UAlbany's Gia Sanders and Janea Aiken Earn America East Weekly Honors

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – Senior forward Gia Sanders and freshman guard Janea Aiken earned America East Conference Player and Rookie of the Week honors, respectively, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon. It is the first honor of the season for both.

Sanders led the Great Danes to their third and fourth consecutive wins last week, as she averaged 13.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in the two games. In a 76-50 win over Boston U., Sanders scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds, going 6-of-10 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range. In a 67-50 win over New Hampshire, Sanders recorded her fifth double-double of the season with an 11-point, 10-rebound performance. She also recorded five steals against the Wildcats. Sanders, who did not commit a turnover in the two games, is averaging 7.7 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds on the season, and continues to lead the team with 41 steals and 32blocks.

Aiken also helped lead the Great Danes to an undefeated week in conference play, averaging 11.5 points and 4.0 assists per game, shooting a team-high 76.9-percent from the floor. Aiken scored 12 points to go along with six assists and two rebounds against Boston U., shooting 6-of-8 from the floor. In a win over New Hampshire on Sunday, Aiken scored 11 points, going 4-of-5 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range. She added two assists and one steal in 21 minutes of action against the Wildcats. Aiken is scoring at a 7.5 clip for the Great Danes on the season.

UAlbany (8-14, AE 6-3) is currently tied with Vermont for second place in the conference standings. The Great Danes travel to Maine on Wednesday to close out the season series with the Black Bears.