KUTZTOWN, Pa. – After three weekly awards for Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) so far this season, frontcourt mate, Ariana Smuda (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East), joined the fray and earned this week's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division's Defensive Athlete of the Week, announced Tuesday.
 
In three games last week, all victories, Smuda, a junior center, averaged nine points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks per game in 24 minutes of action per game. KU was the only PSAC East team to go 3-0 last week and held its opponents to just 44.6 ppg.
 
In a win at West Chester last Tuesday night, Smuda finished with six points, seven rebounds and a career-high four blocks in just 20 minutes. In a victory at Shippensburg Thursday, Smuda tallied eight points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals. Last Saturday's win at home against Bloomsburg saw Smuda record her second double-double of the season, tying a season-best with 13 points and adding a career-high 11 rebounds with a block and an assist.
 
Smuda is tied for second in the PSAC with 1.8 blocks per game. Her 28 total blocks ranks third.
 
Kutztown has two games this week, both away from home. KU is at Millersville Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m., and then takes on Shepherd on the road this Saturday at 1 p.m.