New Year's (hoops) resolutions :)
The first week of the year started well for international girls, especially for Elena Tsineke from the University of South Florida (11-4,1-0 AAC), who had an amazing performance against Cincinnati (7-6,0-1 AAC). The USF Bulls landed the win with a score of 61-46. She played a full 40 (!) minutes having 9-20 FGs, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 21 total points. In a way, Elena just picked up from where she left 2021; during her last game before the start of the American Conference, against Jacksonville, she scored another 22 points, shooting 8/14 FGs, 3/5 3s, 3/3 FTs, and adding 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals with no turnovers!
Ioanna Chatzileonti from the University of Kansas (10-2; 1-1 Big12) started the new year in a fairly balanced way. She played against Oklahoma 13-2 (2-1) and the Jayhawks lost by 68-82. Ioanna played 27 efficient minutes, with 5-9 FG, 5DRB, 3 assists, a steal, and 12 total points. A couple of days later, on the 10th of January, Ioanna helped her Jayhawks capture the W against TCU, with 7 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and a couple of blocks.
Katerina Tsineke from the University of Montana (10-4, 3-2 Big Sky) had a couple of outstanding games to start 2022, against Weber State and Eastern Washington. The Lady Griz got the win with a 68-50 score in the latter and narrowly lost the former 66-55. Katerina played 19 minutes having 1-3 FGs, 1-2 3PT, 5-6 FT, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 8 total points in the W, and 20 minutes, 2-5 FGs, 1-2 3PT, 3-4 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 8 more points in the L.
Athina Lexa from Canisius College (2-10,0-3 MAAC) competed hard against Niagara (5-6,2-1 MAAC) but they did not get the win. The score finished 86-87 with Canisius one point down. Athina performed well in 32 minutes with 2-8 FG, 1-4 3pt, 3 DRB, and 5 total points.
Varvara Papakonstantinou from Livingstone University (3-7,1-0 CIAA) had a strong and effective game against Virginia St. (7-6,3-1 CIAA), starting and helping her team win 65-56. She played 32 minutes, with 3-7 FG, 3 ORB, 1 DRB, 2 assists, 4 steals, and 6 total points.
Moving to some NAIA action, Georgia Sideri at the University of Pikeville (KY) (9-6, 3-5) played against Bethel (TN) (8-7, 2-5), and cracked doubled digits for the second time this season. Georgia helped her Bears clinch the win by 75-61. She had 20 minutes on the board with 3-4 FG, 3-3 3pt, 1-2 FT, 2 DRB, and 10 total points.