SSC Athletes of the Week: February 13 - 19

SSC Athletes of the Week: February 13 - 19

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Weekly Honors in Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Lacrosse, and Golf

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week | February 13 - 19, 2017

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of February 13 - 19, 2017. Athletes are nominated by Sports Information Directors of member institutions.


Men's Basketball Player of the Week
7445Marquan Botley / Lynn University / Sr. / Guard / Dallas, Texas
Botley scored a career-high and broke a Lynn record with 10 made three-pointers in a single game to earn Player of the Week. In a win at Florida Southern, Botley knocked down his 84th triple of the season to claim the program’s single-season three-point record. He finished his night against FSC with a SSC single game season high of 40 points, and added three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. The Dallas native shot 10-of-13 from long range, 13-of-18 from the field, and 4-of-4 at the line. His 40 points is three shy of the Lynn record for points in a game and the most for a Fighting Knight since 2009. On the road at Florida Tech, Botley scored 19 of his team-high 27 points in the first half and finished 7-of-14 from behind the three-point line. He added three boards, two assists, and a steal. Botley averaged 33.5 points per game this week while knocking down 17 three-pointers. The Fighting Knights are 12-12 overall and 7-9 SSC on the year.  

Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Kande is awarded his second Defensive Player of the Week award this season after he topped his old school record with 25 rebounds (17 defensive) while adding 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting against Florida Tech. Then against Florida Southern, Kande secured his team-high seventh double-double of the season, recording 12 points, 12 rebounds (11 defensive), and two steals while shooting 6-of-7 from the free throw line. The Dakar, Senegal native posted two double-doubles this week the Lynn went 1-1 in SSC. He is averaging 10.1 rebounds per game which ranks him second in the SSC. The Fighting Knights are 12-12 (7-9 SSC) on the year.

Women's Basketball Player of the Week
7442Gianna Vastola / Florida Southern College / Sr. / Sarasota, Florida
Vastola is named the Player of the Week for the second time this year after averaging 17.0 points per game with a 57.4 percent shooting average across two wins this week. Vastola also averaged 8.0 rebounds on the week as she snagged 16 total rebounds. The Sarasota, Florida native scored 20 points and 12 rebounds against Lynn while adding three steals and two assists. She also scored her 1,000 collegiate point after she scored 14 points against Tampa and dishing out two assists. With the help of Vastola, the Moccasins improve to 18-7 overall and 13-3 in conference play.

Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
7455

Carly McLendon / Rollins College / Sr. / Forward / Sanford, Florida
McLendon has been named Defensive Player of the Week for the fifth time this season after seven blocked shots and 12 rebounds (10 defensive) in two games. The Sanford, Florida native averaged 16.0 points per game as the Tars improve their win streak to 11 games. The Tars are now 19-6 overall and 13-4 in SSC play.


Baseball Player of the Week
7456J.D. Osborne / University of Tampa / Sr. / 3B / C / Whitby, Ontario
Osborne takes Player of the Week after leading Tampa to a series win over No. 23 Southern Indiana. Starting in all three games, Osborne recorded a .615 BA / .643 OB% / 1.358 Slugging slash line against the Screaming Eagles. The Whitby, Ontario native went 8-13 at the plate and tallied nine RBIs, six runs, three home runs, a double, and a walk. Osbourne’s top game was the last in the series. He wend 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, three RBI, a homerun, and a walk. With the play of Osborne, Tampa improves to 7-2 overall.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week
7443Donovan Armas / Lynn University / Sr. / Bellarose Village, New York
Armas earns Pitcher of the Week after a dominant start against No. 27 North Georgia. The Bellarose Village, New York product picked up his second win of the season by throwing eight innings scoreless and giving up one hit. Armas allowed two walks while striking out a season-high 10 batters in the 8-0 shutout victory. With the series victory, Lynn is now 7-4 on the season.

Softball Player of the Week
7448Karolina Flores / Lynn University / Fr. / Shortstop / Moreno Valley, California
Flores has been named the Softball Player of the Week after Lynn swept a three-game series against Barry. The Moreno Valley, California native was responsible for multiple hits in all three games, including going 6-for-6 over the final two games. She hit .800 and also had a cycle within the series, hitting three doubles, a triple, and a home run. She accounted for nine of the team’s 19 runs in the series. This was Lynn’s first home three-game sweep over an SSC opponent since 2004 and first three-game sweep of Barry in program history as they improve to 5-4 overall and 3-0 in SSC play.  
Beacham has been awarded the Softball Pitcher of the Week after 10-inning complete game  series-opening win against Eckerd. The Bartow, Florida native limited the Tritons to one hit in the first nine innings of the game before the Tritons broke up the shutout with one out in the bottom of the 10th. Beacham allowed four hits and three walks while striking out six in the Moccasins, 4-1 victory. The Moccasins improve to 7-3 overall and 3-0 in SSC play.


Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
7452Andrew Kew / University of Tampa / So. / Attack / Oakville, Ontario
Kew is awarded Offensive Player of the Week after eight goals in two road games for Tampa. Against No. 17 Lindenwood, Kew provided the Spartans with three goals and an assist on 10 shots (eight on goal) as UT fell 6-5. The Oakville, Ontario native then scored five times on eight shots (seven on goal) in UT’s 17-2 victory over Maryville. Kew added five ground balls and three caused turnovers to his weekly state sheet. Following the road split, Tampa is now 3-1 on the season.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
7454
Shaun McDonald / Lynn University / Sr. / Defense / Cicero, New York
McDonald played an unheralded role in the Lynn’s biggest victory in program history this past Saturday. The Fighting Knights defeated No. 8 Adelphi, 9-7, marking their first-ever win over a Top-10 opponent. McDonald was charged with marking AU’s preseason second team All-American, Gordon Purdie, Jr. and held the attacker to four shots with no goals or assists along with two turnovers. He also picked up a groundball in the defense’s stingy effort. The Fighting Knights improve to 2-0 on the year.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week
7446Dryden Brous / Lynn University / Fr. / FOS / Ocean City, Maryland
In the Fighting Knights’ defeated No. 8 Adelphi, 9-7, Brous won 60% of his outings at the X, going 6-of-10 on faceoffs, while securing a game-high five ground balls. The Ocean City, Maryland product also tacked on an assist, marking his first career point. The Fighting Knights improve to 2-0 on the year.


Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

7451Kendall Kerge / Florida Southern College / Sr. / Attack / Edgewater, Maryland
Kerge earns the Offensive Player of the Week after scoring seven goals in a win against No. 8 Grand Valley State. In the the victory, the Edgewater, Maryland native took nine shots (eight on goal) and went 2-for-3 on free-position shots. The Moccasins won the game, 18-12, for their first victory of the season.

Gillis has been named the Defensive Player of the Week after facing 23 shots, saving eight of them, and only allowing 12 shots to get by her. The Bel Air, Maryland native also collected two ground balls as the Moccasins defeated No. 8 Grand Valley State 18-12 to open up their season.
Coultas is named the Golfer of the Week for the third time in 2016-17 after posting his third individual win of the season. Coultas recorded a 14-under par 202 at the Matlock Collegiate Classic, a tournament that featured seven of the top eight ranked teams in the country. The Senior shot rounds of 68, 68, and 66 to finish one stroke ahead of West Florida's Jacob Huizinga. His 14-under par 202 was the second lowest total score in the tournament's 36-year history. With the help of Coultas, the Moccasins moved up from 10th in the standings after the first round to a fifth-place finish, even while playing with only four golfers in the lineup for the first two rounds. He was the tournament leader with 21 birdies.

Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week
7453
Jean-Baptiste Mateo / Lynn University / Jr. / Marseille, France
Mateo was undefeated and posted six victories this weekend for the eighth-ranked Lynn men’s tennis team, as the Fighting Knights went 2-1 on their road trip in Georgia, including a big 5-1 upset over No. 3 ranked Armstrong State. Mateo provided the match-clinching point at No. 2 singles against the Pirates, giving the Fighting Knights their first win over ASU since 2005. Teaming up with Jose Porfirio Ordonez for the first time this season, the duo went 3-0 in doubles action. In singles, Mateo, the 19th-ranked player in Division II, also went 3-0 while playing at the No. 2 spot. The Marseille, France native didn’t drop a singles set all weekend and defeated 47th-ranked Zach Whaanga of Columbus St. to kick off the weekend. The Fighting Knights improve to 4-2 on the year.
Stemmer has earned weekly accolades after she provided five wins this weekend for the No. 3 ranked team. The Stuttgart, Germany native helped Lynn get off to a 3-0 edge through doubles play then brought home the victory with a straight-set win in singles to hand No. 1 Armstrong State their first loss of the season. She then won her only outing against No. 8 Columbus St., a straight-set win in singles and tacked on two more wins to close out the weekend against NAIA No. 3, SCAD Savannah. The Fighting Knights victory over No. 1 Armstrong State’s first loss at home since 2003 which was the longest current consecutive home match winning streak in collegiate tennis (167 straight). Lynn improves to 5-0 on the season.

