* ECAC Upstate Player of the Week
^ D3.Hoops.com National team of the Week

February 20, 2006
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected Maria Scaffidi (Buffalo/Holy Angels), a sophomore guard at Fredonia, as its Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. Shooting almost 60 % from the field, including 5-10 from beyond the arch, Scaffidi tallied 43 points to average 14.3 on the week. She added 14 rebounds, 11 assists and 9 steals as Fredonia went 2-1 to close regular season play. Following a 64-70 non-league loss to Penn St. Behrend, the Blue Devils swept their remaining two conference contests. After defeating SUNYIT 69-44 on Friday, Fredonia went on to upset top-ranked Cortland on Saturday. Fredonia then prevailed 60-54 to hand the Red Dragons their first SUNYAC loss of the season. Scaffidi led her team with 21 points in the Cortland victory. Her second period stats showed her going 6 of 7 from the field including 2 of 3 from 3-point range. In a span of 35 seconds during the last two minutes, Scaffidi collected 2 baskets and a defensive rebound to put the game out of reach for the Red Dragons.

February 13, 2006
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected Geneseo sophomore forward Annie Verdino (Yorktown Heights/New Hyde Park) is the Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 12 . Verdino posted a pair of double-doubles as she racked up 68 points and 30 rebounds on the week. Shooting almost 50% from the field and hitting 82% of her free-throws, Verdino averaged 22.7 points and 10 rebounds per game. She led the Blue Knights during a 2-1 conference week as she accounted for 38% of her team's offense. Following their 51-49 win over Buffalo, a 64-76 loss to Oneonta and a 66-49 victory over New Paltz, the Blue Knights advance to 15-8 (10-4 SUNYAC).

February 6, 2006
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected Katie Marcella (Schenectady/Guilderland) a junior guard from Brockport as its Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending February 5th. Averaging 16.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists on the week, Marcella had a game-high 20 points and 12 boards in the Golden Eagles 60-44 win over Plattsburgh on Saturday. Marcella totaled 49 points, 29 rebounds, 16 assists and 3 steals in last week’s three conference contests as Brockport prevailed 71-48 over Potsdam after falling 56-66 to Buffalo State. This season Maracella has averaged 7.8 boards per game as Brockport’s top rebounder. She is also her team’s second highest scorer averaging 13.5 ppg. The Golden Eagles are currently tied for fifth place in the SUNYAC with a 7-5 tally (11-9 overall).

January 30, 2006
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected Cortland sophomore forward Sara Cavanaugh (Hastings-on-Hudson/Hastings) as the Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending Jan. 29.
Cavanaugh shot an impressive 71% from the field (22-31) as she tallied 54 points in two games to average 27 ppg. She went double-double on Friday as she scored a career high of 34 points while adding 15 rebounds in Cortland's 68-51 win over Geneseo. Cavanaugh also totaled 22 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks on the week. In Saturday's game with Buffalo State, Cortland prevailed 65-43 for their tenth straight win as they advanced to 15-2 overall (10-0 SUNYAC).

January 23, 2006
The State University York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected Cortland senior guard Kaylin Van Dusen (Schulyer/West Canada Valley) and Fredonia sophomore guard Danielle Bleecker (Pittsford/Pittsford-Mendon) as its Women’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week for the week ending Jan. 22. Both players are making their second appearance this season as SUNYAC Players of the Week.
Shooting 50 % from the field, including 8-17 from beyond the arch, Van Dusen tallied 52 points to average 17.3 on the week. She added 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 9 steals as Cortland swept its three game conference slate to extend their current winning streak to eight straight. Kaylin is averaging 15.3 ppg this season as she connected on 46% (26-57) of her three-pointers. The top-ranked Red Dragons remain undefeated in conference play at 8-0(13-2 overall).
Bleecker also hitting 50% from the field scored 44 points as Fredonia went two-for-two in its conference only play. Shooting 84% (11-13) from the charity line, Bleecker also tallied 12 boards, 7 steals, an assist and a block for the week. She now has five games scoring 20 or more points. Bleecker has scored in double figures in 12 of the season’s 14 games to average 15.5 ppg. The Blue Devils are currently ranked third in the SUNYAC at 5-2 (10-4 overall).

