SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Senior Nicole DeMarchena is this week’s recipient of the Lyon of the Week award. The captain and forward for the Lyons basketball team played a critical role in MHC’s 50-49 come-from-behind win against MCLA last week.
A forward from Miami, Fla., DeMarchena came off the bench to record six points with 11 rebounds. She also added two steals and two blocks. Her most important rebound came with just 2.7 seconds left in the contest against the Trailblazers. Down by a 49-48 margin, DeMarchena came down with the offensive rebound of an Amber Legare shot, effectively giving the Lyons the chance to earn the win. Legare did nail the game-winner with one second remaining.
Through seven games, DeMarchena has recorded 7.4 points with a team-best 10.4 rebounds per contest. She also leads the team in blocks with 27 while adding 13 assists and 14 steals. Among the NEWMAC’s best, she ranks fourth in rebounds per contest and leads the conference in both blocks per game (3.9) and overall blocks.
A former standout at nearby Amherst Regional, DeMarchena is also one of the nation’s top blockers, currently ranking 10th overall in blocks per contest among the best in Division III.
Last season, DeMarchena played in 23 games, including 21 as a starter. She averaged 5.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest, while averaging 30.7 minutes played per game. As a sophomore, she played in 18 games, averaging 2.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. She also had eight blocks and thirteen steals.
During her rookie campaign, DeMarchena played in 14 games, including five as a starter. She averaged 3.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. In addition to 13 blocks and 14 steals, she averaged 19.6 minutes per game.
Mount Holyoke (2-7; 0-1 NEWMAC) returns to action on January 3 when it competes at Wheaton at 1pm in a battle of the Lyons. MHC resumes its home schedule against Clark on January 7th at 7pm.
