%, 71.4 3FG%

- Posted a near double-double against Le Moyne with a career-high 24 points and nine boards.
- Went an almost perfect 9-of-12 from the field on Thursday while cashing in on four three-pointers.
- Dropped a career-high four dimes against the Dolphins.

Cici Hernandez, MU (So., G)
Last week: 22.0 ppg, 2.5 apg, 1.0 rpg, 58.0 FG%, 36.3 3FG%, 80.0 FT%

- Named NEC Player of the Week.
- Registered two 20-point outings last week with 20 at CCSU and 24 at Stonehill.
- Averages 17.7 ppg in conference play.
- Ranks second in the league for three-point field goals per game with 2.24 pg. 

Jenna Van Schaik, MU (Sr., G)
Last week: 17.5 ppg, 3.5 apg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 spg, 58.3 FG%, 60.0 3FG%

- Notched 22 points while shooting 61.5 percent from the field at CCSU on Thursday.
- Dished seven assists last week with four coming in Saturday's comeback win over Stonehill.
- Fifth in the NEC with 2.9 apg.
- Added 13 points against the Skyhawks on Saturday.

Merit Innocent, NHVN (Jr., F)
Last week: 14.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.0 spg, 1.5 apg, 66.6 FG%, 80.0 FT%

- Averaged a double-double last week with 14.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg. 
- Registered her first double-double of the season with a 15-point and 11-rebound outing on Saturday at Wagner.
- Nearly had another double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds in Thursday's win over Chicago State.

Brooke Paquette, STO (Jr., G)
Last week: 15.5 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.0 rpg, 1.5 spg, 38.8 3FG%, 100.0 FT%

- Stonehill's leading scorer in Thursday night's victory over SFU with 17 points.
- Tallied 11 assists last week with six coming in the win over the Red Flash.
- Hit several career milestones last week, including the 850-point, 300-rebound, 250-assist and 100-steal marks.

Julia Webster, STO (So., F)
Last week: 13.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 50.0 FG%

- Nearly had a double-double in Stonehill's Thursday night victory with 15 points and nine rebounds. 
- Shot an efficient 6-of-11 on her way to 12 points in Saturday's thriller against Mercyhurst.
- Grabbed eight board against the Lakers.

#NECWBB BY THE NUMBERS

30 - CCSU’s Lucia Noin scored a career-high 30 points on Saturday against Saint Francis, marking just the second time this season a NEC player has netted 30 or more points in a game

6 - LIU’s Kadidia Toure is one of only 6 players nationwide with six or more games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds with her last such outing coming at Saint Francis on 01/10/26.

25 - FDU owns 25 consecutive wins over NEC opponents after a 6-0 start to league play. The Knights have won 12 those games at home during this stretch and haven’t lost a home conference game since 02/24/24.

#NECWBB FAST BREAK

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT: Senior Lucia Noin cashed in on 12 field goals on Saturday, which is tied for the most in a game by a NEC player this season.

CHICAGO STATE: Chicago State had two players notch double-doubles in its Saturday afternoon victory at Le Moyne in Tania Allen and Keona McGee.

FDU: FDU has canned 170 three-pointers so far this campaign, which is the 15th-most in nation, with 44 of them coming in NEC play.

LE MOYNE: Le Moyne is the top free throw shooting team in the conference as the Dolphins shoot 74.7 percent from the charity stripe.

LIU: LIU is 5-1 to start out NEC play for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign and the first time in the Sharks era.

MERCYHURST: Mercyhurst is riding a three-game winning streak and is 4-2 through its first six games of conference play.

NEW HAVEN: New Haven limited Chicago State to just 22 boards on Thursday, which is the least allowed by a NEC squad in league play.

SAINT FRANCIS: SFU got 45 points off the bench in Saturday’s 74-63 win at CCSU - the most by a NEC team in conference play so far.

STONEHILL: Junior Brooke Paquette hit several career milestones last week, including the 850-point, 300-rebound, 250-assist and 100-steal marks.

WAGNER: Wagner forces 20.41 turnovers per game, which leads the league and ranks 52nd in NCAA Division I.

#NECWBB NEWS & NOTES

WHAT’S ON TAP?
Week four of league play tips off on Thursday night with one game starting at 6:00 p.m. and a quartet of contests capping off the night at 7:00 p.m.

Action continues on Saturday afternoon with with a pair of regional rivalries taking place between Stonehill and Central Connecticut at 1:00 p.m. along with Wagner visiting LIU at 2:00 p.m.

