Women's Basketball

PSAC Women's Basketball Athletes of the Week - 14

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has announced the next round of women’s basketball athletes of the week. In the East, Kutztown's Naia Pulliam (Athlete of the Week) and East Stroudsburg's Emily Chmiel (Defensive Athlete of the Week) earned the honors. In the West, Edinboro's Morgan Gentile and IUP's Nyshae' Weaver (Co-Athletes) and Clarion's Madison Palek (Defensive) were selected.

 
Eastern Division Athlete of the Week
 
16702
 
Naia Pulliam
Kutztown
Guard
Senior
Wilmington, Del. / St. Elizabeth

In two wins last week for Kutztown, senior Naia Pulliam averaged 20 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game and three assists per game. In a comeback victory over Shippensburg last Wednesday, Pulliam led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-16 (50%) shooting from the floor, while adding five rebounds, four assists and two steals. She paced the KU offense that outscored the Raiders 34-14 in the fourth quarter to rally from a 14-point deficit (56-42) to begin the fourth quarter. Because of her efforts, KU won its program-record 11th game in-a-row. In a win over Shepherd on Saturday, Pulliam once again led the offense with 17 points and shot 50% from the floor again (7-of-14), while contributing four rebounds, two assists and one steal.
 


Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
 
16703

Emily Chmiel
East Stroudsburg
Center
Senior
Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks East

On the week Emily Chmiel averaged 21.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, two steals. She also brought down nine offensive rebounds during the week. Against West Chester Chmiel scored 14 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and added four steals and five blocks. On Saturday against Mansfield she dropped a 29-point, 18-rebound double-double that also included three assists and 59% shooting. Chmiel is now just 11 points shy of setting the school record for most points in a season.


Western Division Co-Athlete of the Week
 
16704

Morgan Gentile
Edinboro
Guard
Senior
Athens, Pa. / Elmira

Gentile stuffed the stat sheet for the Scots as they scored a dominant 82-66 victory over No. 11/15 Seton Hill on Saturday in their only contest of the week. Gentile scored 20 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out six assists, tallied five steals and added a block while shooting 6-of-12 from the field. She is just one point shy of 1,000 for her career at Edinboro. Gentile currently leads the PSAC in assists per game at 4.8 while also ranking 11th in scoring at 15.1 points per game. The win moved the Scots into a tie with Seton Hill for first place in the West with two games remaining in the regular season.


Western Division Co-Athlete of the Week
 
16701

Nyshae' Weaver
IUP
Forward
Junior
Baltimore, Md. / Alderson Broaddus

Nyshae' Weaver had two double-doubles. Against Seton Hill she had 20 rebounds, 24 points, 2 assists, and shot 9-for-10 FG. Against SRU Weaver had 13 rebounds, 12 points, 2 blocks.


Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
 
16705

Madison Palek
Clarion
Forward
Freshman
Woodbine, N.J. /  Middle Township

Madison Palek helped the Golden Eagles clinch their first PSAC Tournament berth since 2017 on Wednesday, as Clarion beat Slippery Rock on the road to lock up a spot in the postseason. Palek filled the defensive stat sheet with nine rebounds, four blocked shots and a steal as the Golden Eagles defeated the Rock 76-58. Clarion is now guaranteed to finish the regular season with at least a .500 record, one year after winning just a single game. The Golden Eagles have already improved their record by 13 games from a year ago.