HADLEY, Mass. -- Amherst College sophomore guard Laura Mendell (Westport, MA) has been selected as the New England Small College Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for play ending Sunday, Jan. 28.

Mendell averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.5 steals in a pair of NESCAC wins last week. In a 68-66 double-overtime win over Trinity, Mendell scored a career-high 23 points, including seven points and four crucial free throws to end the fourth quarter, while adding five assists, two rebounds, and two steals. In a come-from-behind 49-46 win over Wesleyan, the sophomore netted 17 points to go with five steals, three assists, and two rebounds, plus a blocked shot. Mendell scored five of Amherst's 13 fourth-quarter points and was 3-for-3 from the charity stripe to help the Mammoths complete the comeback against the Cardinals.