OXFORD, Ohio -- Behind a defensive performance where Shawnee State true freshman post player Skylar Kesler averaged 10 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and a steal per contest, the native of Cincinnati was named as the River States Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her young career, as announced by RSC officials Monday afternoon.

Kesler was a defensive stalwart in Shawnee State's trip to Florida over the weekend, helping hold Warner (Fla.) to 32.8 percent shooting and forcing 21 turnovers with her three-block, two-steal performance on the defensive end of the floor.

The freshman then followed that up by grabbing 15 rebounds (12 defensive), including the defensive board with 17 seconds left that ultimately led to Miyoshi Ellis' game-winning layup on Shawnee State's final offensive possession with three seconds remaining in the game against No. 23 Southeastern, handing the Fire their first loss of the 2025-26 season after entering its contest against SSU 8-0.

Southeastern was held to its lowest shooting percentage in any game this season -- being held to 33.8 percent shooting after not shooting below 40.7 percent in any contest prior to Sunday's matchup with Shawnee State.

Kesler and the Bears return to action Thursday evening at 6 p.m. when (RV) Shawnee State takes on No. 18 Cumberlands (Ky.) in a matchup that will occur at Waller Gymnasium in Portsmouth.

For more on the Shawnee State women's basketball program, visit the Bears on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/shawneestatebears_wbb/ or on X at https://x.com/SSUWBB.