Three Lancers Earn MASCAC Player of the Week Accolades (Jan. 11-17)

WORCESTER, Mass. – Three Worcester State student-athletes from the men’s basketball and the men’s indoor track & field teams earned Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) accolades for the week of Jan. 11-17.

Men’s Basketball:

Freshman guard, Alex Santos (Lawrence, Mass.) was named the MASCAC Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week for his record-breaking week with the Lancers. This is Santos’ fifth time (fourth-consecutive) time earning this award.

Santos registered a career-high 32 points and broke a Worcester State All-Time record in three point shots made in a single game in the 93-81 victory over Fitchburg State. He drained nine 3-pointers (69%) from behind the arc while adding two assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block in the win.

"Alex was great from behind the line against Fitchburg as he played well with poise and confidence," stated head coach David Lindberg. "He had a big game and plays with no fear regardless of the situation."

With Santos’ nine 3-pointers, he also helped aid the Lancers to another school record of 15 3-pointers made in a single game, which precedes the 14 that were made on January 11, 1994 – also against the Fitchburg Falcons.

Santos also added in five out of six free throw shots taken for an 83.3 free throw percentage on the week.

Men’s Indoor Track & Field:

Junior Sam Weeks (Methuen, Mass.) was named the MASCAC Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week for his second place finish in the shot put event this past weekend at the Tufts Invitational.

With his distance of 14.81m, he qualified for both Division III New England’s and ECAC’s.

Freshman Marcus Vieira (Peabody, Mass.) was tabbed with the MASCAC Men’s Indoor Track & Field Rookie of the Week for his second place finish in the weight throw.

Vieira marked a 14.84m distance in the weight throw. He then came in sixth place in the shot put at 13.21m.

Head coach Al Halper commented, "We had several additional post season qualifiers this week which is always good. In addition, a number of athletes improved again this week with another solid training week behind them and edged closer to qualifying standards they are trying to achieve over the next month or so.”

Honor Roll:

Junior guard, Bilal Shakir (Worcester, Mass.) netted 25 points, including five from beyond the arc, in the 93-81 win over Fitchburg State. He went 10-for-16 (62.5%) from the field and registered seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Sophomore guard, Brianna Hackett (Hollis, N.H.) averaged 14.5 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in a 1-1 week for the Lancers. She scored 12 points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the 71-53 setback to Keene State, and then registered 17 points, six assists and five rebounds in the victory over Fitchburg State.

Freshman goalie, Max Kirkwood (Brunswick, Ohio) tallied 43 saves with a save percentage of .915 in a 1-1 week for the Lancers. He registered 27 saves in the 3-2 overtime setback to Framingham State, and then made 16 saves in the 4-1 win over Fitchburg State.

Freshman forward, Marcus Mazur (Beverly Hills, Mich.) registered one goal and assisted another in the Lancers’ 3-2 loss to Framingham State.

Junior Jared Barros (Taunton, Mass.) had a first place finish in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.03, qualifying for Division III New England’s and ECACs at the Tufts Invitational. He also qualified for DIII New England’s as a member of the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 3:35.84.

Senior Hanna Carson (Natick, Mass.) placed second in the shot put with a top throw of 12.32m at the Tufts Invitational. She qualified for both ECACs and DIII New England in the event.

Sophomore Justine Murdocca (Milford, Mass.) placed 11^th in the 3,000 meters with a time of 11:54.15 at the Tufts Invitational.

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