Austyn Masuno Named SCIAC Defensive Player of the Week for CMS Women's Basketball

CLAREMONT, Calif. - First-year forward Austyn Masuno earned the SCIAC Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week award for games through Sunday, Feb. 2, the league office announced today.

Masuno earned the honor for her roll in helping the Athenas to two victories to stretch their winning streak to four games. CMS defeated Cal Lutheran 73-45 at home on Wednesday and then knocked off second-place Whittier 46-45 on the road on Saturday in a defensive battle, the fourth straight game in which CMS held its opponent to 45 points or less. 

Over the course of the two games this week, Masuno compiled four steals and three blocked shots in 28 minutes of playing time, while pulling down all eight of her rebounds on the defensive end. Her efforts helped the Athenas allow only five second-chance points combined over the two games (three against Cal Lutheran, two against Whittier). 

Masuno's honor marks the fourth time this year that CMS has earned the Defensive Player of the Week from the SCIAC. Junior guard Maezelle Millan won it back-to-back weeks in November, while senior guard Lauren Longo earned it last week. Junior guard Katelynn Nguyen also captured the Offensive Player of the Week on Jan. 13 after scoring a career-high 23 points at Cal Lutheran. 

CMS will be back in action this week for a big home matchup with Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m., the second half of a doubleheader after the CMS men's basketball team faces Pomona-Pitzer at 6:30 p.m.