Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association
www.MetBasketballWriters.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guirantes, Meyers, Rodriguez Snare Women's Weekly Awards
NEW YORK (Feb. 23, 2021) ---
Arella Guirantes of Rutgers in Division I, and
Joey Meyers of Drew and
Damaris Rodriguez of New Jersey City as co-winners in Divisions II/III, have been named Women’s Players of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
The designations, for games played Feb. 15-21, are unique in that they encompass players from 72 Met area schools across Divisions I, II and III. At the outset of this season, the MBWA selected one overall Women’s Player of the Week. With all divisions now playing games, the association has reinstituted naming awards in Division I and in Divisions II/III.
A 5-11 graduate student guard from Bellport, NY, Guirantes averaged 23.0 points during a 2-0 homecourt week for the Scarlet Knights (10-3) in Big Ten action. She connected on 50% of her shots from 3-point range (4-of-8) and 61.3% overall from the floor (19-of-31.
Guirantes scored 22 points and added seven assists in an 83-56 victory over Minnesota. She then had 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 75-46 win over Illinois.
A 5-10 sophomore guard from Brookside, NJ, Meyers --- who also was named the Landmark Conference player of the week --- averaged 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.0 steals while shooting 60.9% (14-of-23) from the field in leading the Rangers (3-1) to a home-and-away two-game sweep of Juniata.
Meyers opened the week with a double-double, posting 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting and 10 rebounds to go with five steals, four assists, and a pair of blocked shots in an 80-57 home win.
Next, in an 80-59 road victory, she pumped in 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting while also racking up eight rebounds and another five steals.
A 5-3 freshman guard from Secaucus, NJ, Rodriguez --- who also was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference rookie of the week --- averaged an all-around 15.0 points, 5.5 assists, 5.0 steals and 3.5 rebounds in leading the unbeaten Gothic Knights (6-0) to a pair of victories over William Paterson. This is the first 6-0 start in the 51-year history of the NJCU women’s program.
Rodriguez began her week in a 69-49 homecourt cruise past the Pioneers, posting 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point distance, to go with a career-high nine assists, seven steals and only one turnover.
The next day, in a come-from-behind 62-46 road win, Rodriguez posted 11 points, four rebounds and three steals.
Players receiving MBWA Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Unique Drake, St. John’s; Desiree Elmore, Seton Hall; Ajia James, Saint Peter's.
Players receiving MBWA Division II/III Honorable Mention for the week: Alexa Huertas, St. Thomas Aquinas; Dashanique Ruffin, Bloomfield; Taylor Tomlinson, Dominican.
Previous MBWA 2020-21 Women’s Players of the Week: Jan. 12, Anna DeWolfe, Fordham; Jan. 19, Andra Espinoza-Hunter, Seton Hall; Jan. 26, Andra Espinoza-Hunter, Seton Hall; Feb. 2, Leilani Correa, St. John's; Feb. 9, Emilija Krista Grava, Wagner and
Courtney Warley, Manhattan, Div. I (tie);
Sekya Campbell, Drew, Divs. II/III;
Feb. 16, DeeDee Davis, Manhattan, Div. I . . .
Justina Cabezas, Wm. Paterson, Divs. II/III.