Women's Basketball

PSAC Women's Basketball Athletes of the Week - 13

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has announced the women’s basketball athletes of the week. In the East, Shepherd's Kara Wehner and Kutztown's Olivia Smelas were selected. In the West, Edinboro's Rachael Manfredo and Seton Hill's Mia Kalich earned the honor.
 

Eastern Division Athlete of the Week
 
17863
 
Kara Wehner
Shepherd
Guard
Junior
Staten Island, N.Y. / Xaverian

Wehner averaged 21.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists to lead the Rams to a 2-0 week. She added four steals. Whener scored a career-high 29 points in Saturday's win over Mansfield.


Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
 
17862

Olivia Smelas
Kutztown
Center
Senior
Jim Thorpe, Pa. / Jim Thorpe

In two games last week, both wins for Kutztown, senior center Olivia Smelas was once again a leader defensively as she helped KU allow the lowest point totals back-to-back in eight games. In a 55-47 victory over Shippensburg last Wednesday, Smelas recorded four points, seven rebounds and four steals. In a 48-45 win at Bloomsburg, Smelas finished with a game-high 15 rebounds, eight of them defensively and added three steals and three assists. Smelas ranks fourth in the PSAC in rebounding at 9.5 rebounds per game, ranks at the top of the Eastern Division in steals with 63 (2.6 steals per game) and ranks ninth in blocks with 27.


Western Division Athlete of the Week
 
17861

Rachael Manfredo
Edinboro
Guard
Sophomore
White Oak, Pa. / McKeesport

Standout guard Rachael Manfredo led the Fighting Scots with 20.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as the Scots went 1-1 in the PSAC West  this week. She shot 54.2 percent from the field on the week. In the Scots victory over No. 5 Gannon, Manfredo scored 22 points to go with three rebounds and two steals. Against UPJ, Manfredo tallied 19 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks.


Western Division Defensive Athlete of the Week
 
17864

Mia Kalich
Seton Hill
Forward
Junior
Olmsted Falls, OH / Olmsted Falls

Kalich averaged 13 points, 13.5 rebounds and 6.5 steals per contest for the Griffins in a pair of games this past week.  She also added 8 assists.  Mia shot 12-17 from the floor in the two games.  She posted her third triple double of the season with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 steals in the win over CalU.