KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Senior forward Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) of Kutztown women's basketball seemed to make a living collecting missed shots near the basket last week, and her defensive performance led to her earning this week's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division's Defensive Athlete of the Week, announced Monday.
 
In two games last week, Smelas averaged 6.5 points per game, 11.5 rebounds per game, four assists per game and three steals per game in 31.5 minutes per game. In a victory over Wilmington last Monday night, Smelas finished with six points, eight rebounds, a career-high six assists and a block. Against nationally-ranked IUP on Friday, Smelas recorded seven points, a season-best 15 rebounds, including six offensive, a career-high six steals, two assists and two blocks.
 
Smelas is tied for sixth in the conference with 3.0 offensive rebounds per game.
 
Kutztown is off this week for finals and will be back out on the court next Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Gannon in a PSAC crossover game.