IRVINE, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University guard Alysha Marcucci has been named this week's PacWest Conference Women's Basketball Defender of the Week for her play in two record setting victories last week.
 
Marcucci, a 5-11 sophomore from Melbourne, Australia/Marist-Sion averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 4.5 steals in leading the Sharks to a 55-27 win at Notre Dame de Namur and an 89-40 victory at Holy Names. It's the second time this season Marcucci has been selected as the Defender of the Week.
 
She established a new HPU single game 3-point field goal record in hitting eight 3's (out of 12 attempts) on Saturday at Holy Names. The eight triples were the most in the PacWest and seventh in NCAA Division II this season. It surpassed the previous school record of seven set twice last season and was one behind the PacWest record of nine. She finished with a season-high 28 points with five steals and four rebounds.
 
On Thursday, she led the defensive attack against NDNU as the Sharks set a school record for the fewest points allowed in a game with 27 points. HPU held the Argonauts to just 7-of -32 shooting from the field, 21.9 percent. Marcucci had a game-high 13 points with six rebounds and four steals in the win.
 
The HPU defense forced 24 turnovers at NDNU, then pressured Holy Names into a PacWest high 33 turnovers.
 
Joining Marcucci with the women's basketball weekly honors are Point Loma's Cara Liggins as the PacWest Player of the Week and Concordia Irvine's Jasmine Rachal as Freshman of the Week.
 
The Sharks start a five-game homestand on Wednesday when they host PacWest leader Azusa Pacific in a showdown for the top spot. APU is undefeated in PacWest play at 13-0, 16-3 overall, while the Sharks are in second at 11-1, 13-5 overall. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m. at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.