University of Albany's Kayla Best & Ashley Ross Earn America East Conference Weekly Women's Lacrosse Awards - UAlbany Sports 2010

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany's Kayla Best has been selected America East Conference Player of the Week in women's lacrosse, as announced on Monday, March 15 by the conference office. Ashley Ross was chosen conference defensive player of the week.

Best, a senior midfielder from Guilderland, N.Y., received the league's player of the week award for the third time in her career. She scored four of her season-high five goals in the second half to lead her team to a 17-4 non-league victory against Canisius. With her team leading 5-3 at halftime, Best found the net four consecutive times to break the game open. Best also had three of her five goals in the first half and added three draw controls, as team her team posted an 18-2 triumph over Siena on March 12.

Best climbed into third on the school's all-time goals list with 134, plus is fifth in career points with 162. She extended her goal-scoring streak to 50 consecutive games, the nation's second-longest mark. Best is first among the America East leaders at 3.75 goals per game.

Ross, a senior from Lancaster, Pa., is in her first year as the lacrosse program's starting goalkeeper. She was a three-time All-America East netminder for the UAlbany field hockey team. Ross equaled a career-high with 11 saves against Canisius, and stopped five free-position shots. She also had four saves at Siena. Ross recorded a .714 save percentage last week. She is among the league leaders in save percentage (.569) and goals against average (6.52).

Paw Prints: The Great Danes have matched their best start as a Division I program ... UAlbany went 3-1 to begin the 2006 campaign ... Taylor Frink, a junior attack from Baldwinsville, N.Y., leads America East in scoring with 12 goals and seven assists ... Nikki Branchini, a junior midfielder from Guilderland, N.Y., is first in the conference and fourth nationally in ground balls (4.0 pg), plus leads the league in draw controls (3.33 pg) ... the Great Danes are first among the Division I leaders in scoring offense at 18.25 goals per game ... Kayla Best in 10th nationally at 3.75 goals per contest.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information