PSAC Women's Basketball Athletes of the Week - 5 (Dec. 14)
PSAC Women's Basketball Weekly Release - Dec. 14 (pdf)
Rachel Wisemiller of Kutztown earns the first weekly award for the Golden Bears this year as she is this week's PSAC East Player of the Week. It is an old face as the PSAC East Freshman of the Week as Bloomsburg's Dana Wieller claims the honor for the third time in five weeks this year. In the West, Clarion's Lizzie Suwala becomes the second different Golden Eagle to earn the West Player of the Week award this year after helping lead the Eagles to a 3-0 week last week. Mercyhurst's Dana Banda is the PSAC West Freshman of the Week for the second time this year.
PSAC Players of the Week - Dec. 14
PSAC East Player of the Week
Rachel Wisemiller, Kutztown
G, Sr., Hazleton, Pa./Hazleton
Wisemiller scored 14 points and also recorded eight rebounds and five assists to help Kutztown defeat Washington Adventist in the Golden Bears’ only game of the week. Wisemiller made 4-of-8 from three-point range in the win and has now made 11 three’s in KU’s last three games. She is Kutztown’s second-leading scorer at 10.4 ppg and second-leading rebounder at 6.7.
PSAC East Freshman of the Week
Dana Wieller, Bloomsburg
G, Fr., Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty
Wieller earns her third PSAC East Freshman of the Week award in five weeks this season after scoring 21 points, all on three-pointers by shooting 7-of-10 from beyond the arc, and dishing out four assists in a Bloomsburg win over Penn State-Schuylkill in the Huskies’ only game of the week. Her seven three’s were just one short of the school record for three’s in a game and she also added three steals and a rebound in 23 minutes of play.
PSAC West Player of the Week
Lizzie Suwala, Clarion
G, Sr., Ford City, Pa./Ford City
Suwala becomes the second different Clarion Golden Eagle to earn the PSAC West Player of the Week award this year after averaging 19.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in helping Clarion to a 3-0 week with wins over previously unbeaten West Chester as well as West Virginia Wesleyan and Shepherd. She shot 52.6 percent (20-for-38) from the floor, including 9-of-19 (47.4 percent) from three-point range and 8-of-9 from the free throw line (88.9 percent). Against West Chester, Suwala scored 22 points and added six rebounds. Her three-pointer at the start of overtime gave the Eagles a lead they not give up in the overtime win. Before that, Suwala posted a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds in a win over West Virginia Wesleyan, scoring six points in a crucial 8-0 run after Clarion’s lead was cut to six with under four minutes left. She then capped the week with a 16-point, four-rebound performance in a win over Shepherd.
PSAC West Freshman of the Week
Dana Banda, Mercyhurst
G, Fr., Solon, Ohio/Solon
Banda helped Mercyhurst to a 2-0 week with wins over Mansfield and Wheeling Jesuit, averaging 11.0 points and 4.5 assists to earn her second PSAC West Freshman of the Week award of the year. She shot 42.9 percent (6-for-14) from three-point range and also averaged 3.0 rebounds. She led the Lakers in scoring with 16 points in the win over Wheeling Jesuit, including four three-pointers and also added five assists. That came after she had scored six points and dished out four assists in the Lakers’ win on the road at Mansfield.
PSAC Team Notes
Bloomsburg Huskies
Bloomsburg won its only game of the week, a 103-48 blowout of Penn State Schuylkill on Wednesday night to stretch its record to 5-1 on the season…In the victory, Fr. G Dana Wieller scored 21 points, shooting 7-of-10 from three-point range, in just 23 minutes…The seven made three-pointers were just one short of the school record, set by Michelle Albanese on Dec. 20, 2003…Four other Huskies scored in double-figures, led by Fr. G Tanejha Smith's 15 and Fr. F Lauren Biczelewski's 12…Through Dec. 10, BU is fourth in scoring offense (81.5) and tied for fifth in scoring defense (59.5) in the PSAC…Wieller is fourth in the conference, scoring 20.5 ppg and is first in three-pointers made, averaging 4.8 per contest…Fr. G Alyssa Flanagan leads the PSAC in assists with 6.3 apg…The Huskies travel to play Philadelphia University on Dec. 22 and Goldey-Beacom on Dec. 29
California Vulcans
The Vulcans improved to 6-1 with a 101-58 victory over Shippensburg on Friday, marking the largest margin of victory of the season…Against the Red Raiders, Cal U made a season-high 11 three-pointers and also shot a season-best .579 (11-of-19) from beyond the arc…In the win, senior guard Brooque Williams led the Vulcans in scoring for the fourth time this year, scoring 20 points and adding eight rebounds, five assists and five steals…Williams moved into second place in school history with 319 career steals, surpassing the 315 steals by Sara McKinney (2002-05)…Fr. G Kiara Brown is averaging 14.8 points in her last four games (all starts)…Cal U has already scored 100-plus points twice this season and six times over the last two years
Cheyney Wolves
The Lady Wolves dropped their only contest of the week, falling to the University of the Sciences...Lutfiyya Muhammad paced the Lady Wolves with 13 points while Angel Henderson chipped in 10...Cheyney forced 23 turnovers but gave up 10 offensive rebounds...Both teams struggled shooting the ball from the field...USP was 16-46 (35%) and Cheyney was 21-56 (38%). However, the game was decided from the charity stripe where the Devils converted 25-35 free throws shooting...Conversely the Lady Wolves were only 10-12...Cheyney will travel to Georgian Court on Wednesday night before playing the Annual Holiday Classic against Lincoln at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia on Saturday, December 19. Earlier this season, the Lady Wolves defeated Georgian Court 67-57...The Lady Wolves have never lost a Holiday Classic to Lincoln...The streak stands at 18...The Lady Wolves and Lady Lions tip-off at 6:00 p.m.
