Sawyer, Walton, Pena Earn USCAA Recognition; Mateyko Earns 250th Career Win
Men's Basketball
The Five Towns College Sound men's basketball team finished the season with a 13-6 record, and were ranked 20th in the USCAA Coaches Poll. The men had the 7th best winning percentage in USCAA Men's Division II (0.684). The highlight of the men's season was taking down #2 ranked Villa Maria by a score of 94-87 in a home contest on February 2nd. The broadcast from the Villa Maria game can be viewed here.
Another remarkable highlight from the 2017-18 season is head coach John Mateyko reaching the 250 career-win milestone. Mateyko reached the 250 mark in the final contest of the season, with a 95-50 win over King's College. John Mateyko started his NCAA career as a head coach at Division III St. Joseph's College in 2001. In his thirteen years at St. Joseph's, Mateyko led the program to a 199-146 record, and he remains the program's winningest coach. During his tenure, the Golden Eagles had six Skyline Conference Tournament appearances, winning the Skyline Championship in 2009, three ECAC Tournament appearances, and two trips to the NCAA tournament. Mateyko was named Skyline Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2012, and was honored with the Schoenfeld Sportsmanship Award in 2008. In the two years prior to joining Five Towns, Mateyko was the head coach of the Dowling College Golden Lions. The Golden Lions had a 26-30 record in the two seasons coached by Mateyko, with a trip to the ECC Tournament.
Freshman guard Kyree Sawyer, the team's leading scorer, received USCAA Honorable Mention All-American. Sawyer started in all 19 games for the Sound this season. The Freshman standout ended the season ranked 7th in USCAA DII in points per game, averaging 19.7, and ranked 8th in steals per game with 2.5. The full list of the 2018 USCAA Men's Division II All-Americans can be viewed here.
Also receiving USCAA recognition is Sophomore Alexis Pena. Pena was named to the USCAA National All-Academic Team for Divison II Men's Basketball, with a 3.84 GPA. Pena started in 18 games for the Sound this season, and averaged 15.4 points per game. Pena finished the season ranked 7th in the USCAA in steals per game (2.6) and ranked 10th in 3-point percentage, shooting 41.4% from behind the arc (46-111). The full list of the 2018 USCAA National All-Academic Team can be viewed here.
Women's Basketball
The Five Towns College Sound women's basketball team finished the season with a 5-7 record under head coach Ronnie Peck and assistant coach MarceAnn Dunning.
Junior Chloe Walton received USCAA Honorable Mention All-American. Walton ranked 7th in USCAA DII in points per game, averaging 20.1, and she led the USCAA, ranked #1 in steals per game with 5. The full list of the 2018 USCAA Women's Division II All-Americans can be viewed here.
Freshman Denisha Allen made tremendous contributions this season as well. Allen ranked #2 in the USCAA in rebounds per game with 15.3. Allen was the team's second leading scorer and top rebounder, averaging a double-double with 12.7 points per game and 15.3 rebounds per game.
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