Confident start to 2019 for Eckerd College’s Zoe Richards
IT has been a productive start to 2019 for Otago’s Zoe Richards.
The Eckerd College forward piled in 26 points on 10/12 shooting, while adding seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in a big win against Palm Beach Atlantic on Sunday.
It was the most dominant performance of the US college basketball season by an Otago player.
The 21yearold — who was part of the WBC champion Otago Gold Rush in 2018 — has continued the solid form she showed last season.
She has continued to shoot efficiently, scoring her 9.8 points per game on 57% shooting.
Meanwhile she has pulled in 3.1 rebounds per game, while adding 1.83 assists and 1.58 steals.
Her Eckerd team — playing in the NCAA division two — has an eight win, four loss record for the season.
In Sunshine State Conference play it finds itself midtable with a 32 record.
Meanwhile, at the men’s division one level, centre Sam Timmins’ Washington Huskies have had a tough start to the season.
Entering the season ranked 25th in the country, the side also has an 84 record, although three of its losses have come against highly ranked sides.
Timmins’ minutes have fluctuated, as the team at times has opted for a more mobile small ball lineup
His numbers have taken a hit as a result — his 1.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game are both down on previous years.
Despite that he has remained an energetic presence inside and has drawn praise from former NBA most valuable player Bill Walton.
Guard Joe CookGreen has had a solid season in his first year at Texas Wesleyan University in the NAIA.
He has scored at 6.7 points per game, while also grabbing 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
His team has a 77 record and is coming off two losses after a three week break over Christmas.
At Alaska Fairbanks Brittany Richards — twin sister of Zoe — resumed last week after a month’s break in their schedule.
Her team has had a tough time, going on a seven game losing streak after opening with three wins.
She put up numbers of 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
In Switzerland’s NLB, Benoit Hayman has played his way into a major role at BBC Nyon.
The guard has put up 12 points per game, to go with 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals, notably hitting a matchwinning buzzer beater against Villars Basket.
His team has 11 wins from 13 games to top the NLB with five games remaining in the regular season.