Olivia Smelas made the most of her minutes in the opening weekend of her college basketball career.
Smelas and Leila Hurley, teammates on a Hoop Group Showcase League championship NEPA Elite Clark 17U girls AAU teams and for four years at Jim Thorpe High School, each played in both games when Kutztown began its season in the CIAA/PSAC Challenge Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg.
Kutztown split its two games, losing in overtime to Bowie State from Maryland, 63-60, then beating Fayetteville State from North Carolina, 62-44.
Smelas scored eight points in five minutes in her debut, then had a double-double while playing 27 minutes off the bench in the second game.
Hurley played eight minutes, coming off the bench, in each game.
Smelas did not miss a shot against Bowie State. She was 3-for-3 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the line while also grabbing two defensive rebounds.
Hurley missed her only shot, had two defensive rebounds and assisted one basket.
Smelas finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds against Fayetteville State. The 6-foot-1 center was 3-for-5 from the floor and 4-for-5 from the line. Smelas also blocked two shots and added an assist and steal.
Hurley, a 5-10 guard, missed a 3-pointer, grabbed two defensive rebounds and made a steal.