Nov. 14: Marcus Dewberry, Saint Leo; Jarel Spellman, Florida Southern
Nov. 21: Adrian Gonzalez, Barry; Daniel Mortensen, Barry
Nov. 28: Dwayne Gibson, Nova Southeastern; Duke Shelton, Tampa
Dec. 5: Justin Satchell, Saint Leo; Drushaun McLaurn, Eckerd
Dec. 12: Anthony Gamble, Tampa; Vieux Kande, Lynn
Dec. 20: Harrison Goodrick, Nova Southeastern; Kevin O'Brien, Lynn
Jan. 2: Adrian Gonzalez, Barry; Daniel Mortensen, Barry
Jan. 9: Drushaun McLaurn, Eckerd; Daniel Mortensen, Barry
Jan. 16: Jack Rauch, Florida Southern; Jarel Spellman, Florida Southern
Jan. 23: Marcus Dewberry, Saint Leo; Obi Kyei, Eckerd
Jan. 30: Elvar Fridriksson, Barry; Jarel Spellman, Florida Southern
Feb. 6: Elvar Fridriksson, Barry; Jarel Spellman, Florida Southern
Feb. 13: Brett Hanson, Florida Southern; Obi Kyei, Eckerd
Feb. 20: Marquan Botley, Lynn University; Vieux Kande, Lynn University

2016-17 SSC Women's Basketball Award Winners (Player; Defensive Player)
Nov. 14: Jensen Blassage, Florida Southern; Gianna Vastola, Florida Southern
Nov. 21: Taylor Buie, Nova Southeastern; Victoria Vine, Eckerd
Nov. 28: Christen Prasse, Nova Southeastern; Carly McLendon, Rollins
Dec. 5: Shequana Harris, Florida Tech; Ada Yalcin, Eckerd
Dec. 12: Megan Piggott, Nova Southeastern; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Dec. 20: Chelsy Springs, Saint Leo; Asia Royster, Saint Leo
Jan. 2: Anna Deegan, Eckerd; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Jan. 9: Camille Giardina, Florida Southern; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Jan. 16: Gianna Vastola, Florida Southern; Carly McLendon, Rollins
Jan. 23: Elena de Alfredo, Tampa; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Jan. 30: Julia Ingler, Rollins; Carly McLendon, Rollins
Feb. 6: Chelsy Springs, Saint Leo; Carly McLendon, Rollins
Feb. 13: Ashley Folsom, Eckerd; Asia Royster, Saint Leo
Feb. 20: Gianna Vastola, Florida Southern; Carly McLendon, Rollins

2017 SSC Baseball Award Winners (Player, Pitcher)
Feb. 6: Derek Gibree, Saint Leo; Garrett Cave, Tampa
Feb. 13: Karl Ellison, Lynn; Jake Walsh, Florida Southern
Feb. 20: J.D. Osborne, Tampa; Donovan Armas, Lynn

2017 SSC Softball Award Winners (Player, Pitcher)
Feb. 6: Brianne Lint, Rollins, Makaleigh Dooley, Tampa
Feb. 13: Erica Morrissey, Florida Southern; Rachel Pence, Florida Tech
Feb. 20: Karolina Flores, Lynn; Kristen Beacham, Florida Southern

2017 SSC Men's Lacrosse Award Winners (Offensive, Defensive, Specialist)
Feb. 6: Kyle Pauwels, Saint Leo; Thomas Tatarian, Saint Leo; Sam Watts, Tampa
Feb. 13: Conor Whipple, Tampa; Matt Lalli, Florida Southern; Mitch Wilson, Saint Leo
Feb. 20: Andrew Kew, Tampa; Shaun McDonald, Lynn; Dryden Brous, Lynn

2017 SSC Women's Lacrosse Award Winners (Offensive, Defensive)
Feb. 13: Hanah Ashton, Rollins; Lindsay Van Beck, Rollins
Feb. 20: Kendall Kerge, Florida Southern; Taylor Gillis, Florida Southern

2017 SSC Golf Award Winners (Men, Women)
Sept. 12: John VanDerLaan; Florida Southern; None
Sept. 19: Will Hall, Rollins; Charlotte Puts, Barry
Sept. 26: John Coultas, Florida Southern; Marie Coors, Saint Leo
Oct. 3: None; Lexie Toth, Rollins
Oct. 10: John Coultas, Florida Southern; Jenny Ayala, Lynn
Oct. 16: None; Viviana Vazquez, Rollins
Oct. 24: Richard Mansell, Nova Southeastern; Vilde Eriksen, Saint Leo
Oct. 31: Niclas Weiland, Barry; Tilda Larsson, Barry
Nov. 7: Jakob Van de Flierdt, Rollins; Brittany LaPadula, Florida Tech
Feb. 6: None; Shannon McKew, Florida Southern
Feb: 13: Max O'Hagan, Florida Tech; Tilda Larsson, Barry
Feb. 20: John Coultas, Florida Southern; None

2017 SSC Tennis Award Winners (Men, Women)
Feb. 6: Mehdi Laalej, Lynn; Sonja Larsen, Barry
Feb. 13: Ahmed Triki, Barry; Luicelena Perez, Nova Southeastern
Feb. 20: Jean-Baptiste Mateo, Lynn; Stefanie Stemmer, Lynn