PacWest Conference Weekly Awards (Dec. 5)

IRVINE, Calif. -- After helping Academy of Art University women's basketball hold Fresno Pacific to under 30 percent shooting from the field in a 73-56 win, junior forward Helena Orts has been named Pacific West Conference Defender of the Week. The award was based on games played Nov. 28 - Dec. 4.

In ART U's lone game of the week on Dec. 1, Orts posted her third double-double of the year with 10 of her 11 rebounds on the defensive glass plus three steals. The Sunbirds' 29.9 percent shooting from the field was the lowest by an Academy of Art opponent since Feb. 20, 2015 when the Urban Knights held Notre Dame de Namur to 23.9 percent. The Fairfield University transfer added 15 points and four assists.

Seven games into the year, Orts ranks seventh in the PacWest in defensive rebounds (6.1 rpg) and is one of four Urban Knights among the conference's top 16 in steals per game (1.6 spg).

This is the first PacWest weekly award for Orts in her career.