Driscoll and Smith Named Final MAAC Women's Basketball Weekly Award Honorees of the Season
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
Val Driscoll, Quinnipiac
Gr., F/C, 6-4, Stoughton, Mass./Archbischop Williams
Val Driscoll led the Bobcats with a dominating week, averaging 21 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game across an undefeated 3-0 week for Quinnipiac. She posted three straight double-doubles to up her QU Div. I record streak to five straight games with double-double. Highlighting her week was a career-high 28 points (11-14 FG, 6-6 FT) to go along with 11 rebounds at Manhattan on Tuesday. Driscoll shot 73.3 percent from the floor (22-for-30) and an incredible 95.0 percent (19-for-20) at the free throw line. Coming into the season as a career 34 percent free throw shooter, Driscoll has been a marvel in her first year as a Bobcat as she is shooting 73.3 percent for the season at the charity stripe including a recent span where she has made 31 of her last 32 attempts from the free throw line. Driscoll started the week with her career-high at Manhattan as she couldn’t be stopped on the interior on her way to finishing with 28 points, 11 rebounds and one block in 26 minutes. She prolonged her dominance at Rider on Thursday as she finished with 18 points (6-6 FG, 6-6 FT), 11 rebounds and five blocks (season-high) in just 18 minutes. Driscoll didn’t miss a shot all night and finished 100 percent from the floor for the third time this season (minimum six made field goals). Before this season, that feat had only been accomplished six times in QU’s Div. I history. Driscoll’s week concluded with 17 points (5-10 FG, 7-8 FT), 10 rebounds and four blocks. She carried the load on the inside with seven offensive rebounds and helped lead the Bobcats’ defensive effort which held Monmouth to just 48 points and below 30 percent shooting.
Rookie of the Week
Casey Smith, Fairfield
R.So., F, 6-2, Danbury, Conn./Danbury
Casey Smith averaged 13 points per game during the final weekend of the regular season helping the Stags to the number three seed for the third-straight season. Smith did more than score for the Stags in the 2-1 week, Smith put on a passing display combining for 14 assists without a turnover. In the road game against Iona, Smith neared a triple-double as she finished with a team-high 19 points, a career-best nine assists, and seven rebounds without a turnover. In the 25 minutes she played against Manhattan, Smith shot 70 percent (7-for-10) with 14 points, six boards, and four assists. For the week, Smith also averaged 5.3 boards and combined for three blocks and five steals while shooting 40 percent from the floor.
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.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The MAAC, headquartered in Edison, N.J., consists of 11 member institutions for 2014: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University and Siena College. For more on the conference please visit, www.maacsports.com. Be sure to follow the MAAC on Facebook and Twitter: @MAACSports.