Clarion Golden Eagles
Clarion is at least 5-2 after seven games for the fifth time since 2003…The Golden Eagles made 27 free throws at Shepherd Saturday, the most against a non-PSAC opponent since Jan. 5, 1997, when they had 27 at UPJ. The 27 also tie for the sixth most made free throws in a game in head coach Gie Parsons 21 years at Clarion…Clarion's overtime win against West Chester Friday was its first overtime game in 37 contests and marked Clarion's 2nd straight OT victory…Lizzie Suwala had a career-high 15 rebounds Tuesday vs. W. Va. Wesleyan while recording her second double-double of the season and the 5th of her 3-year Clarion career…The 47 points Clarion allowed to West Va. Wesleyan Tuesday were the fewest since allowing 46 to Lock Haven Feb. 15, 2007.
East Stroudsburg Warriors
ESU fell to 1-6 with a pair of losses at the Joe Manchin Classic at Salem International, falling to Central State (59-48) and Urbana (67-46) on Saturday and Sunday...Sr. F DeAnna Rayem had her first career double-double vs. Central State with 16 points and 10 rebounds and had 14 points and 7 boards vs. Urbana...Rayam is averaging 14.9 ppg and has at least 13 points in all seven games...Sr. G Mel Villano is averaging a career-high 8.7 ppg and was named ESU's "Unsung Hero" at the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball media luncheon on Tuesday...She has started all 87 games she has played in during her career at ESU...The Warriors are holding opponents to 37.2 percent from the field but shooting just 33.2 percent themselves...ESU is playing the 2009-10 season under acting head coach Justin Potts (men's assistant coach).
Edinboro Fighting Scots
At the Susan G. Komen Shoot for the Cure Classic, Edinboro split its two games...In Saturday's 76-70 loss to West Liberty, senior guard Samantha Reimer scored a game high 28 points and added five assists...So. F Renee' Brown picked up a double-double for the Boro as she added 14 points and 11 rebounds but the Fighting Scots struggled to defend the three point line as the Hilltoppers converted on 13 of their 25 attempts...Edinboro bounced back on Sunday evening to defeat Washington Adventist, 101-20...Reimer led six Scots in double figures with 16 while Samantha Blazetic picked up a double-double off the bench with 14 points and 14 boards...Blazetic also had four blocks as the Edinboro defense allowed just seven field goals by The Shock and forced 37 turnovers...Raven Metz led the Boro defense with ten steals while Kelcie Hellmer had 12 points, five steals, four rebounds and two blocks.
Gannon Golden Knights
Gannon improved to 10-0 for the first time in school history with an 86-59 victory over Tiffin during the program's only action last week...The Lady Knights are ranked sixth in the December 9 USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll...It represents the second-highest national ranking in school history...The program was tabbed fifth on January 30, 2002...The Lady Knights have won 20 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...Sr. Brittany Tabron became the third current Lady Knight and 22nd in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau...In the process, she recorded her fifth double-double of the season and 22nd of her career...Sr. Tiffany Crocker moved into fourth place all-time at Gannon with 513 career assists...Sr. Kristina Freeman moved into eighth place all-time in scoring with 1,229 career points.
IUP Crimson Hawks
IUP played the first triple overtime game in school history Sunday, dropping a 97-95 decision to West Liberty in the final game of the Susan G. Komen Shoot for the Cure Classic, which raised over $9,400 for breast cancer research for the Komen Pittsburgh affiliate…The Crimson Hawks began the classic with a 98-28 win over Washington Adventist (formerly Columbia Union), the second largest margin of victory and second fewest points allowed in a game in school history…Sylvie Tafen scored a career-high 31 points versus West Liberty but it was not enough to prevent IUP's second loss of the season to the Hilltoppers…It was the first 30-point game by an IUP woman other than two-time All-American Jahzinga Tracey since Jacqui Martin had 33 versus Bloomsburg in January 2004…Fr. Katelyn Marshall scored a season-best 27 points versus Washington Adventist while fellow first-year player Brianna Johnson had her first double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Kutztown Golden Bears
Kutztown has placed at least four players in double figures in the same game three times this season (Wilmington, Holy Family & USP)…A day after setting her career high of 12 points against USP, freshman Ashley Wood scored 13 points in a 74-34 win over Washington Adventist…Rachel Wisemiller has made at least three 3-pointers in three straight games for the Golden Bears, who just concluded a 3-1 home stand…Meredith Starr was honored as the Lehigh Valley Basketball Organization Unsung Hero…Vivian Melvin continues to lead Kutztown with 38 assists…The Golden Bears are in the midst of a 13-day break…Kutztown returns to action on Dec. 22 when it travels to Le Moyne for a 2 p.m. start…Nine different players scored in the win against Washington Adventist, including Melanie Mehan, who scored a season-high seven points. Janet Malouf needs 14 victories to reach 250 for her career.
