WEEKLY HONORS:

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Brie Perpignan, Elon

Senior | Guard | Alexandria, Va. / Bishop O’Connell

Perpignan led the Phoenix to a 77-65 win over Gardner-Webb by scoring or assisting on 19 of Elon’s 31 made field goals. The senior guard scored a team-best 18 points and recorded a career-high 12 assists for her third career double-double. Perpignan also tallied a personal-best six steals in the effort. The 12 assists are the most by a CAA player in a single game this season. There have only been two double-digit assist performances in the league this season, and Perpignan has recorded both of them. She ranks eighth in the nation, averaging 6.4 assists per game, and is 21st nationally with 64 total assists.

CONFERENCE NOTES:

CAA PLAY IS COMING YOUR WAY: Eight teams have concluded their non-conference schedules, while Elon will close out its non-conference slate during the week. All ten teams are scheduled to open conference play this weekend. The schedule features four games on Friday and five games Sunday.  

STRINGING WWWWINS TOGETHER: Towson, Charleston and Drexel have strung together solid winning streaks. The Tigers have won their previous six games, while the Cougars and Dragons have won five straight. The CAA is one of four conferences with three or more teams maintaining at least a five-game winning streak. 

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: CAA teams proved hard to beat on their home court this season, posting a 32-13 record at home. Two teams remain undefeated on their home court, while five squads have only one loss at home. 

NON-CONFERENCE, NO PROBLEM: It has been an impressive start to the 2021-22 season as CAA teams have combined for a 60-41 record. Six teams have recorded six or more victories and maintain a winning percentage at or above .600.    

FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS: A pair of CAA Players rank inside the top 15 nationally in field goal shooting percentage. Charleston's Arynn Eady leads the NCAA, shooting at a 71.8% clip, while Allie Kubek of Towson ranks 13th shooting 61.0% from the floor. 

PROLIFIC SCORING: Delaware's Jasmine Dickey ranks first in the NCAA, averaging 25.6 points per game, while a pair of teams rank inside the top 20 in scoring offense. As a team, Charleston ranks 15th in the nation averaging 81.1 points per game, and Towson ranks 19th, scoring 79.8 points per game.

BLOCK PARTY: Charleston's Arynn Eady recorded seven blocks against UNCG, marking the most blocks in a single game by a CAA player this season. She ranks 18th in the NCAA, averaging 2.36 blocks per game and 19th with 26 total blocks. 

STONE COLD THIEVERY: Two CAA players rank inside the top 10 in steals per game nationally. Charleston's Jenna Annecchiarico ranks second nationally with 4.09 steals per game and third with 45 total steals. Claudia Soriano of Northeastern is tenth in the NCAA with 35 steals, ranking sixth with an average of 3.50 steals per game. 

DROPPING DIMES: Three CAA student-athletes rank inside the top 20 nationally in assists per game this season. Towson's Aleah Nelson ranks fourth in the NCAA in assists per game (6.7) and 15th in total assists (67), while Jenna Annecchiarico of Charleston ranks seventh in assists per game (6.5) and 11th in total assists (71). Elon's Brie Perpignan is eighth nationally in assists per game (6.4) and 21st in total assists (64). 

LOCKDOWN DEFENSE: Defense has been at a premium for CAA squads to begin the year as Six teams are holding opponents to under 60.0 points per game and seven limit opponents to under 40% shooting. Drexel leads the league in scoring defense and ranks second in field goal percentage defense (35.1%). The Dragons are 19th in the NCAA, allowing 52.9 ppg. Towson leads the conference in field goal percentage defense and is third in scoring defense (59.0 ppg). The Tigers' 33.0% opponent field goal percentage ranks 11th nationally.

NOTHING BUT NET: In the latest edition of the NCAA NET rankings, five CAA teams hold steady in the top 150. Two teams crack the top 100 as Towson ranks 74th and Drexel ranks 97th. Elon was third, ranking 122nd, with Delaware and Northeastern rounding out the top five at 144th and 147th, respectively. 

CAA IN THE COLLEGE INSIDER MID-MAJOR TOP 25: Four CAA teams: Delaware, Drexel, James Madison and Towson, received recognition in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll. Towson held steady at 19th, followed by Drexel, who rose to 21st. Delaware and James Madison continued to receive votes. 

