PSAC Women's Basketball Athletes of the Week - 2 (Nov. 23)
PSAC Women's Basketball Weekly Release (11-23) (pdf)
Three freshman make up this week's PSAC women's basketball Athletes of the Week. Millersville's Mashira Newman is the PSAC East Player of the Week after helping the Marauders to a 2-0 start while California's Kayla Smith, after a 43-point performance in helping the Vulcans to a 2-0 start, is the PSAC West Player of the Week. Bloomsburg's Dana Wieller repeats this week as the PSAC East Freshman of the Week while Edinboro's Samantha Blazetic is the PSAC West Freshman of the Week.
PSAC Players of the Week - Nov. 23
PSAC East Player of the Week
Mashira Newman, Millersville
G, Fr., North Hills, Pa./Upper Dublin
Newman burst onto the collegiate scene by helping Millersville to its sixth 2-0 start in the last eight seasons with wins over District of Columbia and Lock Haven. The redshirt freshman averaged 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 6.0 steals while shooting 63.2 percent from the field (12-for-19), 3-for-4 (75 percent) from three-point range and 8-of-10 from the free throw line in the two wins. In a 69-33 win over UDC, Newman posted a game-high 13 points and also recorded eight steals along with three rebounds and two assists in just 18 minutes of play. She earned the start against Lock Haven and responded with another game-high of 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting and also added nine boards in a 72-52 win.
PSAC East Freshman of the Week
Dana Wieller, Bloomsburg
G, Fr., Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty
Wieller earns her second straight PSAC East Freshman of the Week award after averaging 25 points in a 1-1 week for the Huskies. She shot 529 percent from three-point range on the week (9-of-17) and also made 11-of-15 free throws. In a one-point loss to Dominican that came on a buzzer-beater, Wieller scored a team-high 21 points in 24 minutes on 6-of-11 shooting. Then, in an 80-72 overtime win over Nyack, Wieller broke out for 29 points, including 5-of-12 from three-point range, in 44 minutes of play and also added four rebounds and two assists. The 29 points were the most by a Bloomsburg player in a game since 2005.
PSAC West Player of the Week
Kayla Smith, California
F, Jr., Elkins, W.Va./Elkins
Smith helped Cal to wins over West Virginia State and Charleston by averaging 27 points, 17 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and shooting 51.5 percent from the floor (17-for-33) in the two games last week. She also made 20-of-29 free throws. Smith opened the week by scoring a career-high 43 points on 15-of-22 shooting (68.2 percent) and grabbing 18 rebounds (12 offensive) while blocking six shots and recording three steals in the win at West Virginia State. Then, on Saturday in the Vulcans’ home opener vs. Charleston, Smith posted another double-double with 11 points and 16 boards while also adding four steals.
PSAC West Freshman of the Week
Samantha Blazetic, Edinboro
F/C, Fr., Eastlake, Ohio/North
Blazetic helped the Fighting Scots’ to a pair of wins in their first two games of the season by averaging 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in wins over Daemen and Ferris State. She also went a combined 8-for-18 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the free throw line in the two games. Blazetic scored 10 points in her collegiate debut against Daemen last Tuesday and also hauled in five rebounds and added two blocks and one steal. She then contributed nine points, six rebounds and a block and a steal in the win over Ferris State on Saturday.
PSAC Team Notes
Bloomsburg Huskies
The Huskies have started the season 2-1 after a season-opening 67-45 win over Chestnut Hill College last Monday and an 80-72 overtime victory over Nyack College on Saturday…Fr. G Dana Wieller collected PSAC Freshman of the Week honors last week for her 18 point performance against Chestnut Hill…At the Nyack Invitational, Wieller totaled 50 points in two games, combining to go 9-of-17 from three-point range…So far this season, Wieller is averaging 22.7 points and is shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 52.0 percent from beyond the three-point line…So. G Kelsey Gallagher had two consecutive 14-point, 8-rebound performances to open the season and is averaging 13.0 points and 7.3 rebounds so far this season…Fr. G Alyssa Flanagan had 9 assists and no turnovers in her first collegiate game against Chestnut Hill and has 16 assists and 4 turnovers this year.
California Vulcans
Under first-year head coach Mark Swasey, Cal U posted a 2-0 record to start the season with both wins coming against West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) members … The Vulcans feature a pair of new starters this season in redshirt junior Amy Johns and junior transfer Tatianna Hall … Senior All-American guard Brooque Williams now ranks fifth in school history with 1,566 career points after averaging 20 points in the first two games … Junior forward Kayla Smith registered a double-double in both games and is averaging 27.0 points and 17.0 rebounds per game … Smith scored 43 points in the season-opener against West Virginia State, which is the second-highest single-game total in school history
Cheyney Wolves
The Lady Wolves tipped off the 2009-10 campaighn falling to Shepherd 76-63. Cheyney shot a disappointing 17-36 from the charity stripe. Cheyney nothced their first victory of the season downing Goldey Beacom 66-60. Charnelle Taylor recorded a career high 12 points while the Lady Wolves redeemed themselves from the foul line shooting 9 for 11. The Cheyney pressure defense forced 26 turnovers. The Cheyney bench out-scored the Lightning 24-5 as the Lady Wolves led wire to wire. Cheyney will take the week off before traveling up to northern New Jersey to face Caldwell on November 30.
