Empire 8 Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A member of the Elmira College women's basketball team has been named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, as the league announced second-year forward
Rachel Vespucci '19 as the recipient of the award on Monday afternoon.
Vespucci claimed Player of the Week honors following a 2-0 week, one where the Soaring Eagles trounced Pennsylvania College of Technology, 65-23, before snapping a lengthy winless drought against SUNY Cortland with a thrilling 70-68 win. The sophomore recorded a double-double in both games and finished the week with an average of 13.0 points, 15.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
The Macedon, New York, native opened the week with 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds against the Wildcats. Not only was her rebounding total a new single-game best, but it was also the most boards collected by a Soaring Eagle since Alex Balara '15 hauled in 16 on February 21, 2015.
While ending a losing streak to the Red Dragons that dated back to the 2001-02 season, Vespucci tallied 15 points and hauled in 15 rebounds, the latter representing a game high. She had a tremendous showing from the foul line, as Vespucci connected on seven of her 10 free throws in the second half to help the Soaring Eagles seal the tight victory.
The strong outings not only helped Elmira extend its home win streak for four consecutive games, but they also allowed Vespucci to lengthen her double-double streak to four in a row, the longest such streak in over 15 years.
Over the last four contests, the sophomore forward has averaged 15.5 points and 13.8 boards per game. As a result, she has climbed into third among the Empire 8's leading rebounders with an average of 10.0 per game. Additionally, her four double-doubles are tied for 10th-most in the country and are only two shy of first place.
Vespucci and the Elmira College women's basketball team will have to wait until the 2017 calendar year to finish their four-game homestand, as the Purple and Gold return to the home hardwood at Speidel Gymnasium on Tuesday, January 3rd, for a 6:00 p.m. tilt with Hartwick College.
