St. Mary’s College of Maryland sophomore forward Keira Mason was named the United East Conference Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week on January 5, 2026, the league office announced.
This marks the third career Defensive Player of the Week recognition for Mason, a 6-0 forward from Brandywine, Md., and Gwynn Park High School. The honor recognizes her performance across two games from December 28-29, 2025, where she contributed significantly on both ends of the floor while helping the Seahawks secure one victory.
In those contests, Mason shot 42.1 percent from the field (16-of-38), collected 27 rebounds including 17 defensive, added four assists, four steals, and three blocks. On December 28, she posted a career-best 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting, along with a career-high 17 rebounds (11 defensive), four double-double of the season, two assists, and two steals in an 88-71 loss at undefeated Guilford College. Two days later, on December 29, she scored nine points, grabbed 10 rebounds (six defensive), matched her career-high with three blocks, and contributed two assists and two steals in a 59-51 win over Piedmont University, narrowly missing a fifth double-double.
Mason’s season statistics place her among the top performers in the United East Conference. She ranks 13th in free-throw percentage at .652, 14th in scoring at 11.9 points per game, 15th in rebounding at 7.6 per game, tied for 17th in steals at 1.9 per game, and tied for 18th in blocks at 0.5 per game.
St. Mary’s College of Maryland, located in St. Mary’s City in Southern Maryland, competes in the United East Conference. The Seahawks hold an 8-5 overall record and stand 2-0 in conference play. The program emphasizes player development and competitive play in Division III athletics, serving a student body in a historic region known for its ties to Maryland’s founding and proximity to the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay.
Mason’s recognition highlights individual defensive excellence within a balanced team effort. The Seahawks’ recent non-conference games against Guilford and Piedmont provided valuable competition ahead of the league schedule. Guilford entered the matchup undefeated, while the win over Piedmont marked a key conference victory.
The team returns to action Wednesday, January 7, 2026, traveling to Langhorne, Pa., to face Cairn University (1-9 overall, 0-3 United East) in a 3 p.m. conference game. This matchup continues St. Mary’s push in the United East standings.
