Two New York University student-athletes have been named University Athletic Association (UAA) Athletes of the Week after their outstanding performances.
Caroline Peper of women's basketball and
Xavier Diaz of wrestling were both honored. Additionally, Peper was named the Division II/III Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Women's Basketball Player of the Week.
Peper averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.5 steals across two contests as the
#1-ranked Violets extended their winning streak to 86 games. She willed the team to victory on Sunday.
Trailing 47-46 against the University of Chicago, the Violets' lone senior put her team ahead with a three-pointer with just 1:30 remaining. After the Maroons tied the game, Peper came up big with a layup with just 29 ticks left. Then, after an empty Chicago possession, Peper was fouled and made both free throws with 18 seconds remaining, giving NYU a two-possession lead and securing the winning streak.
Diaz produced a dominant performance at the Joseph Pellicano Invitational, hosted by St. John Fisher University on Saturday, February 21, in Rochester, NY. Competing at 125 pounds, Diaz captured the bracket title after winning all three of his matches in decisive fashion.
In the quarterfinals, he opened the day with a fall over Andrew Aparo in just 1:47. Diaz followed that with another pin in the semifinals, defeating Cael Stewart at the 3:44 mark to advance to the championship bout.
In the finals, Diaz capped off his tournament with a technical fall, defeating Daniel Visha by a 17–2 score in 6:13 to secure first place. Across his three matches, Diaz recorded two falls and a technical fall, earning bonus points every time he stepped on the mat.
