Brits in College Women | January recap

As the NCAA season heats up, January proved to be a pivotal month for British talent in women’s college basketball. From standout performances to game-winning moments, players across the U.S. made their presence felt.

Here’s a look at how the top British prospects fared over the past month.

NCAA Division 1

Fatmata Janneh is having an incredible season spearheading St. Peter’s offence. The sophomore posted five consecutive double-doubles in January. In this stretch, she recorded two 20-point double-double performances (22 pts, 16 rebs; 23 pts, 10 rebs) leading the Peacoks to wins over Niagara and Canisius. She is averaging 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, leading her side in both stats.

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Loren Christie is having a good season, even though Xavier registered only one win across eight games in January. In the month, she recorded four double-digit outings, inluding a 16-point game in a loss against DePaul. Nonetheless, her most notable performance of the month was a seven-point, seven-block and nine-rebound near triple-double outing. Xavier hold a 6-15 overall record this season. She was also elected to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll in January.

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Esther Kursite dropped her best performance of the season with Sacred Heart. The first year center netted 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench in a win over Niagara. Sacred Heart is currently holding a 6-12 record through January.

Molly Lavin recorded a season-high 11-point game from the bench in a loss against Hofstra. Furthermore, Drexel registered six wins across the eight games they played in the month, and hold a 10-8 record on the season.

Susie Rafiu recorded two double-digit performances as her team went unbeaten across six games in January. Her standout performance came in a victory over Princeton, where she scored 13 points and added four steals. Additionally, Columbia boasts a 15-4 overall record and currently sits atop the Ivy League standings.

Although Gonzaga remained unbeaten in January, winning all seven games, Esther Little played a crucial role in their success with her standout defensive performances. The junior matched her season highs with eight points and 11 rebounds in the win over LMU while also setting a new season best with three steals. She carried that momentum into the next game against Pepperdine, once again dominating the boards with 11 rebounds.

Chenai Mushore earned a well-deserved starting spot with New Orleans in January, marking a turning point in her season. The junior then capitalised on the increased playtime, and delivered some of her best performances. In her first start, she scored six points and grabbed six rebounds. She followed that up with a standout double-double, posting 10 points and 12 rebounds in a hard-fought loss to Northwestern State. Thanks to her contributions, New Orleans secured their first two wins of the season, though they still hold a 2-17 record overall.

NCAA Division 2

Anna Nevison delivered a career-best performance, scoring 18 points off the bench in a loss to Northwest Nazarene. The sophomore was lethal from beyond the arc, shooting 6-of-10 from deep. However, it was a tough month for Alaska, as they managed just one win in seven games, bringing their overall record to 6-12.

Although Ella Doherty featured in only four games with MB in January, she played a prominent role, spearheading their offence. Though her side failed to register a win in the month across nine games, the senior posted three double-digit games. Her standout performance came against San Francisco State as she tallied 14 points, five rebounds and four steals.

Simona Henshaw tallied 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists as her side took down Erskine. She then followed up by scoring 13 points for Edward Waters in a hard-fought defeat against Fort Valley State. She proved to be a valuable asset for her team, as they recorded four wins across seven games throughout January. Edward Waters hold an overall record of 11-6 on the season.

Shaniya Rose was impressive on the board this month, recording 10 rebounds in a loss to North Georgia. She then followed that up with a season-high 11-rebound against Columbus State. In terms of scoring, the Senior netted 10 points against Georgia College. However, it was a difficult stretch for USC Beaufort as they managed just one win in seven games. They hold a 3-13 overall record.

Meanwhile, Zoey Sharpe is having a solid Freshman year with Tusculum. She posted two double-digit games, including a season-high 12 points in a loss to Lincoln Memorial. She then followed that up with a 10-point outing in a hard-fought win over UVA Wise. The guard is averaging 7.3 points per game while shooting 41.2% from deep.

JUCO

Josephine Vourliotis earned a starting role and recorded a season-high 18 points in a loss to Northeastern Junior College. Eastern Wyoming registered two wins in six games and hold a 11-12 record through January.

Clem Odom put together a strong run of performances throughout January. The sophomore matched her season highs with 17 points and eight rebounds in a win over Odessa College, then followed up with a 13-point, nine-rebound effort against Elite Basketball. A few days later, she delivered her best all-around game of the month, recording 11 points, six rebounds, and seven blocks in a victory over Coastal Bend College. Her contributions were instrumental in helping Tyler Junior College secure four wins in eight games.

In her only start of the month, Yazmin Edwards netted 15 points as Eastern Arizona College blew out Community Christian College. Her impact helped EAC secure five wins in seven games, while holding a 17-5 overall record.

Ebere Egbirika delivered an impressive performance against Howard College, tallying 13 points and seven steals to help Odessa College secure an important victory. The Wranglers secured five wins in nine games throughout January, holding a 14-6 record overall.

Elia Ando earned a starting role after a standout performance in a loss to McLennan Community College, where she recorded an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. She then followed that up with a second 11-point outing as her side beat Hill College. Her impact helped Cisco College secure four wins in seven games throughout January.

DeJanae Cassanova delivered back-to-back double-digit performances, scoring 11 and 12 points in losses to Pellissippi State and Johnson University. She is averaging 9.8 points per game this season. Despite her efforts, Cleveland State struggled in January, securing just one win in six games, bringing their overall record to 5-14.

That wraps up another month, who have we missed?