PSAC Women's Basketball Athletes of the Week - 9 (Jan. 18)
PSAC Women's Basketball Weekly Release - Jan. 18 (pdf)
A pair of first-time honorees this year are this week's PSAC Players of the Week, as Cheyney's Lutfiyya Muhammad and Gannon's Kristina Freeman are the East and West Players of the Week, respectively. Bloomsburg's Dana Wieller is the PSAC East Freshman of the Week for a league-leading fifth time this year while IUP's Sarah Pastorek earns her first PSAC West Freshman of the Week award of the season.
PSAC Players of the Week - Jan. 18
PSAC East Player of the Week
Lutfiyya Muhammad, Cheyney
G, Sr., Philadelphia, Pa./Delaware State
Muhammad averaged 21.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals in two games last week for Cheyney, leading the Wolves to a 1-1 week. The senior and member of the preseason All-PSAC East team shot 48.4 percent from the floor (15-for-31), 40 percent from three-point range (8-for-20) and 80 percent from the charity stripe (4-for-5). In a loss to Bloomsburg on Wednesday, she went for 24 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Then, in a win over Mansfield on Saturday, Muhammad scored 18 points, once again pulled down four rebounds and had three assists.
PSAC East Freshman of the Week
Dana Wieller, Bloomsburg
G, Fr., Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty
Wieller earns her fifth PSAC East Freshman of the Week award of the season and her second in the last three weeks after helping lead the Huskies to two wins last week by averaging 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game while shooting 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from three-point range and 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the two wins. In a win over Cheyney on Wednesday, she scored a game-high 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and also added four steals and three rebounds. In the win over preseason East favorite West Chester on Saturday, Wieller again led Bloomsburg in scoring with 18 points while adding four boards and three assists.
PSAC West Player of the Week
Kristina Freeman, Gannon
G, Sr., Yonkers, N.Y./Pelham Memorial
Freeman averaged 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 steals, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocks to help lead Gannon to a pair of victories last week in the first two games of the PSAC West schedule. In earning her first PSAC West Athlete of the Week award of the year, Freeman helped the fourth-ranked Lady Knights improve to 18-0 on the season and win their 28th consecutive regular season game dating back to last season. The 18 straight overall wins is also a new school record. Freeman, who shot 60.7 percent from the floor (17-for-28) and 76.9 percent from the free throw line (10-for-13) for the week, started the week with 19 points and nine rebounds in an overtime win over preseason West favorite California, scoring four of Gannon’s seven points in the extra period. She then went for 27 points, seven rebounds and five steals in a win over Clarion on Saturday.
PSAC West Freshman of the Week
Sarah Pastorek, IUP
F, Fr., Johnstown, Pa./Bishop McCort
Pastorek becomes the second different Crimson Hawk to be honored this year as a PSAC West Freshman of the Week. She averaged 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game in two single-digit wins for IUP last week. In a 72-65 win over Clarion on Wednesday, her three-point play with just over a minute remaining gave IUP the lead for good and she also made two free throws down the stretch to help ice the win. In a 58-53 win over Mercyhurst, Pastorek’s layup with just 47 seconds remaining put the Hawks ahead to stay at 52-50 after earlier hitting a jumper that capped an 18-5 run that turned a 12-poitn deficit into a one-point lead. Pastorek made 6-of-13 field goals (46.2 percent) for the week and also hit on 4-of-7 free throws (57.1).
PSAC Team Notes
Bloomsburg Huskies
The Huskies went 2-0 this week, with an 86-72 victory at Cheyney on Wednesday and a 57-48 come-from-behind victory against West Chester on Saturday…This is the first time since the 2004-05 season that BU has started its PSAC East schedule with two straight wins…In the Huskies win over the Lady Wolves, four players scored in double-figures, led by Fr. G Dana Wieller's 25 points…So. G Kelsey Gallagher added 23 while Fr. F's Kayla Oxenrider and Christine Sereta scored 13 and 11 points, respectively…The Huskies were down by as many as 12 points late in the first half to West Chester before coming back to win by nine…BU forced 16 Golden Rams turnovers and held them to just a 23.1 field goal percentage in the second half and not one West Chester player scored in double-figures…Wieller scored 18 points while Oxenrider added 16 points for the Huskies.
