General | 11/25/2019 12:53:26 PM
Below are the Empire 8 Players of the Week, released on Nov. 25, 2019 for games played from Nov. 19-Nov. 24. It is the 13th Empire 8 weekly honors release of the 2019-20 season.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Tommy Kelly, Hartwick, Jr., G, Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna
Kelly averaged 21.0 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 67 percent from 3-point range in two Hartwick victories. He scored 14 points with five rebounds and five assists in an 82-78 victory over local rival Oneonta on Thursday and followed it up with a career-high 28 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 6-of-7 from 3-point range in a 68-59 win against Vassar Saturday. He added four rebounds, three steals, and two assists against the Brewers. For the week, he shot 13-of-26 from the floor and 8-of-12 from downtown, while making all eight of his free throw attempts.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – A.J. Bass, Houghton, Fr., G, Orlando, FL/Heritage Christian
Bass averaged 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest, while shooting 9-for-12 from the field and 6-7 from the free throw line in a pair of games for the Highlanders. He tallied 11 points, four assists and three boards versus Alfred State and followed that up with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, three boards and two assists against SUNY Geneseo.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Rachel Benedict, Nazareth, Sr., F, Brockport, NY/Brockport
Benedict was named to the Mark’s Pizzeria Shootout All-Tournament Team with after averaging 20.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 50 percent from the floor, 50 percent from 3-point range and 93 percent (13-of-14) from the free throw line. On Thursday, she scored 19 points to go along with seven boards and three steals versus RIT. Saturday, Benedict recorded a double-double with 21 points and a career-high 19 rebounds to lead Nazareth to its first win in 10 years over Rochester.
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Sydney Przygoda, Utica, So., F, Freehold, NJ/Freehold
Przygoda averaged 24.5 points per game with a pair of 20 point-plus performances and continued her incredible start on the glass by averaging 11.5 rebounds as the Pioneers split two games. On Tuesday, Przygoda finished with 21 points and nine rebounds versus Oneonta. She was 9-of-16 from the field and the majority of her rebounds came off the offensive glass. On Saturday, Przygoda shined in a road victory over MCLA with 28 points and 14 rebounds as the Pioneers rolled past the Trailblazers 80-54.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Mykenzie Malacusky, Elmira, Fr., G, Dushore, PA/Sullivan County
Malacusky led Elmira to its second win in a row with a road victory over Wells on Tuesday. She scored a career-high 15 points in a season-high 30 minutes in her third collegiate start, while adding career highs with seven rebounds, two steals and one block. She made five field goals, including one 3-pointer, and shot 4-of-5 (80.0%) from the foul line.
MEN’S SWIMMNG & DIVING
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Sidney Taylor, Nazareth, Diver, Jr., Rochester, NY/Pittsford Mendon
Taylor set a new school record in the 11-dive event with a winning score of 500.25 on the 3-meter board at the Geneseo Diving Invitational on Saturday. He also scored 477.45 on the 1-meter board to place second.
WOMEN’S SWIMMNG & DIVING
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Abigail Santos, Nazareth, Freestyle/Individual Medley, Fr., Gardiner, NY/New Paltz
Santos won the 100-yard individual medley with a time of 59.89 at the very competitive Franklin and Marshall Invitational over the weekend, featuring some of the best Mid-Atlantic teams. She was also fifth in the 100-yard butterfly (57.89) and second in the 200-yard individual medley (2:10.18).
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
EMPIRE 8 SOCIAL MEDIA
YouTube –
Facebook –
Twitter –
Instagram