Three Mariners Earn NECC Weekly Honors
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Three Mitchell College student athletes were honored by the New England Collegiate Conference on Tuesday.
Senior Alfonzo Stokes (Bloomfield, Conn.) of the men's basketball team was tabbed as NECC Player of the Week for the second time this season, while senior Sam McKenna (Millbrook, N.Y.) was named women's basketball Player of the Week for the first time this season and Jamya Beddoe (New London, Conn.) picked up Rookie of the Week honors for the second time.
Stokes, a senior guard, scored 25 points on 10-21 shooting to lead Mitchell College past Springfield College 82-69 before the holiday break. Stokes added 11 rebounds, three assists, and three steals, helping the Mariners bounce back from just their second loss of the season. Stokes big game aided the Mitchell comeback against Springfield, as the Mariners rallied from a 15 points deficit midway through the first half. Stokes is now averaging 20.4 points per game for 9-2 Mitchell.
McKenna averaged a team-high 19.5 points per game, helping Mitchell roll to a pair of dominate wins in the Hat City Tournament in Danbury on December 30th and 31st. The senior's sharp shooting was on full display, as she shot 46.2% from the field, 43.5% from three-point range, and 83.3% from the free-throw line, while also averaging four rebounds per game. McKenna began her big weekend by scoring 17 points as the Mariners ran away from Fitchburg State 92-44. She followed this up with 22 points, including six three-pointers, as Mitchell routed SUNY Delhi 101-30.
Beddoe, a freshman, averaged 18.5 points per game as the Mariners won both games of the Hat City Tournament hosted by Western Connecticut State University. Beddoe exploded for a career best 19 points on 7-11 shooting, including five three-pointers, as the Mariners rolled over Fitchburg State 92-44. She kept the hot streak alive the next day, pouring in 18 points, including four more from long range, as Mitchell blew out SUNY Delhi 101-30. The freshman added four rebounds, two assists, and three steals against the Broncos, helping the Mariners win their second consecutive game.
The Mitchell men's basketball team (9-2) return to action at home on Saturday, January 7th, hosting Johnson & Wales University. The Mitchell women (5-7), meanwhile, play next on Wednesday, January 4th, traveling to Mount Holyoke College.