NEC on ESPN+
#NECWBB makes its season debut on ESPN+ this Thursday night with Saint Francis taking on Chicago State in the Windy City at 7:00 p.m. ET. 

This match up is the first of nine #NECWBB contests to be aired on ESPN networks this season.

RYZ GAME OF THE WEEK
Thursday night’s game between Empire State rivals Le Moyne and Wagner on Staten Island is the RYZ Network Game of the Week. The 7:00 p.m. game will be aired on the FAST channel while streaming simultaneously on NEC Front Row.

RYZ Sports Network brings the conference broader exposure with school-produced men’s and women’s Game of the Week broadcasts on its linear FAST channel, carried on Samsung TV+, Roku, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Live, Xumo, Xfinity, LG, Fubo and more. RYZ also connects with millions of viewers through the Atmosphere OOH network, bringing live sports to restaurants, gyms, hotels and other venues nationwide.

BIG APPLE THRILLER
FDU and LIU put on an instant classic on Saturday afternoon as the two unbeatens clashed for the first time in league play. 

Reigning NEC Rookie of the Year Ava Renninger (Yardley, PA/Archbishop Wood) hit the go-ahead game-winner with 7.7 seconds left on the clock to put the Knights up by one.

LIU’s Kadidia Toure (Silver Spring, MD/Our Lady of Good Counsel (Arizona State/James Madison)) had hit a clutch three-pointer with 30 seconds left to put the Sharks up by one before the Knights reclaimed the lead.

CLOSE GAMES
Of the 10 #NECWBB contests, five of them were decided by six points or less.

FDU 59, LIU 58 (1)
Stonehill 59, Saint Francis 57 (2)
Mercyhurst 63, Stonehill 58 (5)
Wagner 50, New Haven 45 (5)
Chicago State 61, Le Moyne 55 (6)

CAREER MILESTONES
Stonehill junior guard Brooke Paquette (Hudson, NH/Bishop Guertin) suprassed several career milestones last week in points, rebounds, steals and assists.

The Preseason All-NEC pick registered her 850th career point, 300th rebound, 250th assist and 100th steal.

Paquette currently sits with 853 career points, 301 rebounds, 252 assists and 102 steals.

UNDEFEATED
FDU remains the lone unbeaten squad in #NECWBB are out to a 6-0 start and are currently riding a 25-game win streak against NEC opponents.

12 of those wins have come at home during that streak as the Knights have claimed 13 consecutive home victories against NEC rivals, with their first home victory of this streak coming in a 2024 NEC quarterfinal against LIU on 03/11/25.

FDU returns home this Thursday night against CCSU at 7:00 p.m.

BLOCK PARTY
Chicago State swatted a total of nine shots in its 61-55 win at Le Moyne on Saturday, which is a NEC team game-high for blocks in a game this season.

The Cougars were led by senior Tania Allen (Chicago, IL/Westinghouse), who blocked five shots last Saturday to set another NEC season-high for blocks in a game by an individual.

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE
FDU currently ranks sixth in the nation for scoring defense as the Knights allow just 53.3 points per game.

The only squads in the country that allow fewer points are UConn (51.7), Quinnipiac (52.1), TCU (52.5), McNeese (52.6) and Texas (53.0).

The 6-0 Knights have allowed just 49.8 points per game in league play.

MAKING IT RAIN
LIU junior Solangelei Akridge (San Diego, CA/Mater Dei (Alabama State)) nailed seven three-pointers in the Sharks' 79-68 win over Le Moyne on Thursday night to match a NEC individual game-high this season.

FDU's Kailee McDonald also hit seven shots from three-point land on 12/04/25 against Lafayette.

Akridge ranks third in the conference with 37.9 percent three-point field goal percentage and 1.9 three-pointers made per game.

BIG TIME TOURE
Senior transfer Toure continues to make her mark on the league in her first season with LIU as the Sharks are 5-1 to start out NEC play since 2006-07.

Toure is the only NEC player to register 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in a game more than once this season. She is one of only six players nationwide with six or more games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. 

Additionally, Toure is one of six DI players to lead their respective conference in both points and rebounds per game.

PERFECT SHOOTING
With a 10-for-10 outing from the field in a 70-51 win over CCSU on 01/04/26, Aniya McDonald-Perry (Middletown, CT/Putnam Science Academy (Saint Rose)) became the first NEC player in nearly 22 years - and the only one since the start of the 1998–99 season - to go perfect from the field with at least 10 makes. She finished the contest with 22 points after knocking down a pair of free throws, as well.

