LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for January 8 2024. 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 Tuesday, January 2 through Sunday, January 7. A total of 7 student-athletes were recognized for their performances.
Men’s Basketball
Offensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Derian Bradford / Sr / Cairn University / Lansdale, Pa. / Faith Christian Academy / University of Valley Forge
Bradford set a new career high at Keystone, Wednesday, scoring 41 points on 20-30 shooting along with 7 rebounds and four assists. On Saturday, Bradford then led the Highlanders to victory over Notre Dame of Maryland on Saturday at home with another high-scoring performance of 32 points and 15 rebounds. On the week, Bradford averaged a double-double of 36.5 points per game and 11 rebounds per game while shooting 66% from the field (33-50) and chipping in 6 steals and 5 assists. Bradford currently leads the United East in scoring (24.1 ppg), is 2nd in rebounding (10.5 rpg), and 3rd in Field Goal Percentage (.575 FG%). Bradford was a 2022-23 First Team All-Conference honoree and previously earned Player of the Week for December 4, 2023 in addition to November 15, 2021 while playing at Valley Forge en route to a Second Team All-Conference honor for that season.
Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Cam’Ron Martel / So / Saint Elizabeth University / Houston, Tx. / Texas Permian-Basin
Martel set a new career-high with 3 blocks against Valley Forge on Saturday and added two more on Wednesday against Wilson for 5 blocks on the week. Additionally, Martel pulled down 17 rebounds over the two games (8 vs. Wilson; 9 vs. Valley Forge; respectively) in addition to a steal. This is the first Player of the Week honor for Martel.
Offensive & Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Donyae Baylor-Carroll / Sr / Penn State Harrisburg / Harrisburg, Pa. / Milton Hershey
Donyae Baylor-Carroll had an historic week in leading Penn State Harrisburg to a pair of victories. In a win over Muhlenberg on Wednesday night, the senior finished one rebound shy of a double-double, pouring in a game-high 31 points to go along with a team-best nine rebounds, five steals, five assists, and a block. Baylor-Carroll followed it up by netting a game-high 20 points to become Penn State Harrisburg’s all-time leading scorer (1,716 points) in a victory over Penn State Berks on Saturday. In the matchup with Berks, Baylor-Carroll controlled the defensive end as well, swiping a game-high six steals and adding three assists and three rebounds. In reaching the scoring milestone, he became the lone active Division III player with 1,700 career points and 390 career assists. For the week, Baylor-Carroll averaged 25.5 points, 5.5 steals, six rebounds, and four assists per game while knocking down eight 3-pointers and going 15-of-16 from the foul line. This is the fourth Athlete of the Week honor for Baylor-Carroll this season (December 11, 2023, November 27, 2023 and November 13, 2023).
Women’s Basketball
Offensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Amani Watts / FY / Notre Dame of Maryland University / Severn, Md. / Old Mill HS
Watts had another big week shooting 72% from the field (21-29) while averaging a double-double (23.5 points per game, 11.5 rebounds per game). In the win over Clarks Summit, Watts scored 24 points along with 8 rebounds (3 Offensive) while dishing four assists. Watts kept rolling in the Gators win over Cairn, scoring 23 points while pulling 15 rebounds, (9 Offensive). For the season, Watts is averaging 18.8 points per game (4th in the United East) and 11.8 rebounds per game (2nd in the United East). This is the fourth Player of the Week honor for Watts this season who previously won for the weeks of January 2, 2024, December 11, 2023 and December 4, 2023.
Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division
Nicole Sachman / Gr. / Cedar Crest College / Niles, Mi. / Lakeland University / Brandywine HS
Sachman averaged 16.5 points and 16 rebounds in a 2-0 week for Cedar Crest. She started the week with a double-double of 22 points and 21 rebounds in an 80-44 win over Valley Forge. Sachman also registered seven assists and three steals in the triumph over the Patriots. She then turned another double-double in a 72-58 victory over Clarks Summit. Sachman tallied 11 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and three steals in the win over the Lady Defenders. On the season, Sachman is 10th in the United East with 9.4 rebounds per game and is 13th in Steals with 2.4 per game.
Offensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Cassidy Perry / Sr / Gallaudet University / Frederick, Md. / Maryland School for the Deaf
Perry had another strong week for the Bison as she tallied 49 points, 25 rebounds, 10 assists, six steals and three blocks in two home non-conference victories for GU. Perry started the week with a 25-point performance in a 72-66 win against Stockton University last Wednesday. In that game, Perry made 10 of 15 shots from the field and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line in 32 minutes. Perry grabbed eight rebounds, made five steals, passed out three assists and made one block. This past Saturday, Perry followed up with a double-double as she tallied 24 points and 17 rebounds (11 on defensive side). She added seven assists, two blocks and one assist as she made 7 of 12 shots from the field and was 10-for-12 from the charity stripe in 33 minutes. This is the 14th Player of the Week honor on the basketball court for Perry who was a First Team All-Conference honoree in 2021-22 and 2022-23, in addition to Rookie of the Year and Second Team honors in 2019-20.
Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division
Cam Lexow / FY / Gallaudet University / Abington, Pa. / Abington HS
Lexow finished last week with 31 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, six steals and four blocks as GU went 2-0 in two home non-conference games. Lexow started the week with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals in a 72-66 win against Stockton University. Lexow played all 40 minutes and made 5 of 8 shots from the field and went 4-for-6 at the free throw line. Lexow continued her solid week with a 17-point performance which includes five assists, four steals, three rebounds and one block in a 77-73 win over Gwynedd Mercy University. Lexow made 5 of 9 from the field and went 7-for-11 from the free throw line in 34 minutes played.
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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.