Rider's Amari Johnson (DI), USMMA's Lauren Hunter (DII-III) Claim Weekly Honors

2/4/2020 7:00:00 AM

MBWA Players of the Week (1-27 to 201) 2019-20 / Week 7

FFI: Chuck Stogel, MBWA - 914-428-6111, chstogel@aol.com

Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association
www.MetBasketballWriters.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    
NEW YORK (Feb. 4, 2020) --- Amari Johnson of Rider in Division I and Lauren Hunter of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Divisions II-III have been named Women’s Players of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Assn.
 
The designations, for games played Jan. 27-Feb. 2, are unique in that they encompass players from 71 Met area schools across Divisions I, II and III.

This was the third week in a row and fourth time this season that a player from Rider has been honored, following previous accolades for Stella Johnson (Dec. 17, Jan. 21, Jan. 28).
 
A 5-10 senior forward from Red Lion, PA, Amari Johnson --- who also was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference player of the week --- averaged a double-double of 17.0 points and 12.3 rebounds in leading the Broncs (17-2) to a trio of homecourt victories last week.
 
The MAAC leader this season with 13 double-doubles, Johnson started the week by posting 16 points and 10 rebounds along with two steals and two blocks in a 60-52 triumph over Fairfield. She followed with 24 points and 16 rebounds as Rider defeated Manhattan 76-53, and concluded with 11 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in a low-scoring 48-25 win over Monmouth.
 
Johnson currently ranks sixth in the nation in Division I in double-doubles for the season and is slotted 10th nationally in rebounding at 11.0 per game.
 
A 5-11 sophomore center from Tinley Park, IL, Hunter --- who also was named Skyline Conference player of the week --- averaged a double-double of 21.0 points and 11.0 rebounds as the Mariners posted three league wins last week.
 
Hunter began with 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 49-38 homecourt win over Old Westbury. She followed with a game-high 26 points and 10 boards in a 69-41 road victory at Farmingdale State and closed by leading all players with 23 points and 13 rebounds in the Mariners 51-38 home triumph over Mount Saint Vincent.
 
Players receiving MBWA Women’s Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Bre Cavanaugh, Fordham; Tiana England, St. John’s; India Pagan, Stony Brook; Shadeen Samuels, Seton Hall.
 
Players receiving MBWA Women’s Divisions II-III Honorable Mention for the week: Dayjah Anderson, NJCU; Morina Bojka, Mount Saint Mary; Mac-Dege Dessources, York; Leonie Edringer, Adelphi; Katie Healy, John Jay; Davida Warren, Old Westbury.
 
Previous MBWA 2019-20 Women’s Players of the Week: Dec. 10, Bre Cavanaugh, Fordham, Div. I; Lauren Schetter, Pace, Divs. II-III . . . Dec. 17, Stella Johnson, Rider, Div. I; Leonie Edringer, Adelphi, and Anna Zaborowska, Farmindale, Divs. II-III . . . Dec. 24, Leilani Correa, St. John’s, Div. I; Melissa Sadler, St. Thomas Aquinas, Divs. II-III . . . Jan. 14, Alana Gilmer, Marist, Div. I; Nia Dawson, Baruch, Divs. II-III . . . Jan. 21, Stella Johnson, Rider, Div. I; Morina Bojka, Mount Saint Mary, Divs. II-III . . . Jan. 28, Stella Johnson, Rider, Div. I; Payce Lange, Kean, Divs. II-III.