NORTH BOSTON, N.Y. - The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) picked four Redhawks as Athletes of the Week on Monday afternoon. Darius Lawrence of the men's basketball team, Ayanna Mazyck of the women's basketball team and Shawn McDanel & Chris Sylvis of the men's lacrosse team were all selected. It is the most student-athletes to receive the honor in a single week this season.
Senior G Darius Lawrence put on some his best performances of the year in the conference postseason to lead La Roche to their fourth AMCC championship victory. Against no. 4 seed Penn St. Altoona in the semi-final, Lawrence scored a career-high 21 points while shooting 7 of 13 (54%) from the field and perfect 6 of 6 at the free throw line. He added six rebounds, three assists and three steals. The next day in the title game versus Penn St. Behrend, Lawrence hit two free throws with 35 seconds remaining to give the Redhawks the lead as they would go on to win 62-61. Darius finished with a team-high 15 points while shooting 5 of 9 (56%) from the field and a perfect 4 of 4 at the free throw line. He also added four rebounds, three assists and a block. In the AMCC playoffs, Lawrence averaged 18.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 54.5% (12-22) from the field and a perfect 10-10 at the free throw line. He was named to the AMCC All-Conference Tournament Team. The AMCC AOTW nod is the first of Lawrence's career.
Junior G Ayanna Mazyck shined in the conference postseason and helped lead La Roche to their 8th AMCC Championship. Against Pitt Greensburg in the semi-final, Mazyck scored a career-high 24 points while knocking down a career-high five three pointers, the most by any Redhawk in a game this season. Ayanna added seven rebounds, two assists and two steal. She shot 8 of 14 (57%) from the field and 5 of 9 (56%) from deep. The next day versus Hilbert in the title game, Mazyck posted 18 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assist while shooting 6 of 10 from the field and 2 of 3 from long range. In the AMCC playoffs, Mazyck averaged 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.5 assists while shooting 58.3% (14-24) from the field and 7 of 12 from beyond the arc. Ayanna was named to the AMCC All-Conference Tournament Team. The AMCC AOTW nod is the second for Mazyck this season.
Junior M Shawn McDanel (Offense) posted 10 points in two games against Hiram (2/26) and Mount St. Joseph (2/29), scoring seven goals and dishing three assists. He helped the Redhawks secure their first victory of the season at MSJ with six goals, two assists and 17 ground balls. On the week, McDanel won 35 of 52 (.673) face-off battles, picked up 31 ground balls and had a 76.9% shot on goal percentage. The AMCC AOTW nod is the third of McDanel's career.
Sophomore GK Chris Sylvis made 37 saves in two games this week against Hiram and Mount St. Joseph, posting a 58.7% save percentage. Sylvis helped the Redhawks secure their first win of the season against MSJ, 21-17. The AMCC AOTW nod is the first of Lawrence's career. The AMCC AOTW nod is the second of Sylvis' career.
Read the full conference press release here.