KUTZTOWN, Pa. – For the third time this season, senior center Olivia Smelas (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim Thorpe) of Kutztown women's basketball was selected as this week's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division's Defensive Athlete of the Week, announced Monday.
 
In two road PSAC contests over the weekend, Smelas averaged 9.5 points per game, 10 rebounds per game, four assists per game, 2.5 steals per game and one block per game.
 
In a game against Seton Hill, Smelas tallied 10 points, seven rebounds, two steals and one block in just 14 minutes of action.
 
In a victory over California, Smelas stuffed the stat sheet and finished just shy of a triple-double, ending with nine points, 13 rebounds, a career-high seven assists, three steals and two blocks.
 
Smelas ranks in the top-10 in the PSAC in blocks per game (1.4, 5th), rebounds per game (8.7, 6th) and steals per game (2.5, T-7th).
 
Kutztown hosts St. Thomas Aquinas in its final non-conference game of the regular season Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m., from Keystone Arena. KU opens PSAC East play on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Lock Haven to town at 1 p.m.