LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- Slippery Rock University senior guard Amanda Nero was named Monday as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division "Player of the Week".

Nero, a native of Lowellville, Ohio, and graduate of Lowellville High School, averaged 26.5 points per game in leading The Rock to wins last week over division rivals Lock Haven and Clarion.

She also shot a scorching 65.5% (19 of 29) from the field, 71.4% (10 of 14) from 3-point range and 100% (5-5) from the foul line.

Nero scored a career-high 38 points on a 13-of-17 shooting night from the floor that included a 9-of-10 showing from 3-point range last Wednesday vs. Lock Haven. She added 15 points in last Saturday's win over Clarion that gave SRU a two-game lead over the Golden Eagles in the battle for the fourth and final PSAC-West playoff berth.

Nero sank two free throws with 1:41 left to play vs. Clarion to break a 61-61 tie and ultimately account for the winning points in the game.

She is the second Rock women's basketball student-athlete to earn a "Player of the Week" honor. Senior post player Sasha Sales received the honor Nov. 24, 2008.

Nero and Sales have played integral roles in The Rock's current three-game win streak, which has propelled the Green and White into sole possession of fourth place in the PSAC-West standings. The Rock holds a two-game advantage over both Clarion and Edinboro with two games remaining on the regular-season schedule.

If The Rock and Edinboro finish the season with the same division record, SRU would advance to the conference tournament as the PSAC-West's fourth and final seed by virtue of its 2-0 record in head-to-head competition with the Fighting Scots.

A tie between The Rock and Clarion for the fourth spot might necessitate a coin flip to determine which team advances to the conference tournament.

The Rock visits sixth-ranked California (Pa.) for a 6 p.m. game Wednesday before it closes out the 2008-09 regular season with a 1 p.m. game Saturday vs. No. 10 Indiana (Pa.) in Morrow Field House.