There is no shortage of impressive athletes at Drexel, and we at The Triangle are going to bring back a recurring column of the best athlete of the week. So, for the first time in three years, we at the Triangle Sports bring you The Triangle’s Athlete of the Week.
Amaris Baker:
If you did not know, Amaris Baker is the best basketball player at Drexel. Baker is responsible for being the main driver behind the Drexel women’s basketball offense. Baker averages 19 points per game, which is just about one-third of the team’s total offensive production. Even more impressively, out of a possible 680 total minutes that Drexel basketball has played at this point, Baker has played 630 minutes. This statistic is perhaps the most indicative of what Baker has meant for this team. She carries an immense offensive burden while almost never coming off the court for the Dragons.
In the Dragons’ past two games against College of Charleston and Elon University, Baker had two of her best performances of her career. Against Charleston, Baker scored 19 points to help the Dragons complete a 10-point comeback in the final five minutes of the game. Charleston entered The DAC as one of the best teams in the Coastal Athletic Association, but they were sent home with a loss and the Dragons earned a true statement win behind Baker’s performance.
Against Elon, Baker was even more impressive as she netted 24 points, four rebounds and two assists in a 64-37 blowout over the Phoenix. Elon entered the game 5-1 in conference play and looked like a real threat to compete for the conference title. Baker’s performance was exceptional and cemented a 2-0 homestand for the Dragons during Homecoming weekend.
Baker’s performance not only is turning heads on Drexel’s campus, but she has begun attracting national attention for her impressive play. On Jan. 28, Baker was named the National Basketball Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association. Additionally, she was named to the NCAA’s team of the week.
More locally, Baker was named the CAA Player of the Week and Philadelphia Women’s Basketball Big 5 Player of the Week this week.
To see Baker in action, catch the Dragons on Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. in the DAC as they host Towson University.