Last season guard Melissa Marra (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) and forward Katlyn Cunningham (Clarksburg, MA/Drury) combined to earn eight of the 11 Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association's “Rookie of the Week” awards. Marra, who was recognized five times, was voted the conference's “Rookie of the Year” by the league's head coaches.
Freshman Katie DeSorrento (Schaghticoke, NY/Catholic Central) has picked right up where her teammates have left off as she earned the UCAA's first “Rookie of the Week” award after leading the Dutchwomen to the Manhattanville Tournament championship.
In the season opener, DeSorrento scored a game-high 19 points while connecting on six-of-12 field goal attempts while canning seven-of-eight free throws. She also had five steals and four assists. The title contest with the host Valients saw DeSorrento again come away with game-high scoring honors as she knocked down 21 points. The 5'8 guard was eight-of-15 from the floor, five-of-five from the line and had five steals and four assists.
Cunningham, meanwhile, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player as she scored 31 points in the two games while hitting 13-of-19 field goals, five-of-six free throws and added 13 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Junior forward
Kelly Baker (Cutchogue, NY/Mattituck-Cutchogue) earned a spot on the All-Tournament team as her stellar defensive play helped Union collect 57 turnovers in the two games. Offensively, Baker 17 points with 11 rebounds.
On the men's side of the court, sophomore forward Devon Bruce (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) came up with the Dutchmen's first double-double of the season (double-digit numbers in either points, rebounds, or assists) with 10 points and 14 rebounds in helping Union even its record to 1-1 with a 61-54 victory over host Swarthmore.
The Dutchmen, who play their first seven games on the road, won't be home until they host their annual tournament the weekend of January 10-11.