January 16, 2006
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has announced the women's SUNYAC Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending January 15. Cortland senior guard Kaylin VanDusen (Schuyler/West Canada Valley) exceeded the 1000 point mark of her career last week as she led the Cortland Red Dragons to three conference wins. Totaling 50 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists on the week, VanDusen shot 20 of 41(49%) from the field to average 16.7 points per game. Averaging 14.8 points per game on the season, she currently leads her team in scoring and is second in assists with 3.0 per game. VanDusen's current tally of 1002 points came as Cortland downed Potsdam 68-32 on Saturday. She is 13th player in Cortland history to reach 1000 career points. The Red Dragons also defeated Oneonta 51-44 and Plattsburgh 58-48. Winning 9 of their last 10 games, Cortland now stands at 10-2 overall and remains undefeated in the SUNYAC with a 5-0 tally.

January 9, 2006
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected Geneseo sophomore forward Annie Verdino (Yorktown Heights/New Hyde Park) is the Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending Jan. 8.
Verdino tallied 36 points and 16 rebounds during last week's two games at the Marymont Tournament to be named Tournament MVP. Verdino, a sophomore forward, was a key contributor in Saturday's 67-63 overtime victory as she netted 21 points and 13 boards. Shooting 86% as she went 12 for 14 at the charity line, Verdino also finished the week with 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. The Blue Knights downed Staten Island 80-75 in first round play before defeating host Marymont in the championship round.

December 12, 2005
The State University York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected New Paltz senior center Alexandria Cruse (Poughkeepsie/Poughkeepsie) and Cortland sophomore forward Sara Cavanaugh (Hastings-on-Hudson/Hastings) as its Women’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week for the week ending Dec. 11.
Cruse went double-double in both of last week’s games as New Paltz finished 1-1 on the week. She averaged 20.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game while shooting almost 70% from the field (.692). While only playing 14 minutes in the Hawk’s 75-36 win over Polytechnic, Cruse went 8 of 9 from the field for 17 points. In a narrow 66-69 loss to the College of Staten Island, Cruse collected 24 points and 17 boards.
Cavanaugh also posted two double-doubles, averaging 19.5 points and 14 rebounds, as Cortland split the week’s slate of games. While pulling down a career high of 18 boards in the Red Dragon’s 56-54 win over Ithaca, Cavanaugh collected 18 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. She also finished with 21 points and 10 boards in Cortland’s 68-71 loss at Nazareth. Currently averaging 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds, Cavanaugh leads her team in both categories.

December 5, 2005
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected sophomore forward Cheryl Kindzia (Williamsville/Williamsville North) as the Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 4. Kindzia tallied 48 points and 40 boards as she averaged a double-double during last week's three SUNYAC games. Kindzia also collected 4 assists, 2 steals and 5 blocks as the Blue Devils went 2-1 on the week to extend their overall record to 4-2 (2-1). With an average of 17.7 points and 12.0 rebounds, Kindzia now leads her team in both categories.

November 28, 2005
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected Fredonia sophomore Danielle Bleecker (Pittsford/Pittsford-Mendon) as the Women's Basketball Player of the week for the week ending November 27. Bleecker rolled up 25 points and pulled down 9 rebounds as she led Fredonia State to a 58-47 win over D'Youville last Tuesday. Bleecker connected on 6 of 7 from the charity line for an 85% average while also going 9-19 from the field. She completed the weekend with 3 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. Bleeker has averaged 14 points and 6 boards as the Blue Devils went 2-1 in early season play.

November 21, 2005
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has selected Cortland's Maggie Byrne (Pearl River/Albertus Magnus) as the Women's Basketball player of the week for the week ending November 20. Byrne shot 62% (8 of 13) from the field last week as she tallied 25 points and 12 rebounds in two games to average 12.5 points and 6 boards. She scored 17 points in Cortland’s 69-61 opening win over DeSales as the Red Dragons went 1-1 on the week. Byrne completed the weekend by shooting 100% at the charity line (4 of 4) while adding 6 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. She was also named to all-tournament team of the Susquehanna's Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off Tournament.

Dr. Patrick R. Damore, Commissioner
Phone: (716) 673-3105
Fax: (716) 673-3135
Hotline: 1-877-299-4011

Site Maintained by Janelle Feuz, SUNYAC Publicist