Lock Haven Bald Eagles
Lock Haven is 3-3 on the year and hasn't played since Friday, December 4, when the Lady Eagles fell to Wilmington (Del.) 74-71...Lock Haven is being led on the year by Jr. F Kristen Kudrick, who is averaging 13.3 points-per-game. She's also grabbing 6.8 rebounds-per-contest...Sr. G Casi Donelan is providing double-digit scoring for LHU. She's averaging 10 points a game...At 3-3 on the year, Lock Haven is outscoring opponents 414-357...Lock Haven is back in action on Saturday, December 19 when they travel to Washington Adventist. LHU took down WAU 85-45 earlier in the year.
Mansfield Mountaineers
The Mountaineer women played their first three home games of the season during the week including losses to Mercyhurst (69-63) and Le Moyne (46-42)… So. Mallory Moore was selected to the Comfort Inn Classic All-tournament team while teammate Nicole Pender earned the tournament's Hustle Award…Mansfield is off until Jan. 2.
Mercyhurst Lakers
The Lakers posted their first 2-0 week of the season, downing Mansfield on the road Dec. 7 before beating Wheeling Jesuit at home Dec. 9…Mercyhurst continued to dominate the glass, outrebounding Mansfield by 12 and Wheeling Jesuit by a 47-28 margin…the team has recorded 40 or more rebounds in each of the last five games, and averages 11 more boards per game than it allows…Amy Achesinski posted her third double-double of the season, and 16th for her career, Wednesday against Wheeling Jesuit…Achesinski passed the 900 point plateau in Monday's win at Mansfield…five Lakers scored in double figures at Mansfield, the most this season…freshman Dana Banda led the team with a career-best 16 points Wednesday against Wheeling Jesuit…Banda is the fourth Laker to pace the team in scoring so far this season…Banda, along with Jackie Artise and Samantha Loadman, have all drilled at least four threes in a game this season.
Millersville Marauders
The Marauders return to action for the first time in nine days on Monday night with a home contest against Goldey-Beacom…Millersville has never fallen against Goldey-Beacom, holding a 3-0 advantage in the series, including a 69-30 win in Wilmington, Del. Last season…With a win on Monday, the Marauders can start the season 7-0 for just the third time in program history…The last time a Millersville squad emerged victorious in its first seven games was 36 seasons ago, during the 1972-73 campaign…Fr. Mashira Newman has led the team in scoring in four of its first six games, while leading MU in assists and steals in three of those six games…Newman was also credited with her second 8-steal game of the season the last time the Marauders hit the court (on 12/5 against Lincoln)…Fellow Fr. Aurielle Mosley, scored in double figures for the first time in her career when she posted 12 points against Chestnut Hill on 12/4. She followed that up with another 12-point outing against Lincoln on 12/5.
Shippensburg Red Raiders
Shippensburg dropped its only game of the week to No. 10 California (Pa.)...Sr. Lauren Beckley continues to lead the team in scoring with 21.3 points per game and has converted 38-of-40 free-throw attempts this year…The Lady Raiders are set to begin a stretch of four consecutive road or neutral site games against WVIAC opponents…SU was 4-1 against the WVIAC last year, including a 16-point victory over WVIAC champion Charleston…11th-year head coach Kristy Trn has a 28-14 career record against WVIAC schools.
Slippery Rock - The Rock
Slippery Rock went 0-3 last week with a 82-70 loss against Pitt-Johnstown to round out a three-game home stand...The Rock traveled to Mansfield for a weekend tournament against LeMoyne and Lake Erie. The Rock fell to LeMoyne 65-61 on Friday, with senior Nikki Presto scoring 18 points, eight rebounds and assists...On Saturday SRU dropped a 85-73 game to Lake Erie...Fr. Bethany Caudill led the way for SRU against the Storm scoring a career-high 17 points in 27 minutes...Presto leads the team in scoring averaging 11.4 points per games, rebounds with 6.8 per contest and 30 assists.
West Chester Golden Rams
Four West Chester players scored in double figures, but it was not enough to win as visiting Clarion University handed the Golden Rams their first loss of the season in an 83-80 overtime thriller inside Hollinger Field House on Friday evening in West Chester’s only game of the week...Renata Neal posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Golden Rams (7-1). However, Clarion (4-2) came out on top despite shooting just 47 percent from the free throw line...The loss was the first on the season for WCU, who is off to its best start since the 2001 season, when the team started the year with 10 straight victories before falling to Clarion that year as well.