Palmer grabs last NEC Rookie of the Week honors

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After helping the Bryant University women's basketball team to back-to-back wins to close out the regular season, freshman Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday.

The point guard has proven she can distribute the ball effectively, moving up to second overall amongst NEC assists leaders (3.9 apg). Palmer set a Division I program record, dishing out 14 assists against Mount St. Mary's on Feb. 20 and combined for 14 helpers in the Bulldogs last two games of the regular season. The first-year Bulldog accounted for 6.5 points, 7.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per outing as the Bulldogs downed NEC Tournament qualifiers LIU Brooklyn and Fairleigh Dickinson this past week. The rookie logged 10 points (on 4-for-6 shooting) and six helpers during Saturday's 62-53 road win over the LIU Blackbirds. Helping Bryant to a 74-52 triumph in Monday's regular season finale, Palmer victimized FDU to the tune of eight assists, five rebounds and four steals. The performance against the Knights marked the fifth time that Palmer has logged at least eight assists in a Northeast Conference contest.

Palmer will join her fellow Bulldogs on Sunday, when they host No. 7 LIU Brooklyn in the NEC Quarterfinals at 1 p.m.