CLARION’S CIGICH NAMED PSAC-WEST CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK

            Clarion University junior forward Heather Cigich (Johnstown/Conemaugh Twp.) is the PSAC-West women’s basketball co-Player of the Week for the week ending with games Feb. 21.

            It is the fifth time this season Cigich has been honored with a Player of the Week award from the PSAC-West.

            This past week she earned the award by averaging 20.5 ppg, 15.5 rpg, 2.5 apg and 4.0 spg while helping Clarion (13-11 overall, 5-5 PSAC-West) keep its PSAC playoff hopes alive with a 2-0 week.

            In a must-win game against Slippery Rock Wednesday Cigich scored 22 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, handed out two assists, blocked two shots and came away with five steals to help Clarion to a 57-42 win. Then on Saturday at Lock Haven she added 19 points, grabbed 15 more rebounds, dished out three assists and came away with three steals.

            On the season, Cigich is tops in the PSAC in both scoring (19.8 ppg) and rebounding (12.2 rpg). She is also second in the conference in steals per game (3.29), seventh in shooting percentage (.521 – 190 of 365), 12^th in free-throw percentage (.756 – 93 of 123) and eighth in blocks per game (0.96). She also is adding 2.67 apg for the Golden Eagles. Cigich has been very active in Clarion’s last four games averaging 18.5 ppg and 16.3 rpg while helping Clarion go 3-1.

            In her career, Cigich is fifth in school history in scoring (1,290 points), fourth in rebounding (815), third in blocks (56) and seventh in steals (182). Her 476 points this season are ninth all-time in a single season at Clarion, while her 293 rebounds are sixth and her 79 steals are tied for fourth.

            GOLDEN EAGLES NOTES: Clarion concludes the regular-season with a home game against Edinboro Wednesday and a trip to Shippensburg Saturday. In order for the Golden Eagles to make the PSAC playoffs they need to win one of their final two games or have Slippery Rock lose one of its final two … Cigich shared the Player of the Week award with Shippensburg’s Katie Bray who averaged 16.5 ppg while helping Shippensburg defeat California, the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, 77-73 Saturday snapping Cal’s 24-game PSAC-West win streak.