The senior forward joined NEC Hall of Famer Beth Swick, who went 10-for-10 for Saint Francis against Purdue in the 2004 NCAA Tournament (3/21/04).

She is one of only four players nationwide this season to make 10-plus shots without a miss.

SHARP SHOOTIN’ KNIGHTS
Defending conference champion FDU is the top three-point shooting team in the league, making 34.7 percent of its shots from beyond the arc along with draining an average of 8.9 per game for a total of 170 on the year.

As a team, FDU ranks 22nd nationally with 8.9 three-pointers per game, while their 170 three-point field goals are tied for 15th in NCAA Division I.

Sophomore guard Kailee McDonald (Lowell, MA/Worcester Academy) has drained 56 three-pointers this season, which is eighth in the nation.

SEEING DOUBLE
19 different NEC players from nine different schools have notched a double-double this season, with only seven turning the trick more than once.

7     Kadidia Toure, LIU
6     Aniya McDonald-Perry, NHVN
4     Ashley Buragas, LEM
4     Shelby Ricks, SFU
3     Lijirin Doyinsola Modesayor, WAG
2     Lucia Noin, CCSU
2     Laura Molnárová, LIU

THE ROARING TWENTIES
Le Moyne junior forward Ashley Buragas (Hopewell Junction, NJ/John Jay (Mineral Area College)) had a historic outing in the Dolphins’ 82-79 OT victory over Lafyette on 11/09/25, scoring 20 points and grabbing 22 boards.

It was the first 20-20 double-double by a NEC player since Merrimack’s Denia Davis-Stewart (25 points, 24 rebounds) on Feb. 21, 2020. Her 22 boards were the most in a game since Jan. 23, 2022 when Jada Dapaa snagged 23 boards. 

Her 22 boards were the second-most in Le Moyne program history and the most by a Dolphin since January 1988. 

Additionally, Buragas is one of 10 players in the country to grab 22 or more boards in a single game this season.

LEAGUE PLAY
Each #NECWBB will partake in an 18-game double round-robin schedule under the conference’s 10-team alignment this academic year. The schedule runs 10 weeks with the teams playing every Thursday and Saturday until Thursday, March 5th.

TOURNEY TIME
The NEC Women’s Basketball Championship will remain an eight-team playoff format in 2025-26 with every game being played at the home of the higher seed. After the quarterfinals, advancing teams will be reseeded so the highest remaining seed plays the lowest remaining seed.

WHO’S IN THE MIX?
With Mercyhurst now postseason eligible, nine of the 10 eligible teams will participate in this year’s NEC Tournament. NEC newcomer New Haven is not yet eligible for conference postseason play.

Stonehill has completed its Division I reclassification and is now eligible for the NCAA Tournament for the first time this season. Le Moyne and Mercyhurst are ineligible for the NCAA Tournament due to their current statuses as Division I reclassifying institutions.

If a reclassifying institutions wins the NEC Tournament championships, the tournament runner-up will advance to the NCAA Tournament as the NEC’s automatic qualifier as per current policy. If two reclassifying member reach the conference final, the NEC will stage an “AQ” game between the two non-advancing semifinal teams. This will serve as a decisive game to determine the team that will secure the NEC’s spot in the NCAA Tournament. The “AQ” game will occur this season if both Le Moyne and Mercyhurst reach conference tournament final.

2025-26 NEC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nov. 10: Aiyanna Culver, CSU & Kadidia Toure, LIU
Nov. 17: Ava Renninger, FDU
Nov. 24: Madlena Gerke, FDU
Dec. 1: Ava Renninger, FDU
Dec. 8: Kailee McDonald, FDU
Dec. 15: Ava Renninger, FDU
Dec. 22: Brooke Paquette, STO
Dec. 31: Addisen Sulikowski, NHVN
Jan. 6: Aniya McDonald-Perry, NHVN
Jan. 12: Kadidia Toure, LIU
Jan. 19: Cici Hernandez, MU
Jan. 26: 

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Nov. 10: Kayden Clark, LEM
Nov. 17: Reese Roggenburk, STO
Nov. 24: Leah Crosby, FDU
Dec. 1: Leah Crosby, FDU
Dec. 8: Reese Downey, FDU
Dec. 15: Sofia Wilson, MU
Dec. 22: Ella Pelletier, STO
Dec. 31: Reese Downey, FDU
Jan. 6: Sofia Wilson, MU
Jan. 12: Sofia Wilson, MU
Jan. 19: Peyton Dincher, LEM
Jan. 26: