Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Kennan and Murao Pick Up Weekly Awards from CWPA, Women's Water Polo Game vs. Hartwick Moved to April 16
3/30/2010 8:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
March 30, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Coming off an 18-point weekend, Bucknell women's water polo player Hallie Kennan (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) picked up another honor on Tuesday as she was named the Collegiate Water Polo Association Southern Division Player of the Week one day after earning Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week plaudits. Additionally, Bison freshman Tara Murao (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) earned the conference's Rookie of the Week award after a solid weekend.
Kennan and Murao, who attended the same high school in California, helped Bucknell to a 3-0 mark against league opponents this past weekend at Kinney Natatorium. The Bison defeated No. 19 Princeton (15-10), George Washington (10-7) and Maryland (15-14 in overtime). Bucknell has just one home game left in 2010, against Hartwick. That contest was initially scheduled for Wednesday, April 7, but has been moved to Friday, April 16, at 6 p.m.
Kennan, who has been named the CWPA Southern Division Player of the Week three times in March, scored 14 goals and dished out four assists in the three games last week. She posted a career-high seven points vs. both Princeton and Maryland, and equaled her career high with six goals in the win over the nationally ranked Tigers.
A sophomore, Kennan ended the weekend on a high note, netting the game-winning goal in sudden death overtime against Maryland. It gave her five goals in the contest and a team-high 46 scores on the year, 14 more than any teammate. She ranks second on the squad with 60 points.
Kennan entered the weekend with 70 career points and upped that total by more than 25 percent in a span of just over 24 hours. She is now just 12 points shy of 100 in her two-year career.
In addition to her offensive exploits, Kennan was solid all around with four steals, five ejections drawn and one field block against the trio of league rivals.
Like Kennan, Murao came off the bench in all three games last weekend. The right-hander tallied two goals, one steal and drew four ejections. Both goals came against nationally ranked Princeton, while she had at least one ejection drawn in all three contests.
Murao is second among Bison freshmen with 10 goals and 16 points this season, while her 21 ejections drawn rank third on the team, regardless of class.
Murao is the second Bucknell newcomer to be named Rookie of the Week, joining classmate Krystle Morgan, who was honored Feb. 16.
Due to the change of the Hartwick game, the Bison (12-7, 4-0 CWPA Southern Division) will next be in action April 11 at Princeton at 2 p.m.
