SU roundup: Akers, Chittenden claim honors

Daily Staff Reports - sports@nvdaily.com

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- The Shenandoah University women's basketball team has swept USA South Conference weekly honors in selections announced Monday by the conference office.

Sophomore Sam Akers was named as the league's Player of the Week with freshman Holly Chittenden earning Rookie accolades.

For Chittenden, it marks the third time this season that she has grabbed the Rookie honor.

Both women were instrumental in the Hornets 2-0 week; SU defeated Ferrum on Tuesday 77-68 before taking out Averett 59-48 Saturday afternoon.

The win at Ferrum snapped a 21-game losing streak to the Panthers and was the Hornets first women's basketball victory at Ferrum since January 2000.

Akers had a total of 44 points in the two games, including a career-high 32 in the Ferrum contest.

Akers was virtually unstoppable in that game, getting the 32 points on 11 of 18 shooting from field, making 6 of 9 from behind the arc and canning 4 of 5 attempts from the line.

Chittenden, who earned previous league honors on November 28 and January 3, averaged 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the two victories.

She posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards in the Averett contest.

Shenandoah is back in action Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in a home USA South Conference contest against Mary Baldwin.

Smith named Athlete of Week

FOREST -- Senior Amy Smith has been named ODAC Athlete of the Week for women's indoor track in selections announced Monday afternoon by the league office.

Smith helped the SU women to a 16th place showing (12th among DIII schools) this past Saturday at the Thompson Invitational hosted the University of Delaware with a pair of top-10 finishes.

Smith finished third in the 5,000 meters with am 18:44.96 before combining with Jaclyn Mohlmann, Alicia Feliciano and Emily Cobb to finish ninth in the 4 x 400 meter relay.

The 4:35.35 in that event was good for a new school record, breaking the previous mark by nearly seven seconds.

This is the second time this season that Smith has earned ODAC weekly honors.

Smith and the indoor track & field teams are back in action this Saturday at the Du Charme Invitational hosted by Dickinson University.