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The PSAC East has named its Player of the Week in women’s basketball twice so far this season and Bloomsburg junior Mia Hopkins has been awarded both times.

The Pittston Area grad is in her first season with the Huskies after playing at Division I Monmouth and the 5-foot-9 junior guard has really lit it up. She’s averaging 21.0 points and 12.0 rebounds and has had four straight double-doubles to help Bloomsburg get off to a 3-1 overall record and a 1-1 mark in PSAC East play.

“Mia has done a tremendous job of adapting to our system,” coach Bill Cleary said. “She is the kind of player that we feel can do outstanding things for our program.”

Hopkins had 27 points in her debut with the Huskies and also had 14 rebounds in a 76-72 victory over New Haven. She followed that up with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 71-54 triumph over Goldey-Beacom, a career-high 27 points and 11 rebounds in a 82-79 victory over Seton Hill and 16 points and 12 rebounds in an 80-65 loss to California last Saturday.

“I think Mia’s experience at Monmouth has helped us as a program because we are very young so her playing experience has been a big lift and a great teaching tool,” Cleary said. “She really enjoys the game and it shows in her play. She is a team player that can make things happen for everyone on the court.”

Good start for Moore

Junior Rasheed Moore is averaging 14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds for the 4-1 East Stroudsburg men’s basketball team. The 6-5, 235-pound Meyers grad has been solid the last three games – all victories – with 16 points and nine rebounds in an 85-61 victory over Shippensburg, 14 points and eight rebounds in a 94-86 triumph over St. Rose and 14 points and eight rebounds in an 85-62 victory over Le Moyne.

“Rasheed is off to a tremendous start,” coach Jeff Wilson said. “He added a great deal to his game in the off-season and is playing both inside and outside. He is now stepping out and playing more on the perimeter which has allowed us to be a bigger team at times in a game.”

Moore was named a captain this season.

“He leads by setting a great example,” Wilson said.

Rome’s an All-American

William & Mary sophomore Regan Rome wrapped up her fall season by finishing 25th in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Louisville, KY and as one of the top 40 finishers was named to the All-America team.

The Dallas High grad was never in danger of falling out of the top 40 and moved her way up consistently over the course of the race. Her 6K time was 20:17.7, which was more than 50 seconds faster than last season when she finished 90th.

Rome’s finish this year was the best finish ever for a William & Mary sophomore and seventh best individual finish in school history.

The Tribe gets right back into action when they open the indoor track season at the Christopher Newport Holiday Open Saturday in Newport News, VA.

Appleby getting better

Redshirt freshman Zach Appleby is 2-5 competing at 165 pounds for the Citadel wrestling team mainly in tournaments. The Tunkhannock grad joined the team last year as a walk-on.

“Early on I look at commitment level for walk-ons because during their freshman year it could be easy to get beat down,” coach Rob Hjerling said. “Zach is a hard worker and has physically gotten stronger.”

The coach said that Appleby is a good teammate.

“Zach meshes well with the guys on the team and he’s honest with himself and knows he has a long way to go. But he’s doing everything he can to get better technically, physically and mentally. It’s obvious he is committed to getting better.”

Ashby’s a starter

Sophomore Eastin Ashby is averaging 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds starting at guard for the 1-2 Emerson women’s basketball team. The Pittston Area grad also has eight steals and four assists and had 14 points in a 74-46 victory over Maine-Farmington.

“Eastin has stepped into a starting role and has emerged as a perimeter stopper on defense,” coach Bill Gould said. “She has also continued to improve on her three point shooting (7-for-19) to become a very dangerous threat from beyond the arc.”

Ashby’s strength according to her coach is her athleticism.

“Eastin creates so many problems for opposing teams both on offense and defense because she’s so fast and they really have a hard time dealing with that.”

Scialpi helping Golden Bears

Senior Sam Scialpi is a point-scorer in backstroke events and with relays for the Kutztown women’s swim team, the Golden Bears 2-3 on the season. The Pittston Area grad competed in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 50 freestyle at last year’s PSAC Championships.

“Sam has been doing a nice job for us this year,” coach Tim Flannery said. “She has worked hard since her freshman year and hopefully can improve more this season and is able to make it back to the PSACs in February.”

Kutztown is off until Saturday, Jan. 9 when it competes in Florida’s By the Sea Invitational in Fort Lauderdale.

Roccograndi wraps it up

James Roccograndi was a four-year starter at linebacker for the Ursinus football team and he ended his career by being named to the All-Centennial Conference second team.

The Dallas grad finished with 83 tackles, including 48 solos, with two sacks and an interception for the Bears, who finished 3-7 overall and 2-7 in league play. The 5-11, 210-pounder finished his career with 222 tackles, 147 solos, with 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.

Sutton 46th in Nationals

Shippensburg junior Kieran Sutton finished 46th out of 246 runners in last Saturday’s NCAA Men’s Cross Country Championships in Joplin, MO. His 10K time was 30:38.5 and he missed earning All-American honors by six spots and 14 seconds. The Lake-Lehman grad helped the Raiders finish 5th in the team standings.

Lock Haven junior Jacob Fetterman, a Hazleton Area grad, finished 94th (31:18.3) while teammate senior Ben Robinson, a Tunkahannock grad, finished 216th (33:05.90). The Bald Eagles finished 11th in the team standings.

Bloomsburg junior Mia Hopkins was named PSAC East Player of the Week twice.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_shuw-bball-11-15-0201.jpg.optimal.jpgBloomsburg junior Mia Hopkins was named PSAC East Player of the Week twice. Submitted photo

By Bill Arsenault

For Times Leader

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