Merkel named CAC Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week
NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. - The Capital Athletic Conference announced its weekly conference athlete of the week awards and Salisbury University junior guard Monica Merkel (Walkersville, Md./St. John's) was named the women's basketball recipient for the week of January 15.

Merkel scored over 20 points in two games for the Sea Gulls last week as SU split against CAC foes Wesley and Gallaudet. In the 55-point win over the Bison, Merkel scored a game-high 23 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists, made three steals and even blocked a shot. Earlier in the week, she led the Gulls with 21 points and eight rebounds in a two-point loss against Rt. 13 rival Wesley.

For the season, Merkel is averaging a team-high 16.2 points per game. She is second on the team in steals (23), third in rebounds (74) and blocked shots (four) and ranks fourth in assists (23).

Merkel is the first Sea Gull to earn a CAC Athlete of the Week award this winter season.

Salisbury (5-9, 2-3 CAC) returns to action tomorrow evening with a road game against CAC opponent Villa Julie College (4-10, 1-4 CAC) in Stevenson, Md., at 6 p.m.