Voted as the preseason favorite in the CUNYAC poll by the coaches in the conference, Amanda De La Cruz is named as this week’s top player. In Lehman’s 3-0 week the senior guard averaged 16 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. In an 84-72 victory over St. Joseph’s College (Nov. 22), De La Cruz scored a total of 14 points shooting 7 for 15 on the field with nine assists and seven rebounds. Later that week, she scored 12 points while adding 10 rebounds and three assists in Lehman’s 76-61 win against D’Youville College (Nov. 26). Her standout performance came the next day against Valley Forge Christian in which the Lightning came out on top for a 67-63 victory. During this game she netted 22 points shooting 8 for 18 overall and 6-6 on the free throw line, with 10 rebounds and seven assists, earning her the Most Valuable Player Award of the Gallaudet University Holiday Tournament Championship Game.