Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association
www.MetBasketballWriters.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guirantes, Tomlinson Take Final Women's Weekly Honors of 2020-21
NEW YORK (March 9, 2021) ---
Arella Guirantes of Rutgers in Division I and
Taylor Tomlinson of Dominican in Divisions II/III have been named Women’s Players of the Week by the Met Basketball Writers Association.
The final weekly MBWA designations of the 2020-21 season, for games played March 1-7, 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.
This was the second weekly MBWA selection for Guirantes, who previously was honored on Feb. 23.
A 5-11 graduate student guard from Bellport, NY, Guirantes averaged 20.5 points in a 2-0 week at home as then No. 24 ranked Rutgers (14-3) ended its regular season with nine consecutive victories, its longest Big Ten winning streak since 2004-05, and clinched the No. 3 seed for this week’s conference tournament.
On Senior Recognition Day at Rutgers, Guirantes recorded a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds in a 71-63 win over then No. 22 ranked Ohio State.
Earlier in the week, she sparked a 74-56 comeback victory against Penn State, scoring 10 points in the second quarter to erase a 14-point deficit. Guirantes finished with 21 points and seven assists in the game.
Overall in the two games, she was perfect at the free throw line (11-of-11). Playing all but five minutes last week, Guirantes helped the Scarlet Knights defense hold Penn State and Ohio State to an average of 20 points under their season scoring averages.
Now ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll, Rutgers will meet the winner of No. 6 seeded Iowa and No. 11 Purdue on Thursday in Indianapolis in a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal.
A 5-9 junior forward from Middletown, NY, Tomlinson --- who was named the Most Valuable Player in last week’s Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference tournament --- averaged 16.0 points and 8.0 rebounds as the Chargers (12-1) swept three games to annex the CACC playoff title. She posted two double-doubles in the three games.
Tomlinson began the week at home by registering seven points, three rebounds and four assists in just 22 minutes on the court during Dominican’s 80-57 CACC quarterfinal victory over Felician.
She played just 25 minutes in the Chargers 83-60 semifinal triumph at home over Nyack, contributing 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
In the 81-65 championship win at Georgian Court, Tomlinson led the way by posting 25 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Dominican has advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament and will play a team to be determined in the East regional at Amherst, NY, on Saturday.
Players receiving MBWA Division I Honorable Mention for the week: Juana Camilion, Iona; Leilani Correa, St. John’s; Desiree Elmore, Seton Hall; Emilija Krista Grava, Wagner.
Players receiving MBWA Division II/III Honorable Mention for the week: Danielle Cornetta, Stevens; Jennie Mellman, Yeshiva; Damaris Rodriguez, NJCU; Julia Sutton, Montclair State.
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;
Feb. 23, Arella Guirantes, Rutgers, Div. I;
Joey Meyers, Drew, and
Damaris Rodriguez, NJCU, Divs. II/III (tie);
March 2, Lauren Park-Lane, Seton Hall, Div. I; Shannon McCoy, Kean, Divs. II/III.