Following a banner week for Olivia Smelas, in which she etched her name into the Kutztown women’s basketball record books, the senior center was selected as the PSAC East’s Defensive Athlete of the Week for the fourth time this season.

Smelas, a Jim Thorpe graduate, had an historic week last week as the Golden Bears went 2-0, winning both PSAC East games. In the two games, Smelas averaged seven points per game, 15.5 rebounds per game, three assists per game and 1.5 steals per game.

In the come-from-behind, overtime victory over East Stroudsburg last Tuesday, Smelas reached program lore as she hauled in 22 rebounds, tying a program record for rebounds in a game. She grabbed a career-high eight offensive rebounds and added 14 defensive boards, also adding seven points, four assists and two steals in a season-high 40 minutes of action.

In a win against Mansfield two nights later, Smelas was one rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with a season-best 14 points and nine rebounds, to go along with two assists, one block and one steal.