TEAM NOTES:

Charleston

• Charleston had the week away from the court but ended its non-conference slate by winning five games in a row.  

• Jenna Annecchiarico leads CofC with 15.0 points, 6.5 assists and 4.1 steals per game this season. She also tops the conference in steals per game.  

• Anika McGarity contributes 14.8 ppg for the Cougars. She is tied for the most made 3-pt field goals in the CAA with 25 and is shooting 40.3% from behind the arc. 

• Arynn Eady adds 10.5 ppg and 7.1 rpg. She leads the NCAA, shooting 71.8% from the field. Eady leads the team in blocks (26) and ranks second in steals (26). 

• Charleston leads the CAA in scoring offense averaging 81.1 ppg and ranks second in scoring margin, outscoring opponents by 19.8 ppg.  

• The Cougars have the best turnover margin (+11.8) in the nation. They lead the conference in forced turnovers (24.7) and steals per game (14.8).

• Charleston has won five consecutive games, marking the program's first five-game winning streak since 2009-10. 

Delaware

• Delaware saw its final non-conference game canceled. The Blue Hens last played on Dec. 11 in a setback to Northwestern (76-53).

• On the season, Jasmine Dickey leads Delaware with 25.6 points per game while ranking second on the team in rebounding (8.1 rpg) and assists (25). 

• Tyi Skinner leads the team with 39 assists and is the second-leading scorer, averaging 14.8 points per game.

• Ty Battle tops the CAA with six double-doubles this season, recording 12.7 points per game and leading the team with 9.5 rebounds per game.  

• Delaware ranks second in the CAA in rebounding (42.4 rpg) and rebounding margin (+5.4). 

• The Blue Hens have the third-highest scoring offense in the conference, averaging 71.2 points per game. 

• Delaware is also tied for second in the league in turnover margin (+4.0), turning the ball over at the second-lowest rate (12.8) in the conference.  

Drexel

• Drexel had its final non-conference game postponed. In its previous contest, Drexel defeated Yale to win its fifth straight game.  

• Keishana Washington leads Drexel with 16.1 ppg. She has reached double figures in all 10 games, including 20+ points in her previous three contests. 

• Tess Brugler paces the Dragons with 9.1 rpg and 17 blocks while ranking second with 13.2 ppg. She ranks second in the CAA with five double-doubles this season. 

• Hannah Nihill leads Drexel in steals (17) and assists (44), adding 12.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. 

• Mariah Leonard is second on the team with 7.1 rpg and leads the CAA with 4.1 offensive boards per contest. 

• The Dragons have the top scoring defense in the CAA, allowing 52.9 ppg and rank second in field goal percentage defense (35.1%).

• Drexel leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.45). 

• Drexel's 8-2 start matches the 2016-17 team for the best 10-game start in program history. 

 Elon

• Elon won its third straight game, defeating Gardner-Webb 77-65. 

• Brie Perpignan led the Phoenix with 18 points and a career-high 12 assists for her second double-double this season. The senior guard also tallied a career-best six steals in the victory. 

• Ariana Nance added 15 points with five rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal. 

• Evonna McGill contributed 12 points and four rebounds in 16 minutes. 

• Kayla Liles led the team with 10 rebounds, adding six points and three assists. 

• Tyja Traore tied a season-high with seven points and added five rebounds, while Maya Johnson tallied six points and six rebounds off the bench.

• Elon's reserves provided a huge lift as the Phoenix bench outscored Gardner-Webb 23-0.

• The Phoenix outrebounded the Bulldogs 42-33, including 18-9 on the offensive glass, which led to 17 second-chance points. 

Hofstra

• Hofstra had its final three non-conference games canceled. The Pride last took the court on Dec. 11 against Ole Miss (59-37). 

• On the year, JaKayla Brown leads Hofstra with 13.0 points per game and is tied for the team lead in assists (16). 

• Jaylen Hines contributes 11.3 points per game and leads the Pride grabbing 6.1 rebounds per contest. 

• Jaala Henry leads the team in blocks (6) and assists (16), ranking second in rebounding (4.1 rpg) and steals (10). She adds 6.5 points per game. 

• Rosi Nicholson paces the team in steals (14) and ranks third in assists (14). Nicholson contributes 4.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as well.  

• Sorelle Ineza is recording 6.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game this season. 

