The accolade is the second this season for Hunter, who previously was honored by the MBWA on Dec. 20.
A 5-11 senior forward from Tinley Park, IL, Hunter --- who also was named the Skyline Conference player of the week --- recorded a double-double in all three of the Mariners (15-2) victories on the road last week. She averaged 23.3 points and 13.0 rebounds for the three games as the Merchant Marine stretched its winning streak to five.
Hunter began the week on Monday by posting 34 points and 12 rebounds in a 90-46 triumph at Medgar Evers and followed in a 59-49 overtime win on Thursday at Manhattanville with 16 points and 17 rebounds. She closed the week on Saturday with 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Mariners defeated Mount Saint Vincent 69-55.
Hunter’s stellar production helped keep her among the nation’s statistical leaders in Division III. She is sixth in rebounds per game (13.1), 21st in scoring (20.6 ppg) and sixth in double-doubles (12).
A 5-3 junior guard from Secaucus, NJ, the prolific Rodriguez --- No. 2 in scoring nationally in Division III and No. 1 in the NJAC with a 24.9 points per game average --- helped the Gothic Knights (8-8) extend their conference winning streak to six with a pair of triumphs on the road last week. She averaged 30.0 points, 6.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 steals as NJCU defeated Montclair State 72-52 on Wednesday and edged TCNJ 65-64 on Saturday.
Rodriguez began the week by pouring in a game-best 33 points to go with five boards and game-highs in steals (6) and assists (5) in the win at Montclair State. She scored her 1,000th career point with 2:19 left in the first quarter, becoming the first player to accomplish the career feat entirely at NJCU since 2007.
She again led all players in scoring (27) and assists (8) to go with seven rebounds in the narrow victory at TCNJ.
Besides scoring, Rodriguez leads the NJAC in assists (5.7 apg), made field goals (145) and 3-point shooting percentage (34.9%). Her 90.0% accuracy at three free throw line (45-of-50) is tied for sixth in the nation.
Players receiving MBWA Divisions II/III Honorable Mention for the week: Jenalyse Alarcon, Staten Island; Brianna Barnes, Lehman; Mia Castillo, Baruch; Gianna Gotti, Brooklyn; Destiny Hurt, St. Joseph’s Brooklyn; Jenna Jordan, Adelphi; Erin Leary, St. Thomas Aquinas; Shannon McCoy, Kean; Joey Meyers, Drew; Jenny Walker, NYU.
Previous MBWA 2022-23 Divisions II/III Women’s Players of the Week: Dec. 6,
Tanasha Mills, Dominican; Dec. 13,
Joey Meyers, Drew, and Jackie Ventricelli; Dec. 20,
Lauren Hunter, USMMA; Jan. 10,
Gianna Gotti, Brooklyn; Jan. 17,
Gianna Gotti, Brooklyn.