LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for December 15, 2025. Today will include Players of the Week from Men's and Women's Basketball.
This week’s selections included contests through Sunday, December 14. A total of four student-athletes from three different member institutions were recognized for their performances.
Men’s Basketball
Offensive Player of the Week
Jory Valencia / SO / Gallaudet University / Riverside, Calif. / California School for the Deaf-Riverside
Gallaudet University sophomore guard Jory Valencia dished out career-high marks in back-to-back games for the Bison. Last Tuesday, GU picked up its first win of the season with a 66-62 win over Goucher College. Valencia passed out a career-high nine assists to go with 15 points, four steals and three rebounds. The Riverside, Calif. native increased his career-high total for assists in a game when he passed out 11 in a 74-60 loss to undefeated Washington (Md.) College. Valencia finished the game against the Shoremen with 11 points, 11 assists and six rebounds. For the week, Valencia totaled 27 points, 20 assists, nine rebounds and four steals.
This is Valencia's first ever weekly accoalde.
Defensive Player of the Week
Jalen Bowie / SR / Wilson College / Frederick, Md. / Frederick
Jalen Bowie helped lead Wilson to victory against Marywood in the only game of the week for the Phoenix by excelling on both ends of the floor. Offensively he led the team by pouring in 23 points after going 6-for-13 from the field and making 11 free throws while dishing out four assists. On the glass, Bowie amassed 17 rebounds with a dozen coming on the defensive side. He added two steals and a block as well to help give the Pacers just its second loss of the season.
This is Bowie's first ever weekly accoalde.
Women’s Basketball
Offensive Player of the Week
Nia Newman / SR / Penn State Abington / Rockville, Md. / Rockville
In a 2-0 week for the Nittany Lions, senior Nia Newman 19.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. In the team's 67-66 victory against Arcadia University, Newman totaled 19 points (8-12 FG) to go along with eight rebounds. She followed that up with a season-high 20 points in the team's 89-73 victory over Delaware Valley University. Newman has scored in double-digits in four of her last five games. With her 39 points scored this week, she is now 20 points away from 1,000 points in her career.
This is Newman's first ever weekly accoalde.
Defensive Player of the Week
Xenia Gillis / SO / Penn State Abington / Yeadon, Pa. / Penn Wood
In a 2-0 week for the Nittany Lions, sophomore Xenia Gillis averaged 11.5 rebounds per game and totaled five blocks and four steals in the two victories. In the 67-66 victory over Arcadia University, Gillis had a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with three blocks and one steal. In the win against Delaware Valley University, Gillis recorded a double-double with a game-high 12 boards and went on to score 17 points. She also had two blocks and three steals.
This is Gillis' first ever weekly accoalde.
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The United East boasts 14 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.