California Vulcans
The Vulcans opened PSAC West play with an overtime loss at No. 4 Gannon before posting a 69-53 victory over Lock Haven…Sr. G Brooque Williams andJr. F Kayla Smith both averaged double-doubles in the two games last week…Cal U led 68-61 at Gannon with 2:35 left in regulation before the Golden Knights finished the game on a 14-4 rally to win 75-72 in overtime...In the loss, the Vulcans shot only 46.2 percent (6-of-13) from the free-throw line…On Saturday against the Bald Eagles, Fr. G Stephanie Michael hit three quick three-pointers as Cal U took an early 14-2 lead…Williams became the third player in program history to score 1,800 points, joining Sara McKinney (2,117) and Lara Thornton (1,892)…Smith moved into 10th place in school history with 1,284 points during the week, passing former teammate Lindsay Johnson (1,263).
Cheyney Wolves
Lutfiyya Muhammad led the Lady Wolves in scoring in both games this past week. She netted a season high 24 points in Cheyney's loss to Bloomsburg and 18 points in the victory at Mansfield...Angel Stephens and Stephanie Orji recorded double doubles in the both contests of the week. Orji scored 21 points while grabbing 14 rebounds and Stephens netted 12 points and snatched 11 boards in the Bloomsburg game. Against Mansfield the duo once again registered double doubles. Stephens scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Orji tallied 10 points and grabbed 13 rebounds...The Lady Wolves dominated the boards this week...Cheyney out-rebounded the Huskies 45-29 and the Mounties 49-26...The loss to Bloomsburg was the first time the Lady Wolves committed more turnovers than they were able to force. It also marked the first time all season that an opponent had more steals than Cheyney.
Clarion Golden Eagles
No. 4 and unbeaten Gannon was just the latest in a long-line of tough opponents this season for Clarion, whose 16 opponents to date entered play Saturday with a combined mark of 113-80. It gets no easier for Clarion Wednesday at No. 19 California…Courtney Formica became the first freshman to see action for the Golden Eagles this season Saturday when she made her season-debut by scoring two points to go with two rebounds and an assist in 11 minutes. Last year, Clarion played six freshmen…Bethany Koch took 23 shots Saturday vs. Gannon, the second time this season she has attempted 23 shots. It ties for the eighth most shots in a game at Clarion since 1983…The loss to Gannon broke a three-game home winning streak for Clarion, which is 5-2 at Tippin Gym this year.
East Stroudsburg Warriors
ESU knocked off Shippensburg, 58-55 on Saturday at Koehler Fieldhouse after falling 85-52 at Kutztown on Wednesday in the PSAC East opener...Sr. G Mel Villano led the Warriors with 13 points, nine in the second half, as ESU led nearly the entire way...ESU shot 38.6 percent and had a +9 rebounding advantage, both its second-best marks this season...Sr. F DeAnna Rayam (15.0 ppg) had 15 points and Kutztown and 10 vs. Shippensburg and has been in double figures in all 15 games...Villano is ESU's second-leading scorer at 8.8 ppg and is shooting 43.6 percent from the 3-point line, both career-highs...ESU is 3-3 at home, scoring 62.5 ppg, allowing 63.3 ppg and shooting 38.2 percent...In road/neutral site games, ESU is 0-9, scoring 48.2 ppg, allowing 68.2 ppg and shooting 27.7 percent...The Warriors are at Bloomsburg and Cheyney this week.
Edinboro Fighting Scots
Thanks to wins over Lock Haven and Slippery Rock the Fighting Scots are off to their first 2-0 start in PSAC West action since 1997-98…Samantha Reimer became the third Fighting Scots to reach 1,700 career points. The senior guard's total now stands at 1,732 points. That leaves her 43 points shy of second place and 115 points away from breaking Jessica Rowe's career scoring record of 1,846 points…Reimer holds the career records for free throws made (565) and attempted (673). She broke her own single-game record for free throws made at Lock Haven, going 17 of 19 from the line. Oddly enough the next game she did not attempt a free throw against Slippery Rock. That was the first time in 22 games she did not step to the free throw line, and just the seventh time in 97 career games…Reimer also became just the second player in school history to score at least 300 points all four years…So. F Renee' Brown scored a career-high 25 points against Slippery Rock and matched her career best with 14 rebounds.
