Erika Murphy

Elms College junior women's basketball player Erika Murphy (Torrington, Conn.) was chosen as this week's female student athlete spotlight.

Murphy, who is majoring in psychology and minoring in coaching at Elms, is in her first season as a member of the women's basketball program.

Murphy averaged a double-double during the entire 2010-11 regular season, netting 15.2 points and hauling in 10.6 rebounds per game, helping Elms return to the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship tournament. She leads the team in several offensive and defensive categories including points (379), points per game (15.2), rebounds (264), rebounds per game (10.6), steals (48), free throws made (105), field goals made (137) and field goal percentage (42.5 percent). After one season, she ranks in Elms' individual single-season top 10 lists in all of those categories. She is also ranked third in the league in scoring, third in rebounding, seventh in field goal percentage, first in free throw percentage, seventh in steals, and ninth in blocked shots following 16 conference games.

Briefly describe your favorite sports moment (playing or as a fan):

My favorite sports moment was playing on my junior college team and making it to the regional finals and blowing the team out to advance to nationals.

Who has been your biggest influence in sports and why:

My sister.

Why did you choose to attend Elms College:

My favorite place to travel to is anywhere hot.

Where is the one place you would like to travel to in the future and why:

What is your favorite sports book or movie: