ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced its Player of the Week award winners Wednesday in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball for the weeks of December 18-24 and 25-31. 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. 

  
December 18-24, 2023
 
MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hunter Nielsen, Senior, Bethany Lutheran College
New Prague, Minn. / New Prague
- During the two contests the Vikings played at the Steven Moore Sunshine Classic on Dec. 19-20, Nielsen averaged 21 points and 8.5 rebounds and was named All-Tournament Team.
- He was 14-of-19 from the field in the two games and 14-of-15 from the charity stripe.
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mia Mabanag, Sophomore, North Central University
Danville, CA Monte Vista High School
- Mabanag dropped a career-high 29 points with 7 made threes against Luther.
- The sophomore shot an efficient 58% (7-12) from behind the arc and 63% from the field (10-16).
- She also tallied 5 steals in this overtime loss to Luther College.

  
December 25-31, 2023
 
MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hunter Nielsen, Senior, Bethany Lutheran College
New Prague, Minn. / New Prague
- Nielsen had a huge game on Saturday for the Vikings, posting the program's first ever triple-double in an 83-78 win over Wartburg.
- The senior did it the unconventional way, as he supplemented his 19 points and 13 rebounds with a career-best 10 blocks to achieve the feat.
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lexiss Trygg, Junior, Bethany Lutheran College
Virginia, Minn. / Virginia
- Trygg had an impressive showing for the Vikings this past weekend at the Loras Classic.
- The junior averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds while shooting 13-of-16 from the field.
- She had a career game on Saturday, posting a career high in points with 22 and rebounds with 11 for her first collegiate double-double.