Freshman forward Bria Smith (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) of the women’s basketball team is the New Jersey City University Athletes of the Week for January 6, 2014. The honor is for the period of December 30, 2013 thru January 5, 2014. Smith collects the accolade for the second time this season.
BRIA SMITH
Smith became the first freshman in NJCU women’s basketball history to be selected as the New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Week as she scored the most points by a Gothic Knight since the 2011-12 season while registering her sixth double-double in a 23-point, 19-rebound effort on January 4 in a 61-54 road NJAC loss at Kean.
Smith, a four-time NJAC Rookie of the Week this year on top of her current Player of the Week distinction, previously was named NJCU Athlete of the Week this season on December 2.
Smith, a 5-foot-8 Biology major, achieved career highs in scoring and boards, finishing with 43 percent of NJCU’s scoring on 9-of-19 shooting (5-7 FT) to account for her 23 points. Meanwhile, 11 of her 19 rebounds were offensive and she added both of NJCU’s blocks. Her previous highs were 17 points and 17 rebounds. She collected six points and 10 boards in the first period before being responsible for half of NJCU’s second-half scoring, finishing with 17 points (7-11 FG) and nine rebounds in the period. Smith kept NJCU close for much of the second half and with her consecutive baskets, the Knights were down just one, 35-34, with 12:22 to go, before the Cougars went on a decisive run to take control of the game.
Smith’s 23 points were the most by any NJCU player since freshman Luisa Montalvo tallied 26 against Cabrini College on November 19, 2011. Her 19 rebounds were the most by an NJCU freshman since Lindia Fischer had 20 at Rutgers-Camden on January 16, 2010.
In 11 games to open her career, Smith is averaging a double-double of 12.0 points and 11.9 rebounds per outing, while contributing 1.7 steals, 1.3 blocks and 0.5 assists in 30.1 minutes. She has amassed 131 rebounds (62-69), 132 points, 19 steals and 14 blocks this year while shooting .365 from the field (46-126) and .580 at the line (50-69).
Through January 5, Smith leads the conference in double-doubles with six and offensive rebounding at 5.6 per game and ranks second in the NJAC in rebounding—5.4 more rebounds per contest than any other NJAC freshman.
