CHICO, Calif. – After leading her team to a perfect holiday weekend in Hawaii, Cal State San Marcos senior Jon’Nae Vermillion has been tabbed as the CCAA Player of the Week for Nov. 25-Dec. 1.
Vermillion and the Cougars, now ranked No. 19 in the Women’s Basketball Coaches (WBCA) Poll and No. 11 in the D2SIDA Poll, knocked off then-No. 11/11 Minnesota State Moorhead in an overtime thriller on Thanksgiving day before following it up with a convincing victory over Chaminade to run their record to 7-0 on the season. Both games were part of the 2019 Malika Sports Tours Oahu Thanksgiving Classic.
Vermillion led the way with averages of 21.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, as she matched her season high in Thursday’s victorious effort. Both games were double-double output performances for the forward from Corona, who earned her first career CCAA weekly award. Vermillion is now averaging 13.1 points and 10.0 rebounds on the season.
Against MSUM, Vermillion scored 23 points – 11 of which came from the line – with 10 rebounds and two steals as Cal State San Marcos nabbed a 62-60 win in extra time. All six of the Cougars’ points in overtime were the result of made free throws, four of which belonged to Vermillion.
The win over a ranked opponent is the second of the season for CSUSM, who stopped then-No. 6 UC San Diego on the road, 69-63, on Nov. 21. The Cougars’ win over the Tritons was their first in program history, and it was the first victorious effort over a ranked foe in NCAA Division II competition.
Last Friday, she tallied 20 points and 15 rebounds in 29 minutes played in a 58-41 win against the Silverswords. Vermillion nearly notched a first-half double-double, scoring 10 and adding eight rebounds in the opening two quarters. The win puts CSUSM as the only unbeaten team in the CCAA through the first month of the season.
Next up, the Cougars return home on Thursday to host Sonoma State at 5:30 p.m. in their lone game of the week.
