General 12/18/2023 2:30:00 PM United East Athletes of the Week - December 18, 2023 LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for December 18, 2023. This includes Athletes of the Week for both the Skye and Volt Divisions in Men’s and Women’s Basketball. This week’s selections included contests from Monday, December 11 through Sunday, December 17. A total of 6 student-athletes were recognized for their performances. Men’s Basketball Offensive & Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division Aytor Alberto / Sr / Cairn University / Willemstad, Curacao / Victory Rock Prep (FL) / Clarks Summit University Alberto marked a career high on Monday night with 34 points over Gwynedd Mercy, including 11 rebounds and 5-8 shooting from deep. On Saturday in a non-conference matchup against Lancaster Bible, Alberto was also in double digits with 18 points, this time helping to fuel the offense with 5 assists and 3 steals. Defensively, Alberto had four blocks and 5 steals on the week while pulling down 16 total rebounds as the Highlanders went 1-1 on the week with a victory over Lancaster Bible. Currently, Alberto is 3rd in the United East scoring 21.3 points per game, 11th in Field Goal percentage (. 468), and 13th in 3 Pt Field Goals Made (19). Offensive & Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division Blessed Mbogo / Jr / Gallaudet University / Silver Spring, Md. / Rockville HS Mbogo scored a game-high 30 points last Monday on the road against Longwood University (Division I) in a 92-61 loss for the Bison. Mbogo made 10 of 24 shots from the floor, including six 3-pointers as GU led earlier on against the Lancers. Mbogo added four steals, three rebounds and one assist in 38 minutes played. Currently, Mbogo is 6th in the United East with 18.5 Points per Game, 13th in Rebounds per Game (7.2 rpg), 2nd in 3 Point Field Goals per Game (2.5 per game) and 2nd in total 3 Pointers Made (33). Defensively, Mbogo is 2nd in the United East in both Total Steals (32) and Steals per Game (2.5 spg). Women’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week - Skye Division Laela Robinson / So / Wilson College / Lancaster, Pa. / Conestoga Valley HS Robinson led Wilson to a victory on the road at Mary Baldwin in the lone game of the week with not only her best game of the season, but the best game of her career. The sophomore guard went 8-for-13 overall and 3-for-5 behind the arc for a career-high 19 points. All were needed as MBU stayed within striking distance despite Wilson leading from the opening points of the game. Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division Adrianna Stricek / So / Wilson College / Harrisburg, Pa / Trinity HS Stricek returned to form defensively as she recorded her fifth double-double of the season as Wilson defeated Mary Baldwin on the road Saturday. Stricek pulled down 13 rebounds, 10 of which were on the defensive end, as the Phoenix kept the Squirrels at arm's length throughout the day. She added 12 points as she reached double figures offensively for the sixth consecutive game. This is the second Athlete of the Week this season for Stricek who won for the week of December 4. In 2022-23, Stricek was the CSAC Rookie of the Year as well as an Honorable Mention honoree in addition to a Defensive Player of the Week nod for the week of February 6, 2023. Offensive Player of the Week - Volt Division Samantha Blaylock / So / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Ijamsville, Md. / Oakdale HS Samantha Blaylock dropped 23 points in a 66-64 comeback win over Mary Baldwin University. Blaylock went 1-for-8 (all from downtown) in the first half before pouring in 20 in the second half, including 11 in the third quarter when the Seahawks rallied from a 37-26 deficit and outscored the Fighting Squirrels, 23-12. She shot 5-of-11 from the field in the second half, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc, and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. This is the second Player of the Week honor for Blaylock this season who previously won for the week of November 20 and was the United East Rookie of the Year last season. Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division Stephanie Howell / Fifth Year / St. Mary’s College of Maryland / Chevy Chase, Md. / Bethesda Chevy Chase HS Stephanie Howell grabbed 11 rebounds and chipped in five points plus season-bests of two assists, two blocks, and two steals in a 66-64 comeback win over Mary Baldwin University. Seven of her 11 rebounds plus the two blocks and two steals came in the second half as the Seahawks rallied from a 37-26 third quarter deficit. This is the second Player of the Week honor for Howell who previously won for the week of January 30, 2023. Howell was a All-United East second team honoree for the past two seasons. 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