E8 Athletes of the Week: January 5
The 2014-15 Empire 8 athletic campaign continues as the calendar flipped to a new year. Last week marked the first full seven days back on the hardwood as the men's and women's basketball programs began conference play and there were several top performances for fans to indulge in. Those earning weekly honors for the week of Dec. 29-Jan. 4 include...
Men’s Basketball co-Player – Nazareth
Maurice Mills, Junior, Forward – Utica, NY/Proctor
Maurice Mills helped the Golden Flyers to a 2-2 week by averaging 22.3 points and 13.5 rebounds. He was named to the all-tournament team for the Hilbert Tournament after Nazareth rallied for weekend wins over John Carroll and Hilbert. He had 28 points and 13 rebounds in an 85-80 win over John Carroll and then added 23 points and a school-record 23 rebounds in a 70-63 win over Hilbert. In the four games he shot 61.8 percent (34 for 55) from the floor and had 14 blocked shots.
Men’s Basketball co-Player – Utica
Aaron Nevins, Senior, Guard – Buffalo, NY/Canisius
Senior point guard Aaron Nevins became the 14th player in program-history to join the 1,000 point club after his 15 point effort vs. Ithaca on Saturday. Nevins now has 1,007 career points in 85 games played. He averaged 7.8 points, 5.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game as the Pioneers went 2-2 last week. He shot 41.2% from the floor and posted a 2.3 assist/turnover ratio.
Men’s Basketball Rookie – Elmira
Hayden Harkins, Freshman, Forward – Tampa, FL/Newsome
Hayden Harkins put together an impressive week statistically, leading Elmira with 12.0 points per game in EC's four games. He led the Soaring Eagles in scoring in back-to-back games, scoring a career-high 17 points against No. 13 Centre College and in EC's Empire 8-opening victory at Ithaca. He did the majority of his damage from beyond the arc, knocking down 13-of-25 from three-point range throughout the week, raising his season three-point percentage to a conference-leading 50.0 percent.
Women’s Basketball Player – St. John Fisher
Mary Kate Cusack, Junior, Guard – Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa
Mary Kate Cusack averaged 19.3 points and 3.7 steals in a 3-0 week for the Cardinals. The guard also led her team with four blocked shots (1.3 pg) and had a 5-to-1 assist-turnover ratio. She scored a season-high 24 points, including 18 in the first half in a win over Medaille on Tuesday. The junior then scored 19 points in a win over Utica on Friday and added 15 points, five steals and three assists in a win over Elmira on Saturday.
Women’s Basketball Rookie – Utica
Ashley Mayo, Freshman, Guard – Nanuet, NY/Nanuet
Freshman Ashley Mayo totaled 30 points, 10 boards, and six steals in three games last week. On Saturday, she netted a career-high 15 points and added six rebounds and three steals in the Pioneers’ heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Ithaca. She is averaging 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.