Empire 8 Conference Players of the Week - January 7
Empire 8 Players of the Week
December 31 – January 6
Men’s Basketball
Player – Chris Kidd, Sage (Senior, Troy, N.Y.)
Kidd exploded for a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds in Sage's win over Utica. Backed that effort up with a career-best 14 rebounds with 19 points in a tough loss to Elmira. For the week, he averaged 24.5 points per game with 13.5 rebounds per game and shot an impressive 55.9% from the field over the two games.
Rookie – Darius Hopkins, Utica (Freshman, Tampa, Fla.)
Hopkins averaged 15 points per game in two contests last week for the Pioneers to open Empire 8 conference play. He contributed a team-best 24 points in Utica's overtime loss to Sage, with 19 points in the second half to fuel a comeback. He then added six points in a loss to Stevens.
Women’s Basketball
Player – Rachel Benedict, Nazareth (Junior, Brockport, N.Y.)
Benedict led the Golden Flyers to a pair of Empire 8 Conference wins over the weekend by averaging 20.5 points and 8.5 rebounds against Hartwick and Houghton. She scored 11 of her game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter as Nazareth pulled away for an 80-73 win over Hartwick Friday. She then scored 13 of her team-high 15 points in the second half as Nazareth rallied past Houghton 55-50 on Saturday. She went 14-for-30 from the field and 11 of 14 from the free throw line in the two games.
Rookie – Jadyn Abrams, Nazareth (Freshman, Bath, N.Y.)
Abrams helped the Golden Flyers to a pair of Empire 8 Conference wins over the weekend as she averaged 16 points against Hartwick and Houghton. She scored 23 points (with 13 in the second half) of Friday's 80-73 win over Hartwick. She added nine points in Saturday's 55-50 come-from-behind win over Houghton. Abrams ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game and leads the team with 15 three-pointers.
About the Empire 8 Conference
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and aspire to be regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership seeks to distinguish itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8.