Ostergaard and Smith Tabbed MAAC Women's Basketball Weekly Award Winners
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
Nikoline Ostergaard, Quinnipiac
Sr., F, 6-0, Vedbaek, Denmark/Morse
In three huge games, Nikoline Ostergaard led the Bobcats in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game as her inspired effort on the offensive end helped secure an undefeated 3-0 record for Quinnipiac in MAAC play. Ostergaard’s stat line for the week included 54.8 percent shooting from the floor, 50 percent from the arc, 73.1 percent at the free throw line, as well as six rebounds per game, four assists per game and one steal per game. She reached double figures in all three games while tallying a career-high 10 free throws and eight assists in the Bobcats’ overtime win over Canisius on Sunday. The week started with an impressive 16-point effort at home in the Bobcats’ come-from-behind 85-74 victory over Iona. She also chipped in seven rebounds and three assists while combining to play stellar defense versus Iona. Ostergaard was the Player of the Game on Thursday in front of a national audience as she went for 21 points on 9 of 16 field goals, eight rebounds and two steals in an 80-62 win at Marist broadcasted on ESPN3. Her second career 20-point game came against a Marist squad that hadn’t been swept by a MAAC opponent since the 2003-04 season and also hadn’t been defeated at home by more than 18 points since February 9, 2003. Ostergaard rounded out her week as the go-to player in the Bobcats’ thrilling 88-85 overtime win over Canisius on Sunday, finishing with 18 points on 4 of 7 field goals and a career high 10 of 12 at the free throw line, as well as eight assists. Her free throw shooting helped keep the Bobcats in the game while her playmaking skills helped steady a Bobcat offense that defeated a Canisius squad that shot 59.2 percent from the floor on the other end.
Rookie of the Week
Casey Smith, Fairfield
So., F, 6-2, Danbury, Conn./Danbury
Casey Smith averaged 12 points and two assists per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor in Fairfield's 2-0 week. In the game against Manhattan, Smith led a second half surge by scoring the first 10 points for the Stags in the second frame which would lead to a game deciding 19-0 run. Down by one with 18:30 to play, Smith gave the Stags the lead for good with a layup. Smith also had a steal, a block, and six rebounds in the contest while shooting
64 percent from the field. In the win against Canisius, Smith scored six of the first 10 points in the opening stanza and had a crucial basket with 2:24 to go which would put the Stags up seven.
The 2014-15 season culminates with the MAAC Basketball Championships at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Tickets can be purchased here.
The MAAC will host the NCAA Women's Basketball Sweet Sixteen Albany Regional at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Tickets can be purchased here.
For the full women’s basketball schedule, visits maacsports.com and remember to follow the conversation on twitter using #MAACHoops and #MAACHoops15.