ATLANTA—Lemoyne-Owen College senior Calvin Stoudemire and Miles College senior Sammeika Thomas have been named SIAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players of the Week, respectively, after their impressive performances this past week. Miles College senior Eric Lipkin has been named SIAC Men’s Basketball Newcomer of the Week while Fort Valley State University freshman Whitley Smith has been named SIAC Women’s Basketball Newcomer of the Week.

Stoudemire, a native of Lake Wales, FL, led Lemoyne-Owen with 18 points while totaling eight rebounds and three assists in one game this past week. Defensively, the 6-7 forward/center also finished with three blocks and a steal to put the Magicians atop the conference standings, with a 4-0 record in the SIAC, after their 70-66 win over Miles. Stoudemire ranks eleventh in the SIAC in scoring at 13.8 points per game and ninth in rebounds at 7.0 per contest, both of which lead his team.

Thomas, a native of Birmingham, AL, averaged an impressive 13 points and 13 rebounds in three games to earn her second weekly honor of the season. The 6-1 forward also averaged 2.3 assists while averaging 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals on defense, helping lead the Lady Bears to conference wins over Lemoyne-Owen and Albany State. Thomas is currently seventh in the SIAC in scoring and second in rebounds, averaging 13.8 points and 9.7 rebounds through seven games.

Lipkin averaged 15.3 points and 6.8 assists in four games this past week. The 6-1 guard from Birmingham, AL also grabbed 4.5 rebounds per game while averaging one steal per contest to help lead the Golden Bears to wins over Fort Valley State and Albany State. The North West Community College transfer is currently the top assist man in the SIAC at 5.9 per game while also ranking fourth in the conference in scoring at 16.6 points per game.

Smith averaged eight points, 3.5 assists, and one rebound in two games. The 5-5 guard from Athens, GA also averaged 3.5 steals to help lead the Lady Wildcats to wins over Miles and West Georgia, a game that earned FVSU Head Coach Lonnie Bartley the 600th win of his career. Bartley, Smith and the Lady Wildcats currently sit atop the conference standings with a 4-0 record in the SIAC.