Latrese McNair has been named the NJCU Women's Athlete of the Week for the first time this season and the sixth time in the last two years after she was voted to the All-Tournament Team at the Gothic Knight Tip-Off Tournament, while leading NJCU (1-1) to the championship game. She averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 steals, 3.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.1 percent (16-34) from the field.
In NJCU’s 71-59 win over Lynchburg College in the opening round on November 18, McNair, who has led Division III in steals in two consecutive seasons, finished with 15 points (7-of-17), six steals and four assists. NJCU led from start to finish in the game. The Knights opened up an 18-9 edge, before heading to the half up 35-27. In the first half, Lynchburg drew within 18-14, but NJCU extended its margin to 24-16 at 7:43 when McNair picked off a pass and went the distance for a fast-break basket. She had another steal and fast-break bucket to give NJCU a 32-23 cushion.
In a 71-62 loss to Brockport in the final on November 19, McNair chalked up a career-high 25 points—including 16 in the second half. McNair, who reached the 20-point plateau for the sixth time in her career, surpassed her previous high of 23 (at City College of New York, January 24, 2005), as she shot 9-of-17 from the field and 6-of-9 from the line with three assists. NJCU is now 4-2 all-time when she reaches 20. She was also named to the Tip-Off All-Tournament Team in 2004.
