Eastbayri.com

SPRINGIFIELD, MASS. — The Commonwealth Coast Conference recently named its men's and women's basketball honorees for the Week of Jan. 2.

COMMONWEALTH COAST CONFERENCE ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Salve Regina University junior guard Kaitlyn Birrell (Scituate, R/I.) was a major contributor in all phases of the game in a pair of Seahawk victories last week, as she averaged 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 8.0 steals per contest. Birrell collected 12 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals in Salve’s 64-46 win over Middlebury, earning her a spot of the Maine Maritime Classic all-tournament team. She followed with a career-best 20 points, a career-high 11 steals, six rebounds and five assists in a 61-34 CCC victory over Curry. Over the two games, Birrell shot 46% from the floor (15-of-33) and 100% (2-of-2) from the free-throw line.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Wentworth Institute of Technology sophomore forward Kendra Kerr (Marshfield, Mass.) enjoyed an exceptional individual week, as she averaged 16.0 points and 15.5 rebounds per game in a pair of tough losses for the Leopards. She opened the week with 14 points and eight rebounds on the road in a 72-39 loss to #23 Colby. Kerr followed with a career-high 23 rebounds to go with 18 points in a narrow 59-56 loss to Nichols. She nearly helped Wentworth rally from a 16-point deficit with 12:39 to play.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Eastern Nazarene College freshman guard Kori Sorenson (Quincy, Mass.) scored a game-high 20 points in 29 minutes of action, as she helped lead the Lions to a 55-47 victory at CCC foe Gordon. She enjoyed a solid shooting performance, knocking down 70% of her field goals attempts in the game (7-of-10), including six three-pointers in eight attempts. In two games last week, Sorenson averaged 11.5 points per game.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Curry College junior guard Sedale Jones (Pittsfield, Mass.) turned in a staggering performance in the Colonels’ tough 87-82 overtime loss at defending CCC champion and current conference unbeaten Salve Regina on Saturday. He poured in a season-high and game-high 33 points to go with 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals in 41 minutes of action. In dramatic fashion, Jones sent the game to overtime on a three-pointer with a half-second remaining in regulation. In the contest, Jones shot 48% from the field (10-of-21), 50% from three-point range (3-of-6) and 77% from the free-throw line (10-of-13).

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Endicott College freshman guard John Henault (Lunenberg, Mass.) averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in a 2-0 week for the Gulls. He opened with 19 points, four rebounds and two assists in a 93-89 victory over Salem State, a team that five days earlier fell to top-ranked Middlebury by just three points. Henault followed with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in a 78-58 win at CCC rival Western New England.