NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Junior Nicole Pruchnik (Rochester, Mass.) of the gymnastics team and senior Tylon Smith (Manchester, Conn.) of the men's basketball team have been named the Connecticut Army National Guard/SCSU Athletes of the Week.
Pruchnik recorded a 9.75 on the beam to post the highest individual finish for the Owls (second place) in Saturday's quad-meet against Brown, Bridgeport and Rhode Island College. She also tied for third on the floor exercise with a 9.725 and finished fifth on the vault with a 9.55. Southern Connecticut posted a team season-high score of 189.85 at the meet.
Smith averaged 28 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in the Owls' two games last week. He shot 60 percent (21-for-35) overall from the floor and 44.4 percent (4-for-9) from three-point range. Smith scored a season-high 32 points against Saint Anselm on Tuesday and added 24 against St. Michael's.
The Connecticut Army National Guard is serving as the title sponsor of Southern Connecticut State University's 'Athlete of the Week' recognition program. Initiated in September, 2007, the 'Athlete of the Week' program recognizes one female and one male student-athlete each week for demonstrated excellence on the playing field.