Gannon Golden Knights
Gannon improved to 18-0 for the first time in school history with victories last week over 19th-ranked California (Pa.) (75-72 in ot) and Clarion (77-54)...The Lady Knights were ranked fourth in the January 12 USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. It represents the highest national ranking in school history...The Lady Knights have won 28 consecutive regular-season games dating back to last season...The program's last regular-season loss was a 65-52 setback at Indiana (Pa.) on January 24, 2009...Gannon's victory at Clarion set a new school record for consecutive victories, breaking the 1977-78 team's mark of 17 straight wins...Gannon has won 35 consecutive games when leading at halftime...The Lady Knights have won 18 of their last 19 homes games...Gannon overcame a seven-point deficit in the final three minutes of regulation against Cal to force overtime...Jr. Julie Kleber's three-pointer with 11 seconds left forged the tie.
IUP Crimson Hawks
IUP opened 2-0 in the PSAC West for the fourth straight year with victories over Clarion and Mercyhurst…The Crimson Hawks gained their ninth consecutive win over the Golden Eagles by scoring the final eight points, including a 3-point play by freshman Sarah Pastorek with 1:05 remaining that gave IUP a 67-65 lead…Pastorek also made the game-winning layup with 47 seconds left in a 58-53 win over Mercyhurst as the Crimson Hawks wiped out a 12-point second half deficit…Lacey Claar set a school record with seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 24 points versus Clarion…Claar also made six 3-pointers versus the Golden Eagles a year ago and moved into third place in school history with 126, needing two to eclipse Jess Conner for second…Kierstin Filla had eight assists in the two games and is third in school history with 377…IUP is 39-13 in PSAC West play over the past five seasons.
Kutztown Golden Bears
Rachel Wisemiller was named to the Lehigh Valley Media Organization's all-scholar team…Against East Stroudsburg, Wisemiller handed out a career-high eight assists and blocked a career best six shots…Wisemiller moved into second place on KU's all-time 3-point list and past Amanda Zinobile with 147…Kutztown lost 59-56 to Mansfield last year on the road…Chauntelle Schroeder recorded her second double-double of the season against East Stroudsburg (17 points, 10 rebounds)…Schroeder led Kutztown in rebounds in both games last week against ESU and Millersville…Melissa McQuade has scored 921 career points…McQuade has led KU in scoring seven times this year…Vivian Melvin continues to lead Kutztown in assists with 60…Jackie Burg saw her first action of the season against East Stroudsburg and scored two points and handed out two assists…Kutztown never trailed in its victory against East Stroudsburg…Kutztown has scored 80 or more points four times this season…The Golden Bears are 5-2 overall on the road...Kutztown was 11-for-11 from the foul line against Millersville…Kutztown has made 30 of its last 33 free-throw attempts.
Lock Haven Bald Eagles
Lock Haven dropped two PSAC West games to kick off league play...The Lady Eagles, 5-8 overall, are on a three-game losing streak...Most recently Lock Haven lost on the road at No. 19 California despite a very solid second half of play...Lock Haven continues to get solid numbers from Kristen Kudrick. The Western-Pa. native is averaging a team-high 11 points-per-game and is also grabbing 6.3 rbs/game...Sr. Casi Donelan is knocking down 10.8 points a game. She also has 44 assists (3.4/game)...Sharay Hall lead The Haven with 6.5 rebounds-per-game...In the loss at Cal, she had eight...The Lady Eagles host IUP on Wednesday looking for their first win PSAC West play.
Mansfield Mountaineers
Mansfield continues to struggle putting points on the board dropping games to Shippensburg and Cheyney during the week...The Mountaineers’ 41 points against Cheyney was the most points scored in the last four games...Mallory Moore and Mallory Hafer combined for 50 of Mansfield's 80 points scored during the week.
