Nainima Wins NEC Rookie of the Week Award for 10th Time

2/26/07 -- The Northeast Conference named Long Island University freshman Valerie Nainima (Suva, Fiji) its women’s basketball Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week for the 10th time this season. The conference has handed out the award 15 times, with Nainima garnering the honor two-thirds of the time. The 5-foot-five guard from Suva, Fiji averaged 25.5 points and 5.5 rebounds over two games for the week.

Nainima led the Blackbirds in scoring in both games, a 68-64 loss at Robert Morris on Feb. 22 and a 67-58 win at Saint Francis (Pa.) on Feb. 24. Against Robert Morris, she netted 29 points, one shy of her career high. Nainima shot a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe and collected three rebounds.

In Long Island’s top seed-clinching win over the Red Flash, Nainima scored 22 points and snared eight boards. She also added six assists, a pair of steals and a block. The sure-handed shooter sank all four of her free-throw attempts and has now hit 17 consecutive foul shots.

With the win, the Blackbirds wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the NEC tournament, ensuring home-court advantage throughout the playoffs which begin on Saturday, March 3. Long Island will host crosstown rival St. Francis (N.Y.). Pending results of league games that will be played Tuesday night, Long Island will have at least a share of the regular season NEC title.

Nainima’s 10th award extends the conference record for most rookie honors in a season.