PHILADELPHIA – Helping the Hawks to the first win over Villanova since 2014, Mackenzie Smith was tabbed Big 5 Player of the Week on Monday afternoon.
 
The junior guard averaged 17.7 points per game in the 2-1 week for the Hawks, the only stumbling block coming to #11 Utah inside Hagan Arena in the third of a four-game span that encompassed only eight days. Smith added 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 assists in the span.
 
Smith started the week off with a game-high 22 points on the road against Boston University, 15 of the 22 points coming in the second quarter as the Hawks earned the eighth-straight victory to start the season. Smith added four rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block in the win.
 
After finishing as one of two Hawks in double-digits in the home loss to the 11^th ranked Utes, Smith responded in a big way over Big 5 rival Villanova. Trailing by 10 in the third quarter, 19 of Smith's 21 points came in the second half including 13 points in the third quarter to help erase the Hawk deficit. The Canadian shot 60.0% from the field and from deep against the Wildcats to end a seven-game losing streak to Villanova and earn at least a share of the Big 5 title as St. Joe's sits at 3-0.
 
On the week, Smith made 22-46 (47.1%) of her attempts from the floor and 8-14 (57.1%) from deep, adding 13 rebounds over the three games. The junior tallied her second-career Big 5 Player of the Week accolade, just under a year from her first weekly honor.
 
The Hawks return to action on December 20 for day one of the Hawk Classic, opening the tournament with New Hampshire at 1 p.m. inside Hagan Arena.