CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Lafayette sophomore Natalie Kucowski posted back-to-back double-doubles to earn Patriot League Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, while Lehigh freshman Emma Grothaus was selected as Patriot League Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week following a 13-point and 11-rebound performance during the opening weekend of the 2018-19 season.
Army West Point senior forward Madison Hovren opened the season with a double-double (20 points, 12 rebounds) versus LIU Brooklyn to earn an honorable mention nod. Bucknell senior forward Kaitlyn Slagus produced back-to-back double-doubles in two wins this week to also earn honorable mention accolades.
The Patriot League Women’s Basketball Player and Rookie of the Week are selected in a vote by League media members and each school’s sports information director, who are not eligible to vote for their own student-athletes.
Patriot League Player of the Week
Natalie Kucowski, Lafayette, So., F, Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy
* Kucowski scored a career-high 29 points in the Leopards’ season-opening win at Fairleigh Dickinson.
* The sophomore added 16 rebounds, two blocks and a .733 field-goal percentage against the Knights.
* On Sunday, she nabbed her 11th career double-double (14 points, 13 rebounds) to go with two assists and two steals versus Binghamton.
Patriot League Rookie of the Week
Emma Grothaus, Lehigh, Fr., F, Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi
* Grothaus recorded a double-double in the season opener against Kutztown with 13 points and 11 rebounds in 17 minutes played, to go with three steals and three assists.
* Against Central Connecticut on Saturday, Grothaus finished with six points, eight boards, two steals and one rebound.
* The freshman finished her opening week as a Mountain Hawk averaging 9.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.50 assists and 1.50 steals per game.
Honorable Mentions
Madison Hovren, Army West Point, Sr., F, Spokane, Wash./Central Valley
* Hovren recorded her first double-double of the season in Army’s 57-42 victory over LIU Brooklyn, with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
* The senior reached 20 points for the 19th time in her career and it was her 37th game with double-digit rebounds.
Kaitlyn Slagus, Bucknell, Sr., F, Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon
* Slagus notched back-to-back double-doubles, including 15 points and 14 rebounds in a 75-58 win over Quinnipiac on Sunday.
* The senior produced 11 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in the Bison’s 70-32 win at Monmouth earlier in the week.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.