Valerie Nainima Named Choice Hotels NEC Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week

11/14/06 -- Long Island University women’s basketball freshman Valerie Nainima (Suva, Fiji) earned the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week award in the league’s first installment of weekly honors. The 5-foot-5 guard averaged 15.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, making starts in her first two collegiate appearances.

In a 76-73 overtime loss to Saint Peter’s on Nov. 10, Nainima led the team with 17 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added three assists. She also was 3-for-6 from three-point land. Two days later, the Suva, Fiji product once again led the Blackbirds with 14 points, including two more trifectas, in a 57-36 setback to Lehigh.

The Blackbirds will return to action on Friday, Nov. 17, when they host Hofstra at 7:00 p.m.