Statesmen of the Week: Malik Larane and Tori Smith

Oskaloosa--Men's basketball player Malik Larane (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Sports Management) and softball player Tori Smith (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education) have been named the Statesmen of the Week for the week of February 23-March 1.

Larane posted two big games to help the Statesmen advance in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship.  In last Tuesday's quarterfinal game against Benedictine, he scored 13 points off the bench on 5-for-11 shooting.  The junior also notched seven rebounds.

Three days later in the semifinals versus Grand View, Larane, now as a starter, poured in 22 points with seven boards, two assists, and one steal.  He was 9-for-17 from the floor, including a 4-for-8 showing from the perimeter.

Smith recorded the best pitching performance of her collegiate career, tossing a no-hitter against Dakota Wesleyan last Saturday.  Following a second-inning fielding error that allowed the only baserunner of the game, the junior retired 17 straight batters.  She ended the week with a 1.62 Earned Run Average in 13 innings of work.

She also produced offensively by going 4-for-13 with three RBIs.