Clarion Golden Eagles
Clarion started the season 2-0 for the third straight season, the 12th time under 21st year head coach Gie Parsons and the 15th time in school history … Janelle Zabresky, who sat out last year, has made an immediate impact in her return. The PSAC's leading shooter two seasons ago, Zabresky has picked up where she left off hitting 66.7 percent (12 of 18) of her shots while averaging 8.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in Clarion's first three contests. Zabresky also has six blocked shots giving her 74 in her career, good for fifth all time at Clarion … Bethany Koch has two double-doubles in 3 games after recording 4 last season … Lizzie Suwala finally missed a free-throw Saturday. Suwala, who is 10 of 11 from the line this year, hit her first 7 of the season running her consecutive free-throw steak to 30 before missing on her 8th try.
East Stroudsburg Warriors
ESU was very competitive in the first half of both of its games to open the season in a tournament at Merrimack . . the Warriors trailed No. 22 Tampa, 31-25, at halftime of their opener before falling 66-49 . . they led Tiffin 26-25 at the half in the consolation game but dropped a 57-44 decision . . 10-point runs to start the second half were key in both games . . Sr. F DeAnna Rayam scored 13 points in both games and was named to the All-Tournament team . . Rayam is ESU's leading returning scorer (10.2 ppg) and rebounder (4.3 rpg) entering the year . . ESU was 8-for-22 from the 3-point line vs. Tampa but just 1-for-16 vs. Tiffin . . the Warriors are playing the 2009-10 season under acting head coach Justin Potts (men's assistant) . . ESU hosts USP on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Edinboro Fighting Scots
Edinboro started the season out with two wins last week. The usual suspects of seniors Samantha Reimer and Kelsey Conklin led the way on a starting five that also features a sophomore, a freshman and a junior. On Tuesday, the Fighting Scots defeated Daemen, 102-73, as senior forward Kelsey Conklin had 25 points and ten rebounds as senior guard Samantha Reimer added 21 points and seven assists. The Scots scored 100 points in a game for the first time since the season opener in 2007-08 against Temple Baptist. On Saturday, Edinboro defeated Ferris State, 90-75, behind Reimer's 26 points and six assists. For their careers, the duo continues to climb in Edinboro's record books. Reimer is now 4th on the school's career points list with 1471 and Conklin is up to 15th with 1204. Reimer needs 375 points to be the school's all time leader. She also cracked the top ten in career assists with 325. This marks the second consecutive season that Edinboro opened the year 2-0.
Gannon Golden Knights
Gannon, ranked 19th in the USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25, extended its regular-season winning streak to 16 contests last Friday with an 85-57 victory over Ferris State. The Lady Knights have not dropped a regular-season game since a 65-52 loss at IUP on January 24, 2009. Gannon remained undefeated at 6-0 with Friday's victory and became one of only three women's teams in school history to start a season with six consecutive victories. The decision snapped a six-game losing streak against the Bulldogs and was the Lady Knights' first win in the series since an 82-74 home victory in 2002-03. The 28-point margin of victory was the largest in the 15-game series between the two programs. Senior guard Carrie Nolan scored a season-high 19 points and extended her streak of consecutive games with at least one three-pointer to 37.
IUP Crimson Hawks
IUP opened its season with three straight games on the road versus upper tier WVIAC schools, defeating Pitt Johnstown before losing to Charleston and West Liberty State... Pitt transfer Sylvie Tafen has gotten off to a fast start for the Crimson Hawks, scoring in double figures in all three games and posting a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds versus the Hilltoppers... Lacey Claar made 6 of 9 shots from 3-point range in the first two games and increased her career total to 90, the sixth-highest total in school history. Kierstin Filla moved into fifth place on the IUP career assist chart with 335.
Kutztown Golden Bears
Kutztown placed six players in double figures in its season-opening road victory at Wilmington. …Senior Vivian Melvin played her best game as a Golden Bear finishing with 12 points, a career-high eight assists, six rebounds and one turnover. …Melissa McQuade and Kristen Murray each finished with nine rebounds. …McQuade has scored in double figures 25 times during her career. …Rachel Wisemiller failed to make a 3-pointer for the first time in 27 games. …The Golden Bears only committed eight turnovers against Wilmington. …Holy Family is one of five schools on KU's schedule that participated in 2009 NCAA Division II tournament. …Each one of Kutztown's starters made at least five baskets against Wilmington. …The Golden Bears made all seven of their 3-pointers in the first half against Wilmington. …Ashley Wood handed out four assists in her first career college game. …Overall, Kutztown finished with 26 assists on its 34 baskets.
