AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen University junior guard
Zach Philipkoski (New Hartford, N.Y.) has been named the East Coast Conference Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week for Jan. 12-18.
Philipkoski led Daemen's defensive efforts to help the No. 2-ranked Wildcats pick up ECC road wins over Queens (75-67) and Molloy (116-74). The wins improved Daemen to 20-0 this season, including an 8-0 mark in league play. They also extended the Wildcats' regular season (51), conference (30) and road (18) winning streaks.
Philipkoski averaged 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in the two Daemen wins. He equaled his season-high with three blocks vs. Queens - something he's done four times this season. He then equaled his career-high with three steals in the win over Molloy - a number he's hit seven times this season, and 10 times in his career. Philipkoski, who just last week was named to the
Bevo Francis Award Top 100 Watch List, also chipped in offensively, averaging 16.0 points and 6.0 assists per game.
As a team, Daemen has now had the ECC Defensive Player of the Week selection in eight out of nine weeks this season, and Philipkoski is the fifth different player to earn the honor. The Wildcats lead the ECC in scoring defense (65.2 points per game allowed), field goal percentage defense (.395), rebounds per game (42.0), rebounding margin (+11.1) and blocks per game (6.2).
Philipkoski is now a four-time ECC weekly award recipient this season. He had previously been a three-time ECC Player of the Week selection.
In addition to Philipkoski's selection, redshirt senior forward
Justin Hemphill (Buffalo, N.Y.) was named to the ECC weekly honor roll. Hemphill averaged 21.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 50% from the field (17-for-34) in the two Daemen wins, registering back-to-back double-doubles in the process. He is now leading the conference in assists per game (5.1), and s the only player to rank among the league's top five leaders in assists, rebounds, blocks and steals.
Daemen returns to action Wednesday (Jan. 21) when they trek to Erie, Pa. for a showdown with No. 13 Gannon.
Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
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