ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced its Player of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s track, and men’s and women’s field for the week of January 8-14, 2024. The UMAC Player of the Week awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications/sports information staff and selected each week by the latter group.
MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Pal Dak, Senior, University of Minnesota Morris
Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln East
- Dak helped Minnesota Morris split a pair of contests over the weekend against Bethany Lutheran and Martin Luther.
- In those two contests, Dak averaged 25.5 points per game, had a 23-and-10 double-double against the Vikings, and added a 28-point, six-steal outing against the Knights.
- Dak knocked down four three-pointers in the win over MLC as part of a school-record 21 in the game for the Cougars.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lauren Paulsen, Junior, Martin Luther College
Oconomowoc, Wis. / Luther Prep
- Paulsen averaged 22.5 ppg in two games played this past week.
- The junior had 23 points, nine rebounds, and two steals in a win over Crown on Friday.
- On Saturday, Paulsen followed up with 22 points, five rebounds, and three steals, while also going 5-of-7 from deep against Minnesota Morris.
MEN’S INDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Moudjibou Bolarinwa, Sophomore, Bethany Lutheran College
St. Paul, Minn. / Humboldt
- Bolarinwa competed at MSU-Mankato this weekend and finished the 60m in 7.56, just off his previous personal best.
- His 200m time of 25.42 was also just shy of his previous best and currently sits ninth in the UMAC.
WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Naomi Anderson, Junior, Bethany Lutheran College
Belle Plaine, Minn. / Minnesota Valley Lutheran
- Anderson set a new personal best this weekend with her time of 11.10 in the 60m hurdles.
- She also competed in the 400 where she finished in a time of 1:10.66
MEN’S INDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Samuel Plocher, Freshman, Martin Luther College
Kent, Wash. / Evergreen Lutheran
- Plocher had a solid debut to his freshman season, placing first in multiple field events.
- In the High Jump he had a top jump of 2.00 meters.
- Placed first in the 55m hurdles, coming in with a time of 8.10.
WOMEN’S INDOOR FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Cassidy Gibson, Freshman, Bethany Lutheran College
Decatur, Ga. / DeKalb
- Gibson had a big weekend for the Vikings.
- The freshman eclipsed 1.62m in the high jump for a school record and the top mark in the UMAC since 2016.
- She won the event in a meet filled with Division II competition.