Altoona student-athlete Avana Sayles receives AMCC Player of the Week Honors

NORTH BOSTON, N.Y. - Penn State Altoona junior forward Avana Sayles, of Venetia, was chosen as the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference's Player of the Week in women's basketball on Monday, Dec. 16.

Sayles had an historic week for the Lions, during which she became just the sixth player in Penn State Altoona women's basketball program history to achieve 1,000 career points.

In the Lions' 67-47 road win at non-conference opponent Marywood University on Dec. 11, Sayles reached the 1,000-point mark for her career after her third made basket of the night. She finished the contest with a game-best 25 points to go along with 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block.

Sayles followed that up with another double-double performance in Penn State Altoona's 68-59 home loss to non-conference foe Alfred University on Dec. 14, when she tied for game highs with 20 points and 10 rebounds, led all players with six steals and three blocks, and also recorded one assist.

On the week, Sayles averaged 22.5 points per game, 10.0 rebounds per game, 4.5 steals per game, 2.0 blocks per game, and 2.0 assists per game. Through 11 contests this season, she leads the AMCC in field goals made (78), defensive rebounds (63), total rebounds (94), and points (181) while ranking third in points per game (16.5). She has recorded four double-doubles this season.

This is Sayles' second AMCC Player of the Week award this season.

Penn State Altoona women's basketball is 6-5 overall, including a 3-0 mark in the AMCC. The Lions' next game is at home on Saturday, Jan. 4, when the team will take on non-conference opponent Messiah University starting at 1 p.m.