WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior
Mollie Obar of the women’s basketball team and senior
Gilbert Otoo of the men’s basketball team have been named the Brandeis University Athletes of the Week for the week ending December 10, 2023. The award is presented weekly by the Chateau Restaurant Group.
Otoo, of
Burtonsville, Maryland, had a terrific all-around week in two wins for the Judges. He averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists, all second-best on the team. In a 62-57 win over Lasell on December 7, he finished with nine points and six rebounds as the Judges overcame a six-point deficit to defeat their local rivals. Two day later, on the road at Salem State, Otoo had a game-high 16 points along with seven rebounds and a game- and career-high seven assists as Brandeis never trailed in a 74-55 win.
Otoo helped the Judges improve to 7-2 with their sixth-straight win under head coach
Jean Bain, in his fifth year at Brandeis’s helm. The Judges are off until December 29
th, when they will take on Middlebury College at 5 p.m.
Obar, a native of
North Yarmouth, Maine, helped the women’s basketball team to a pair of non-conference victories last week. On December 5, the Judges defeated Salem State, 88-72, on the road, and two days later, they topped Bridgewater State, 80-79. In the win at Salem State, Obar scored a career-high 20 points, including six 3-pointers, one shy of Brandeis’s school record. As a team, the Judges hit 15 trifectas, also one short of the team record. Obar grabbed six rebounds, one of the Judges’ 66 boards, their highest total since at least 2004. Against BSU, Obar had eight points, including two more 3-pointers, and grabbed five rebounds. For the week, she averaged 14 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in just 18 minutes per contest. She shot 45.5% from the field overall, including 47.1% from 3-point range.
The Judges, winners of three in a row, are 4-6 on the season under acting head coach
Jill Latanowich. They are back in action in 2024 when they take on Clark University on January 2 at 5 p.m.
This is the eighth year that the Brandeis Athlete of the Week program has been presented by The Chateau Restaurant Group. The Athlete of the Year Program highlights a top Brandeis student-athlete who has had an outstanding athletic achievement from the week prior. Each selected student-athlete will be featured on the Brandeis athletics homepage and inside the Chateau Waltham and Jake N Joes
Owned and operated by the Nocera Family, the Chateau Restaurant of Waltham opened in 1933 and set the standard for providing the tradition of Italian family dining, friendly service and quality food at reasonable prices for its customers. Located on 195 School Street, with 900 seats, the Chateau is always ready to accommodate large parties.
The Nocera Family consists of 6 brothers who have always had a passion for playing sports. In 2010, The Nocera Family launched a new concept, Jake n JOES Sports Grille. Jake n JOES Waltham opened in 2014 and is the best place to watch a game and enjoy quality food.
"Brandeis student-athletes are fantastic role models in our community,” says Chateau President Joe Nocera, “They exemplify the ideals of excellence and commitment both on and off the playing field. The Chateau Waltham and Jake n JOES Waltham are proud to partner with Brandeis Athletics to continue to enhance a positive focus within the Waltham Community."
Otoo is a 2021 graduate of St. Vincent Pallotti High School. For more information on Brandeis men’s basketball, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/mbball.
Obar is a 2021 graduate of Greely High School. For more information on Brandeis women’s basketball, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/wbball.
For more information on Brandeis athletics, visit our web page at
www.brandeisjudges.com or follow us on social media on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook @BrandeisJudges.
