SPORTS SECTION E
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
NAOMI OSAKA - Page E7
Rhema earns Player of the Week again By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net
RHEMA Collins added another hardware piece to her breakout season, earning Conference USA’s Player of the Week for the period ending January 18 her second time receiving the honour this year. The junior from Nassau averaged a double-double across a 2-0 road week, putting up 25.5 points and 13.0 rebounds while shooting 46 per cent from the floor in wins at New Mexico State and UTEP. "I feel good about it but I couldn’t do it without my teammates or coaches," said Collins after her performances. Collins opened the stretch in Las Cruces with a game-high 29 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 13-of19 from the line, adding 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals in an 83-74 victory over New Mexico State. Three days later, at UTEP, she followed with 22 points, 14 from the free-throw line, and tied a career high with 16 rebounds, while recording three blocks and three steals in a 67-59 win that completed FIU’s first road trip sweep since 2023–24. Those two performances pushed her season double-double total to nine, the most in CUSA. "I wasn’t really focused on how to perform well, it was more about what I
need to do in order to help my team get the win but my performance did what it was supposed to do and I always reflect on what I could’ve done better," she stated. The Panthers entered the week 10-6 overall and 3-2 in Conference USA, and Collins leads the league in scoring (19.9 ppg), rebounds (10.7 rpg), and blocks (1.77 bpg) at the time of the award. Her run of consistent production has given FIU an established inside-out scoring option and a defensive presence on the glass. There’s growing local and mid-major buzz around Collins, especially after her 40-point explosion in December, but national WNBA mock-draft lists and scouting outlets have given her only limited attention so far. The mainstream mockdraft conversations have focused on nationally ranked frontcourt prospects, and while some draft watchers note Collins’ size, efficiency and rebounding as NBA/ WNBA-relevant traits, she has not yet become a fixture in top-tier mock-draft boards. That said, continued double-doubles against conference competition will only intensify evaluation. "My expectations for the rest of the season is to take everything game by game and for us to compete for a championship," Collins pointed out.
RHEMA Collins in action for the Florida International University Panthers.
Collins is 21 years old and listed at 6’2”. Her age and physical profile combined with improving perimeter touch and defensive timing make her an intriguing mid-major prospect for pro scouts tracking upside. Collins reflected on big nights with modesty. “I felt pretty good about it,” she said after the 40-point performance, later adding: “I guess you could say I was in a groove,” and, about transferring to FIU, “I’m happy with the choice I made and comfortable with where I’m at.” Her coach Jesyka BurksWiley emphasized team toughness after the New Mexico State game. “I’m really proud of the resilience our kids showed tonight,” and after the UTEP win praised the group’s defence and depth. “The defensive stand our kids took today was not only impressive but necessary when trying to secure a road win.” If the production holds, Collins' profile will continue to rise beyond the conference level. The impact is already clear as she has become the focal point of FIU’s frontcourt and a consistent standard-setter during a season where every conference win matters. "Always, but definitely want to get better at my ball-handling and outside shots," said Collins about some of the areas she needs to concentrate on.
SAC’s Big Red Machine rolls past Charles W Saunders Cougars 29-23 By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net THE St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine got off to a sluggish start but still managed to roll past the Charles W Saunders Cougars yesterday. The keenly contested Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools junior boys’ game played at Charles W Saunders saw the Big Red Machine prevail with a 29-23 decision.
With the win, SAC, coached by Donnie Culmer, stayed undefeated at 8-0, while the Cougars, coached by Sidney Forbes, fell to 5-2 with just a few more games remaining in the regular season. "We got off to a slow start. I don't know if it was because it was cold but we had to pull out some stops and the ball bounced in our favour when we needed it to." As they prepare for the playoffs, Culmer said they just have to rebound the
GAME PLAN: The St Augustine’s College junior boys’ basketball team going over their plans in the huddle yesterday. ball more and run the fast break. Last year, in his first year coaching the Big Red Machine, they got knocked out of the playoffs by the eventual champions St John's Giants. The Big Red Machine and the Giants have a make up game, while SAC's final regular season game is against the Queen's College Comets, who are the top contenders this year. As for the Cougars, coach Forbes said their inexperience caused them the
game just as it did in their first loss to the Comets last week. "We just hope we can get it together," said Forbes, whose team also got eliminated in the playoffs last year. "The two games we lost, we beat ourselves. I guess the cold got to us today because we just weren't ready. I know we can do it. We just have to be a little more disciplined." Scoreless in the first quarter, SAC got their game in high gear in the second as Christian McKenzie got their first basket and they
came from a 6-0 deficit to take a slim 10-8 advantage at the half. Regaining their composure from the first quarter, Charles W Saunders outscored SAC 12-8 in the third, thanks to six big points from Chay Turner, for a 24-18 margin going into the fourth. Brady Knowles canned a jumper and Mathias Josey hit a baseline three-pointer as the Big Red Machine came back for a 24-23 deficit to start the final period. Both teams traded baskets
until SAC slowly pulled away down the stretch, thanks to a couple free throws from Kamdynn Miller as he was fouled going to the basket. Miller finished with eight to lead SAC. McKinney had six, Josey five and both Donte Culmer and John McSweeney had four, while Knowles added two. For the Cougars, Turner had a big game with 13, Belizaire Lubin had four and Joellado Lubin, Adrian Cox and Xavier McAlpine chipped in with two apiece.