Feb. 19, 2013

HAMPTON, VA – The Fayetteville State women’s basketball team had two of its players receive weekly honors this afternoon from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Guard Kristen Hanzer (Sr., Youngsville, NC) has been named the CIAA Player of the Week while forward/center Shuanda Ashford (Sr., Fayetteville, NC) garnered CIAA Newcomer of the Week accolades. The duo earned the recognition after helping lead FSU to a 2-0 record last week on the basketball court.

Hanzer led the Fayetteville State offense last week averaging 20.0 points per game while grabbing 4.5 rebounds per contest and shooting 46.4 percent (13-of-28) from the field. She also made 13 of her 20 attempts at the free-throw line; and recorded nine steals and eight assists. Hanzer had a team-high 27 points, eight steals and seven rebounds in a 79-49 home win over Livingstone and was 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. She followed that performance with 13 points and four assists in a 59-55 road victory at Winston-Salem State.

The transfer from UNC Wilmington currently leads the league and team in scoring with 18.8 points per game. Hanzer continues to rank in the top 20 nationally in scoring offense. She also contributes 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game; she is second on the team in assists and third in rebounds. Hanzer is also fourth-best in the conference in field-goal percentage at 47.6 percent.

Shuanda Ashford (34)

Ashford was second on the team in scoring last week averaging 18.5 points per game while pulling down a team-best 7.5 rebounds per contest. She shot 59.1 percent (13-of-22) from the field and was successful on nine of her 13 free-throw attempts; while averaging 32.5 minutes of playing time per game. Ashford made all nine of her free-throw attempts against Livingstone and finished the game with 20 points. She followed with a 17-point, nine rebound performance at Winston-Salem State and shot 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the field.

The East Carolina transfer is second on the team in scoring at 14.8 points per game and second in rebounding with 7.0 rebounds per contest. Ashford is third in the league in field-goal percentage (54.5%) and fifth in scoring.

Fayetteville State will look to end its 2012-13 home season on a high note Wednesday night as it hosts the 20th-ranked Shaw Bears at 5:30 p.m. in Felton J. Capel Arena. It will be a battle of top 20 teams as FSU moved up to 18th in the latest USA Today Sports Division II Coaches Poll. The Lady Broncos will also hold “Senior Night” festivities following the contest.