Northeast Conference

NEC Women's Basketball Release (11/18)

Monmouth's
Jennifer Bender

A pair of players that opened their 2008-09 campaigns with double-doubles are the honorees in the season's first installment of the Choice Hotels Northeast Conference women's basketball weekly awards program. Monmouth senior forward Jennifer Bender captured Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week honors for her efforts in powering the Hawks past Garden State rival Saint Peter's in overtime. Two days after opening her collegiate career with a monster 30-point showing, Long Island's Ashley Palmer secured the Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week award. Bender, who was 7-of-17 shooting from the field, logged game-highs in points (25) and rebounds (12) over 41 minutes of action. Fresh off her selection to the preseason all-NEC team, Bender scored the first six points of overtime. In all, ten of her career-high 25 points came during the extra session in helping Monmouth outscore the Peahens 15-3. After breaking a 44-44 tie with two free throws one minute into overtime, Bender dropped in a layup to increase the lead to four next time down court. Palmer exploded onto the scene during Long Island�s season-opening loss at La Salle, notching a huge double-double of 30 points and 16 rebounds in setting two LIU records for debuts. The freshman forward eclipsed the 20-point debut performance of Kim Mac Millan (1999) and grabbed more boards than Chelsea Ferguson�s 12 (1992). Shooting 14-of-23 from the field, Palmer was one field goal make shy of Dawn Coleman�s single-game program record from January 13, 1996.

NEC Swimming and Diving Release (11/18)

Wagner's
Alexandra Tomlinson (L) and
Mount's
Katie Fives (R)

Wagner's Alexandra Tomlinson brings home her first NEC Swimmer of the Week award of the 2008-09 season after an impressive showing at the Frank Elm Super Splash, hosted by Rutgers last weekend. Tomlinson, an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2007-08, turned in a second-place finish in the 1650 freestyle event, as her time of 17:24.29 stands at the top of the Northeast Conference, along with her 1:56.69 performance in the 200 free and her 5:05.12 time in the 500 free. Tomlinson also swam the first leg of WC�s third-place 800 free relay squad (7:57.07). Winning her first career diving competition, Mount St. Mary's Katie Fives is the recipient of the NEC Diver of the Week accolade. The senior totaled 152.80 points in the one-meter board event to earn the victory in a meet against NJIT and host VMI on Saturday, November 15.