LATHAM, N.Y. – Sophomore Keira Mason (Brandywine, Md./Gwynn Park) was named the United East Conference Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office Monday afternoon (Jan. 5). This is Mason's third career defensive player of the week honor.
 
Mason shot 42.1-percent from the field (16-of-38) and grabbed 27 rebounds (17 defensive) while adding four assists, four steals, and three blocks in two games for the St. Mary's College of Maryland women's basketball team.
 
The 6-0 forward dropped a career-best 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting while pulling down a career-high 17 rebounds (11 defensive) for her fourth double-double of the season to go along with two assists and two steals in an 88-71 loss at undefeated Guilford College (Dec. 28).
 
She almost registered her fifth double-double with nine points and 10 boards (six defensive) while matching her career-high of three blocks and chipping in two assists and two steals in a 59-51 win over Piedmont University (Dec. 29).
 
Mason currently ranks 13th in the United East with a .652-free throw percentage while coming in 14th with 11.9 points per game. She sits 15th with 7.6 rebounds per game while being tied for 17th with 1.9 steals per game. Mason is also tied for 18th with 0.5 blocks per game.
 
St. Mary's College (8-5, 2-0 UEC) will return to the court Wednesday, January 7, when SMCM travels to Langhorne, Pa., to take on Cairn University (1-9, 0-3 UEC) in league action at 3 pm.
 
2025-26 United East Defensive Players of the Week

• Nov. 10 – Leah Laubach, Wilson, So., G
• Nov. 17 – Chelcie Forrester, Wilson, Sr., F
• Nov. 24 – Dezaray Bright, Cairn, Jr., F
• Dec. 1 – Emily Brittin, Cairn, Jr., F
• Dec. 8 – Chloe Irving, Wilson, So., G
• Dec. 15 – Xenia Gillis, Penn State Abington, So., F/C
• Dec. 22 – Leah Laubach, Wilson, So., G
• Jan. 5 – Keira Mason, St. Mary's College, So., F

 
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