• Three of the Pride's eight games have been one-possession games, with Hofstra going 2-1 in those contests. 

James Madison

• James Madison ended a five-game skid, defeating George Mason 69-61.

• Kiki Jefferson recorded her third double-double this season, with 21 points and 10 rebounds. 

• Claire Neff scored a season-high 18 points, just one point shy of her career-high, and knocked down five of her nine attempts from three.

• Jaylin Carodine led JMU with 15 rebounds, tying her career-high. Carodine has grabbed 10+ rebounds in three consecutive games. 

• Jamia Hazell contributed 10 points, three rebounds and two steals.  

• Annalicia Goodman provided key minutes, tallying nine points and nine rebounds.  

• Overall, JMU shot 41.8% (23-55) from the field and 34.8% (8-23) from three, while George Mason was limited to 31.3% (21-67) shooting and 23.6% (6-26) from distance.  

• The Dukes held a 49-37 advantage in rebounding. All four JMU wins have come in games where the Dukes have outrebounded their opponent.

UNCW

• UNCW erased a 10-point second-half deficit, defeating UNCG 45-42. 

• Micah Hoggatt had 10 points with six rebounds and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the victory.

• Carrie Gross matched a team-high with 10 points, adding a pair of rebounds.  

• Allie Best contributed eight points, five steals and three rebounds. She went 2-for-3 from behind the arc, including the go-ahead at the four-minute mark. Best also secured a steal with 12 seconds remaining and sank a pair of free throws to provide the final margin. 

• Mary McMillan chipped in eight points, going 2-for-4 from three with two assists. 

• Evan Miller matched a team-high with six rebounds, adding two steals, two assists and one block. 

• In the second half, UNCW limited UNCG to 21.1% (4-19) shooting from the field, allowing just 11 points.

• UNCW went 10-for-13 from the charity stripe, with all 13 attempts coming in the second half.  

Northeastern

• Northeastern's final non-conference game was canceled. In its previous contest, the Huskies fell to Harvard (75-43).  

• On the season, Kendall Currence paces Northeastern with 14.2 points per game while adding 4.1 rebounds per game.   

• Freshman Claudia Soriano leads the team in steals (35) and assists (36), ranking second with 10.7 ppg. The freshman is second in the CAA with 3.5 steals per game. 

• Donna Ntambue paces Northeastern averaging 7.4 rpg and is contributing 7.6 ppg. 

• Katie May adds 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. 

• Emily Calabrese contributes 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. 

• Northeastern ranks second in the CAA in scoring defense (56.3 ppg) and third in field goal percentage defense (37.3%). 

• The Huskies also rank second in the conference in team field goal percentage. Northeastern is shooting 42.7% from the floor. 

Towson

• Towson saw its final two non-conference games before CAA play canceled. The Tigers are scheduled to play a non-conference contest on Jan. 12 at Princeton.

• On the season, Aleah Nelson leads Towson with 17.2 ppg and tops the CAA with 6.7 apg. She also averages 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest. 

• Allie Kubek is second on the team with 15.7 ppg while grabbing 5.7 rpg. 

• Anissa Rivera leads the team in rebounding (7.6 rpg) and is third on the team in scoring (12.4 ppg).  

• Towson leads the CAA in rebounding (45.7 rpg), posting a +8.6 rebounding margin to top the league. 

• The Tigers are second in the conference in scoring offense (79.8 ppg) and lead the CAA in scoring margin (+20.8). 

• Defensively, Towson paces the league in blocks per game (4.5) and field goal percentage defense (33.0%). 

• With a 9-1 record, Towson is off to its best start since 2006-07 (10-1).

William & Mary

• William & Mary was off last week after closing out its non-conference schedule with a 55-50 win over Norfolk State the week before. 

• Sydney Wagner has been well-rounded, contributing 12.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game. 

• Graduate transfer Riley Casey has produced 12.7 ppg in six contests this season. 

• Bre Bellamy leads the team in rebounding with 5.9 per game and adds 9.4 points per game, scoring the basketball.  

• Freshman Dani McTeer has added 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. 

• Kate Sramac leads the team in assists (31), adding 5.8 ppg and 5.5 apg.

• William & Mary leads the CAA in team free throw percentage, shooting 75.0% from the charity stripe. 

• The Tribe ranks third in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 58.9 points per game.