STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College freshman Emily Benway (Rochester, N.H.) has been selected as the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) DIII New England, Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), and Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) Rookie of the Week for the reporting period ending February 21st.

Benway averaged 17.0 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 56% (14-25) from the field and 75% (6-8) from the free throw line in a pair of conference victories last week. The freshman forward scored 17 with eight boards in a 75-49 win over Simmons College on Tuesday and tallied 17 points with eight caroms to help the Monks defeat Anna Maria College, 81-58, on Saturday.

In 24 games – and 17 starts – this season, Benway averages 6.9 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 46.3% (69-149) from the floor and 61.4% (27-44) from the free throw line. The weekly rookie honors are the first of her collegiate career.

Benway is the third Saint Joseph's freshman to garner rookie of the week accolades this winter, as she joins classmates Kelsi McNamara (West Newbury, Mass.) and Hannah Marks (Waldoboro, Maine) on the list of top first-year honorees.

Saint Joseph's (20-5, 10-1 GNAC) has earned the top seed in the 2016 GNAC Tournament and will host #8 Rivier University (9-16, 3-8 GNAC) in a quarterfinal tonight at 7:00 PM.

#GOMONKS

Follow Saint Joseph's Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram!

Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 474-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.