Lock Haven Bald Eagles
Following a blow-out win over Penn College in the Lock Haven University women's basketball team's season-opener, the Lady Eagles dropped two straight games this weekend at the Millersville Tip-off Classic. Leading the way through three games is senior Marisa Elliot (Hanover, Pa./Hagerstown C.C.), who missed all of last season. She's averaging 10.7 points-per-game. Redshirt-junior forward Kristen Kudrick (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford), who all sat out all of last year, is averaging 13 points and six rebounds a game as Kudrick and Elliot have proved to be quite the duo thus far, despite LHU's 1-2 record.
Mansfield Mountaineers
The Mountaineers won both games at the Fisher Classic in Boston to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2007 … Mansfield’s 94 points scored in its season opening win over Fisher College was the most points scored in a season opener in school history … it was also the most points scored by a Mountaineer team since a 97-55 win over Cheyney in 2004 … all 10 active players on the roster scored in the win over Fisher … sophomore Mallory Moore scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds in each of the opening season games.
Mercyhurst Lakers
The 40-point margin over Salem International was the largest for the Lakers since a 96-45 win over Kendall Nov. 18, 2000. Also, Friday was the first time Mercyhurst had held an opponent to 40 or fewer points since a 105-29 triumph against Columbia Union Jan. 2, 2000. The Lakers hit 12 three-pointers against SIU, the third-best single-game three-point total in program history. Mercyhurst dished out 26 assists against Salem, the most in any game over the past seven seasons. Two Lakers registered career highs in points against SIU, while three players recorded their first points in a Mercyhurst uniform. The Lakers will play two former GLIAC rivals this coming weekend, competing in the Ashland Holiday Inn Express Classic Saturday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 29. They will play against Ashland Saturday and Northwood Sunday, with fellow PSAC West member California (Pa.) also participating in the weekend tournament.
Millersville Marauders
Victories over UDC and Lock Haven gave Millersville its sixth 2-0 start in the last eight seasons. Redshirt freshman Mashira Newman opened her collegiate career in impressive fashion by leading the Marauders in scoring in both games. Newman had game-highs of 13 points and eight steals in the 69-33 win over UDC, before tallying 22 points and nine boards in the 72-52 downing of LHU. Senior forward Jenna Craig was all over the boards again this weekend, posting 10 on Friday night and 11 on Saturday. Craig now has 25 career double-digit rebound games. Senior Ashley Moyer netted 11 points in each of MU's wins. Millersville will be looking for its sixth 3-0 start under Mary Fleig. The Marauders have started 3-0 in each of the last two seasons. MU forced 43 turnovers in its win against UDC, the most it has forced in the last eight seasons.
Shippensburg Red Raiders
The Shippensburg University women's basketball team did not play during the last week but has already competed in four games, including three in the 2009 Disney Division II Tipoff Classic from Florida...senior Lauren Beckley was named the inaugural PSAC Eastern Division Player of the Week after compiling an average of 21.5 points and 7.3 rebounds over the course of the first four games of the year...junior Kasey Gardner has added 20.5 points and 5.3 rebounds over the same span along with 11 assists and 10 steals...SU has just one home game over the course of the next 46 days and it occurs tomorrow (Tuesday) against Philadelphia...SU has started two freshmen at guard in every game this season... Morgan Taylor (Breinigsville, Pa.) at the point and Kerry Conroy (Oakland, Md.) at the two-spot.
Slippery Rock - The Rock
The Rock went 1-2 last week falling to Seton Hill 74-59 on Wednesday and Lake Erie 75-64 on Saturday at the Lady Cat Classic hosted by Pitt-Johnstown… The Rock recorded their first win of the season over Georgian Court 60-47 on Sunday at UPJ… Senior Nikki Presto was named to the All-Tournament team after recording 22 points and 18 rebounds over the weekend… Senior Julie Molloy and freshman Emilee Vitez both scored in double-figures for SRU in the win… The Rock will have eight days off before returning to action to host Urbana in a non-conference game on Nov. 30 and will host Penn State-Beaver on Dec. 3…
West Chester Golden Rams
West Chester University opened the 2009-10 season with three wins in its first week of competition ... the Golden Rams downed USP at home in the season opener and then swept both contests at the Millersville Tip-Off Tournament over the weekend ... West Chester's defense limited both its opponents in the tournament to under 50 points with a shooting percentage below 30 percent ... Megan Stewart recorded 11 steals in three games last week ... senior center Renata Neal registered six blocked shots in the two tournament games as well ... with the three victories, head coach Deirdre Kane has 398 career wins as she draws nearer to 400.