The NESCAC has released its Players of the Week for the week ending on January 18. The conference recognizes student-athletes in each sport each week for their contributions to their teams, based on information provided by the athletic communications offices on each campus. During the winter season, men's and women's basketball and men's and women's ice hockey players of the week will be announced on Mondays. NESCAC men's and women's swimming & diving athletes of the week will be announced on select Tuesdays.
NESCAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Sean O’Leary – Bates – So. – G – Franklin, Mass. | Weekly Release
O'Leary helped Bates beat rivals Bowdoin and Colby in NESCAC action. On Friday, in an 88-76 win over Bowdoin, O'Leary tallied 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting and grabbed five rebounds. The sophomore followed up with a career-high 18 points, 14 in the second half, in Sunday's come-from-behind 89-84 win over Colby. O'Leary drained 10-of-12 free throws, grabbed a game-high seven rebounds, and dished out two assists.
NESCAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week
Kathleen Smith – Williams – Jr. – F – Plaistow, N.H. | Weekly Release
Smith averaged 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in a 2-0 NESCAC weekend for the Ephs. The junior scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 67-63 overtime victory over Tufts on Friday. Smith scored all eight Eph points in the extra session as the Ephs posted their first win over the Jumbos since February 2011. Smith finished with a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds in a 55-37 triumph over Connecticut College on Saturday.
NESCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Player of the Week
Gabe Shipper – Bowdoin – Sr. - F – Sherman Oaks, Calif. | Weekly Release
Shipper led the Polar Bears to a weekend sweep of NESCAC opponents in Watson Arena. On Friday, Shipper set up junior Isaac Abbott's (Halifax, Nova Scotia) game-winning goal with 3:23 remaining in a 4-2 win over Trinity. On Saturday, Shipper scored a pair of goals - Bowdoin's first two of the game - to help propel the Polar Bears to a 3-0 victory over Wesleyan.
NESCAC Women’s Ice Hockey Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Maeve Reynolds – Amherst – Sr. – F – Plymouth, Mass.
Reynolds played a pivotal role in the Mammoths 1-0-1 week, in a two-game set versus No. 4 Middlebury, which resulted in a 1-1 tie in the opening game and a 3-1 victory in the series finale. The senior assisted on the game-tying goal with 2:45 remaining in the 1-1 tie and scored the final goal in a 3-1 win over the Panthers. In addition, in the win over Middlebury, she won 15 of 24 face-offs.