Mercyhurst Lakers
The Lakers opened PSAC West play with a 57-51 victory at Slippery Rock Wednesday, and fell 58-53 to IUP Saturday...Mercyhurst hit eight three-pointers in each contest, pushing its season total to 101 triples…Samantha Loadman made six three-pointers Saturday vs. IUP, her second 5+ three-pointer game of the season and eighth of her career…Loadman is tied for seventh in program history with 130 threes…the Lakers got back on top in rebounding, outrebounding each opponent during the week…Amy Achesinski is now tied for 13th all-time with 1,022 points and is 8th with 520 rebounds…Achesinski also became the fifth Laker with 300 or more free throws, and has made 301 during her career…Fr. Dana Banda posted back-to-back 10 point games this past week, the second Laker freshman this season with back-to-back double-digit scoring games, as Kaylee Foster went for 21 vs. Northwood Nov. 29 and 10 at Mansfield Dec. 7.
Millersville Marauders
Millersville stormed to 2-0 opening week in Eastern Division play by knocking off pre-season favorite West Chester ,68-57, on Wednesday and Kutztown, 61-42, on Saturday…The Marauders' PSAC leading defense, which is holding teams under 52 points per game, made life difficult for their opposition's leading scorers this week. MU held WCU's Renata Neal to two points, after she came in averaging nearly 12 per game. Melissa McQuade and Rachel Wisemiller from Kutztown, who combine to score over 26 points per game, were held to just 15 as a duo, with neither hitting double-figures…Redshirt freshman Mashira Newman averaged 17.5 points in the two wins. Newman has now scored in double-figures in her last six games, and has put up 15 or more in three of her last four…Millersville has won 19 of its last 21 meetings with Kutztown…The MU defense held Kutztown to its lowest scoring output of the season…Senior Jenna Craig recorded her 30th career double-figure rebound game in the win over WCU.
Shippensburg Red Raiders
Shippensburg opened the week with a split of its PSAC East games as two of its players achieved records..Jr. F Kasey Gardner became the 17th player in Shippensburg women's basketball history to surpass 1,000 career points on Saturday against ESU...Sr. F Lauren Beckley became the fifth player in PSAC women's basketball history to compile 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds on Wednesday against Mansfield...Beckley, Shippensburg's all-time leading scorer, moved past California (Pa.) alum Sara McKinney into sole possession of fifth place on the PSAC's career scoring list and has compiled 2,132 points in 101 career games...Fr. G Morgan Taylor returned to the lineup after missing five games due to injury...SU is now 0-6 this season when scoring 60 points or less.
Slippery Rock - The Rock
Slippery Rock started off PSAC-West play 0-2 after dropping the conference opener to Mercyhurst (57-51) and Edinboro (76-55)...Nikki Presto recorded her second double-double of the season against the Lakers, recording 16 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. Presto is the only player this season to record a double-double for The Rock, and has done it twice this season...At Edinboro, Fr. Amanda Mikatavage scored a season-high 13 points in the loss. Her previous high was eight points and averaged just 3.6 points per game until that point...Despite having a somewhat quiet week, Julie Molloy leads The Rock in scoring averaging 12.5 points per game, while Presto is leading in rebounds (6.1 per game) and assists (54)...SRU looks to turn the tide this week by hosting Gannon on Wednesday and traveling to Clarion on Saturday.
West Chester Golden Rams
West Chester dropped a pair of league tilts on the road last week, falling at Millersville and Bloomsburg...WCU held a double-digit lead in the second half against Bloomsburg, but could not hold on for the win...The Golden Rams have been unable to finish out games strongly this winter, which has cost them a number of victories...West Chester has lost three of its last four games and starts out PSAC East play at 0-2...The Golden Rams did not score 60 points in either of its losses this past week...The Golden Rams shot a season-worst 28 percent from the field and scored just 16 points in the second half against Bloomsburg...West Chester's outside shooting has struggled as of late, which has put a lot of pressure on its inside game...This week's matchups with Cheyney and Mansfield are must-win situations, if the Golden Rams want to stay in the hunt in the Eastern Division.