ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Danielle Cleary '18 and Connor Powell '20, the leading scorers for the women's basketball and men's ice hockey teams, respectively, have been named Elmira College Athletes of the Week in recognition of their strong performances.

Cleary reached a major milestone in her Elmira career in a 69-50 victory over Wells College at Speidel Gymnasium on January 26th, as she became the sixth player in program history to reach the 1,000-point club. Through 67 games of her collegiate career, the Rochester, New York, native has amassed 1,018 points, sixth-most in program history, and is only 30 shy of becoming one of EC's top-five all-time leading scorers.

Needing only 21 points heading into the bout with the Express, Cleary surpassed the 1,000-point plateau in style with back-to-back 3-pointers in less than 30 seconds, the latter which gave the Soaring Eagles a 53-42 lead while surpassing the historic mark. She finished the record-setting game with a double-double, having scored 26 points with 11 rebounds.

Over the course of EC's three games last week, the junior guard averaged 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. On the season, Cleary ranks third in the Empire 8 Conference in points per game with 15.3. She's also top-10 in several other per-game categories, including rebounds (7.2), 3-point makes (1.5), steals (2.2), and blocks (1.1).

Cleary and the Purple and Gold will kick off a three-game homestand on Tuesday, January 31st, when Elmira hosts St. John Fisher College inside the friendly confines of Speidel Gymnasium. The E8 rivalry is set to renew at 6:00 p.m.

Powell had a pair of strong performances in Elmira's two ECAC West Conference battles at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena and finished with a team-leading three goals and a team-high-tying five points, which moved him into first on the team in both points (23) and goals (11) on the season.

In Friday's contest with the Stevenson University Mustangs, Powell guided Elmira back from a two-goal deficit. Down 3-1 in the second period, he earned an assist on a Tyler Theodoulou '18 power-play tally. Then, with just 1:07 remaining in regulation, Powell netted the game-tying goal to force overtime. The rookie center was posted in the right faceoff circle and was able to wrist the puck into the net after receiving a cross-ice pass from classmate Nick Ford '20.

The following evening, the product of Merrimack, New Hampshire, helped orchestrate a 7-1 victory over the Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College with a team-high two goals to go along with one helper. After picking up an assist on the eventual game-winning power-play goal in the opening period, Powell scored EC's sixth and seventh goals. In the second, he ripped a shot from the left faceoff circle over the near shoulder of Lebanon Valley netminder Tyler Perhac. In the final two minutes of the third, Powell slapped home a rebound on a 3-on-2 rush to solidify the lopsided win.

Not only does the first-year forward lead the Soaring Eagles in points on the season, he's also sixth in the ECAC West in points per game at 1.21, a figure that ranks 11th nationally among all Division III freshmen.

Powell and the EC men will hit the road on Friday, February 3rd, for a 7:00 p.m. conference tilt with Utica College, before returning to the MAC on Saturday, February 4th, to host Nazareth College at 7:00 p.m., as part of the Elmira College's 35th Annual Athletics Alumni Weekend.