Freshman forward receives top weekly rookie billing for first time
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - Eastern Connecticut State University freshman forward Brianna Leonard (Amherst, MA) has been selected Rookie-of-the-Week in the Little East Conference in the sport of women's basketball for the week ending Feb. 3.
At right: Brianna Leonard (Photo by Courtney Weber).
In a 1-1 week, the 5-foot-8 inch Leonard led the Warriors with a 14.5 scoring average and .611 field goal percentage and was second in rebounding (5.5) and free throw percentage (.700) without a turnover in 60 minutes en route to the first weekly LEC honor of her career.
In a road win over Plymouth State University - Eastern's third straight victory in the conference - Leonard had a team-high 12 points (5-for-8 shooting from the floor) and added six rebounds. In a mid-week home loss to Bowdoin College, she tossed in a career-high 17 points (6-for-10 from the floor, 5-for-6 from the stripe) and added five rebounds.
For the 8-13 Warriors, Leonard is third on the team in scoring (8.7) and third in rebounding (5.4) shares second place on the team in steals (25), and is first among regulars in field goal percentage (.430). She moved into the starting lineup in the sixth game of the year and has started the last 16.
Among freshmen in the conference, Leonard ranks second in field goal percentage, third in scoring and fourth in rebounding.
Leonard wrestled the weekly rookie award away from UMass Boston freshman Olivia Murphy, who had claimed the award the previous four weeks.
Leonard becomes the program's second weekly honoree this year, joining sophomore forward Shannon McCourt (New Fairfield), who was selected Player-of-the-Week for the week ending Jan. 6 after averaging a double-double in three games.
Tied for third place in the conference, Eastern hosts LEC opponent Western Connecticut State University Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
