Melissa Teel
Western Connecticut 
Junior Center • Hamden, Conn.

Western Connecticut State University junior center Melissa Teel has been named New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) Player of the Week for the week of February 22-28. It was the third time this season that she has received the honor. Teel helped the Colonials to their first LEC Tournament Championship since the 1993-94 season. The center was named Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament after exploding for 19.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocked shots per game in her team's two wins. Teel amassed 23 points, 13 boards and four blocks in Western Connecticut's 61-46 triumph over the University of Southern Maine in the title tilt on Saturday. It was her 23rd double-double of the season. One day earlier, she posted 16 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks in the Colonials 63-56 victory over Keene State College. Over the course of the week, Teel converted 76.2% (16-21) of her shots from the field. Western Connecticut will travel to Bowdoin College for an NCAA Tounament First Round contest against the University of New England on March 5.

Curran Leighton
Southern Maine 
First Year Forward • Dover, N.H.

University of Southern Maine first year forward Curran Leighton has been named New England Women's Basketball Association (NEWBA) Rookie of the Week for the week of February 22-28. It was the fourth time this season that she has received the honor. The forward was also named NEWBA Player of the Week on two occasions. Leighton averaged a double-double on 19.0 points and 13.0 rebounds per outing in a 2-1 week for the Huskies. She knocked down 53.8% (21-39) of her shots from the floor and 86.6% (13-15) of her free throw attempts. The forward piled up 21 points and a career best 18 boards in Southern Maine's 64-54 win over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the LEC Tournament Quarterfinal Round on Tuesday. She notched another double-double on 15 points and 13 rebounds in her team's thrilling 48-46 triumph in the Semifinals at Eastern Connecticut State University on Friday. Leighton then closed out the week with a 21-point, eight-rebound performance in the Huskies 61-46 setback in the Championship game at Western Connecticut State University on Sunday. Southern Maine will travel to Amherst College for an NCAA Tounament First Round contest against RPI on March 5.

• Hailee Lowe, Lesley University (Sr, C, Hamilton, Mass.) - Lowe registered 26.0 points and 6.5 boards per contest in leading Lesley University to a pair of victories in the NECC Tournament. She was named Most Valuable Player of the Tournament after posting 28 points and seven rebounds in her team's 76-46 win over Elms College in the Championship game on Saturday.
• Margo Russell, University of New England (So, F, Madison, Maine) - Russell recorded 17.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per outing, as she pushed the University of New England to its second TCCC Tournament Championship in program history. After netting 23 points in the Nor'easters 74-46 Quarterfinal Round victory over Roger Williams University on Tuesday, she tallied 17 points a career best 16 boards in their 75-62 title game triumph over Regis College on Saturday. The University of New England will travel to Bowdoin College for an NCAA Tournament First Round contest against Western Connecticut State University on March 5. 
• Kathleen King, Babson College (So, F, Framingham, Mass.) - King amassed 18.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game, as Babson College rolled to its second straight NEWMAC Tournament Championship. She was at her best in the Beavers title game victory over WPI on Sunday, when she collected 17 points and 15 rebounds. The forward came up with a clutch steal and four straight free throws in the final minute of the contest. Babson will enter the NCAA Tournament riding a 17 game winning streak. They will face off against Emmanuel College in a First Round matchup at Colby College on March 5.
• Aarika Ritchie, Colby College (So, G, Lee, Maine) - Ritchie registered 12.5 points and 5.0 assists per contest to help lead Colby College to its first NESCAC Championship game appearance in school history. The point guard posted 15 points and seven assists in the Mules 75-64 Semifinal Round victory over Bowdoin College on Saturday. She scored 10 points in her team's 69-54 Championship game setback at top ranked Amherst College on Sunday. Colby has qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and will host Husson University in a First Round contest on March 5.
• Jen Wehner, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (So, F, Cooperstown, N.Y.) - Wehner was named MASCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after averaging 18.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.3 blocked shots per game in her team's three victories. She posted double-doubles in all three contests, including a 20-point, 10-board performance in the Trailblazers thrilling 68-65 triumph over Worcester State College in the Championship on Saturday. With the win, the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts secured its first MASCAC Tournament Championship and its first NCAA Tournament bid. The Trailblazers will take part in a First Round contest at top ranked Amherst College on March 5.

• A total of nine NEWBA head coaches will lead their teams in the NCAA Tournamament over the upcoming weeks. Congratulations and good luck to Anthony Ewing (University of New England), Gary Fifield (University of Southern Maine), Kissy Walker (Husson University), Judy Blinstrub (Babson College), Lori Gear McBride (Colby College), Kim Rybczyk (Western Connecticut State University), Carla Berube (Tufts University), Holly McGovern (Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts), and Adrienne Shibles (Bowdoin College). Tournament play will begin on March 5. The tournament bracket can be accessed here.
• Wheaton College senior guard Andrea Bailey recorded her 500th career assist in her team's NEWMAC Tournament Semifinal Round setback at Babson College on Saturday.