Tuesday, December 8, 2009

MORAVIAN’S SMITH & O’DONNELL NAMED LEHIGH VALLEY SMALL COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAMS OF THE MONTH

BETHLEHEM, PA --- Juniors Emily Smith (East Stroudsburg, PA/East Stroudsburg South HS) and Ryan O’Donnell (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury HS) from the Moravian College basketball teams have been named to the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Unsung Player Teams of the Month for December by the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Organization at its first luncheon of the 2009-10 season at Starters Restaurant in Bethlehem.

The Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Organization is made up of the seven small college schools in the Lehigh Valley including NCAA Division II schools East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and NCAA Division III schools Cedar Crest College, Delaware Valley College, DeSales University, Moravian College and Muhlenberg College.

Smith, a guard/forward, has helped the Moravian women open the year with a 5-2 overall record, a 1-0 record in Landmark Conference action and a national ranking of 12th.  Smith, pictured at right, has played in all seven games, one of eight players on the team to do so, and is averaging 19.1 minutes per contest.  Smith is averaging 7.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game to go with seven steals and four assists, and she is shooting 48.9 percent (22 of 45) from the floor.  Smith has scored in double figures twice this season with 15 points at The College of New Jersey and 13 points versus St. Vincent College.

Joining Smith on the December Unsung Player Team of the Month were Kelley Cipriani from Cedar Crest, Jackie Shunkwiler of Delaware Valley, Kaila Wiand from DeSales, Mel Villano of East Stroudsburg, Meredith Starr from Kutztown and Kaitlyn O’Malley of Muhlenberg.

O’Donnell, a guard, has helped the Greyhounds to a 1-6 overall mark and an 0-1 slate in Landmark Conference action.  O’Donnell , pictured at left, has played 157 minutes this year, nearly equaling his total of 165 for the entire 2008-09 season.  O’Donnell is playing 22.4 minutes per game with five starts in seven games, and he has contributed ten points, ten assists and six rebounds.

Joining O’Donnell on the December Unsung Player Team of the Month were Jason Goldheimer of Delaware Valley, Rob Schubach from DeSales, Robby Pines of East Stroudsburg, Ryan White from Kutztown and Obi Nwizugbo of Muhlenberg.

The next Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Luncheon is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 at Starters Restaurant in Bethlehem when the organization will honor its Scholar-Athlete Team.