La Plume, PA (2-1-10) - The Keystone College athletic department has announced that Yasmeen Bates (Tobyhanna, PA/Pocono Mountain West) and Kenneth Hardnett (Plant City, FL/Plant City) have been named the Keystone College female and male athletes of the month for January. 

Bates a senior from Tobyhanna, PA and graduate of Pocono Mountain West High School, is a member of the women's basketball team. During the first month of the new year, Bates shot 53% from the field, averaging 9.6ppg, while leading the team on the glass with 9.8rpg.  She pulled in a career high 19 rebounds in Keystone's 73-60 victory at Baptist Bible.  She currently ranks second in the conference in rebounding with 10.6rpg and third in blocks with 25.  She recorded double figure rebound totals in five games during the month, including pulling in at least 13 boards in her last four games.  Bates also netted a pair of double-double outings, including a season high 19 point effort against Baptist Bible.  

Hardnett, a sophomore from Plant City, FL and graduate of Plant City High School, is a member of the men's basketball team.  The January honor marks two straight months in which Hardnett has picked up the monthly honor.  He helped lead the Giants to a 9-3 mark during the month, including helping the Giants win their last five games, all of which came in conference play.  During January he shot 62.5% from the floor, leading the team with a 17.4ppg average.  He also led the team in rebounding during the span with 9.7rpg, while contributing 2.6apg, 2.1spg and 1.2bpg.  He tallied five double-doubles during the month, leading the team in scoring six times and in rebounding nine times.  He recorded career highs in both points and rebounds with a 26-point and 17-rebound effort in a victory over Gwynedd-Mercy College.  He currently ranks fourth in the CSAC in scoring, while ranking first in both rebounding and field goal percentage.

The Keystone College Athlete of the Month program honors male and female student-athletes each month from September through April. All monthly recipients are eligible for the Keystone College male and female Athlete of the Year honor which will be awarded at the department's annual year-end athletic banquet.