Empire 8 Athletes of The Week: January 7, 2013
Men’s Basketball Player – Stevens
Russ Thompson, Senior, Guard – West Orange, NJ/West Orange
Senior guard Russ Thompson averaged 21 points, two rebounds and two assists in two wins for the Ducks last week. Thompson scored 10 points as the Ducks defeated Houghton Friday before turning in a career-best performance in Stevens' comeback win at Nazareth Saturday. The veteran scored 32 points on 10-for-16 shooting, and added an assist and steal. He hit six three-pointers and 25 tallies came in the second half to help the Ducks erase a 13-point deficit. For the week, he shot 62.5 percent from the field, 100 percent from the line and 46 percent from long range in 31 minutes per game.
Men’s Basketball Rookie – Ithaca
Sam Bevan, Guard – Strafford, PA/Conestoga
Sam Bevan scored a career-high seven points in just nine minutes in the Bombers' 101-76 victory over Alfred Friday night before again rewriting his career-high with an eight-point performance in Ithaca's narrow 48-46 win over St. John Fisher on Saturday. Bevan added four rebounds, two assists and one steal during the 2-0 week.
Women’s Basketball Player – Ithaca
Kathryn Campbell, Junior, Guard – Wall, NJ/Wall
Kathryn Campbell led the Bombers to a 3-0 record over a four-day span and 2-0 in the Empire 8 as Ithaca retained sole possession of first place in the league. Campbell averaged 13.0 points per game and chipped in 11 assists and six steals. The junior finished with 11 points in the Bombers 57-55 victory at Rochester, which snapped an 11-game winning streak by the Yellowjackets, as Ithaca's last victory came during the 1995-96 season. On Friday night, Campbell registered a game-high 19 points and four assists in a 75-39 win against Alfred. She converted six of her 10 shots from the floor and added three steals. The following day, in a 48-43 overtime win over St. John Fisher, she scored nine points, adding five assists and two steals.
Women’s Basketball Rookie – Utica
Mary Miceli, Guard – New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle
Miceli broke out for two straight 20+ point efforts as the Pioneers' went 2-1 this past week. She averaged 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. She netted a career-high 27 points against SUNYIT Wednesday. She came back with 23 points against Fisher, including two 3-pointers in overtime to help UC secure a 73-69 win over Fisher. She wrapped up her weekend with a career-high seven assists in the Pioneers win over Alfred.
Swimming and Diving and Indoor Track and Field awards will resume next week.