Thursday, February 20, 2003

ZALESKI NAMED LEHIGH VALLEY SMALL COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR;
HUGHES NAMED TO THE TEAM OF YEAR

BETHLEHEM, PA --- Moravian College sophomore Brandon Zaleski (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown HS) has been named the Lehigh Valley Small College Men’s Basketball Player of the Year announced at the February luncheon of the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Media Organization held at Starter’s Thursday afternoon. Zaleski and junior Kim Hughes (Manasquan, NJ/St. Rose HS) also earned spots on the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Teams of the Year.

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. Voting for the Players of the Year was conducted among the coaches, media and sports information directors at the luncheon.

Zaleski, a forward, is averaging 18.7 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest for Moravian, and he has added 32 steals, 19 assists, ten blocked shots and ten three-pointers. Zaleski has scored in double figures in 23 of 24 games this season with a season high of 33 points versus Messiah College. He also has posted seven double-doubles this season. Zaleski is closing in on 1,000 career points in just two seasons with 925 points in 49 career games. Zaleski has helped Moravian to a 15-9 record this season and an 8-5 slate in the Commonwealth Conference. The Greyhounds have qualified for the postseason for the first time since the 1996-97 season.

Joining Zaleski on the Team of the Year were David Bright of DeSales, Lamont Jones from East Stroudsburg, Jeff Brickus of Kutztown and Anthony Strachan from Muhlenberg.

Hughes, a guard, is averaging 12.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game for the Greyhounds, and she has added 41 assists, 43 steals and 47 three-pointers. Hughes is ranked nationally in three-point field goal percentage, and she leads the team in scoring and three-pointers. Hughes has helped the Greyhounds to an 18-6 overall record, their best mark since a 20-8 campaign in 1993-94, and a 9-4 slate in the Commonwealth Conference. Five of Moravian’s six losses have come against teams that have been nationally ranked at some point this season. The Greyhounds have qualified for the postseason for the second straight year.

Joining Hughes on the Team of the Year were Camille Whyte from Cedar Crest, Amber Smolinsky of Delaware Valley, Teri Antolick from DeSales, Katie Wear of East Stroudsburg, Jessica Pieczynski from Kutztown and Becky Richmond of Muhlenberg. Antolick was named the Women’s Player of the Year.