ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced the recipients of their 2025-26 women’s basketball awards on Tuesday. The awards are nominated and voted on by the UMAC women’s basketball head coaches.
Maddy Grove of Minnesota Morris was named the Player of the Year for the second-straight year. Against conference opponents, Grove averaged 19.0 points per game on 42.3% from the field. The junior also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.41 steals per game.
Kaylee Hunter of Bethany Lutheran was named the Defensive Player of the Year. The senior was the best defender on a Viking team that had the best statistical defense in the UMAC, holding conference opponents to just 50.8 points per game.
Morgan Hulke of Bethany Lutheran was named the Rookie of the Year. In UMAC contests, the freshman averaged 9.1 points per game on 37.4% shooting from the floor. Hulke also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Emma Purfeerst of Bethany Lutheran was named the Coach of the Year. In her third season as the Vikings’ head coach, she led BLC to an undefeated conference record (12-0), after being selected fourth in the preseason coaches poll.
Northwestern won the team sportsmanship award, an accolade that is selected by the UMAC coaches and awarded to the team that best represents sportsmanship throughout the entire season.
Player of the Year: Maddy Grove, Minnesota Morris
Defensive Player of the Year: Kaylee Hunter, Bethany Lutheran
Rookie of the Year: Morgan Hulke, Bethany Lutheran
Coach of the Year: Emma Purfeerst, Bethany Lutheran
Team Sportsmanship: Northwestern
First-team All-Conference
| Maddy Grove |
Minnesota Morris |
| Arinn McGee |
Bethany Lutheran |
| Brycelyn Brewster |
North Central |
| Wilhelmina Wenz |
Martin Luther |
| Brayli Reimer |
Crown |
Second-team All-Conference
| Maddie Reott |
UW-Superior |
| Gianna Klarenbeek |
Minnesota Morris |
| Hope Carlson |
UW-Superior |
| Morgan Hulke |
Bethany Lutheran |
| Kenadi Arndt |
Bethany Lutheran |
Honorable Mention All-Conference
| NiNi Davenport |
North Central |
| Grace Perry |
Minnesota Morris |
| Ella Frazier |
Northwestern |
| Anna Kieselhorst |
Martin Luther |
| Moriah McLendon |
North Central |
| Juliana Ewald |
Bethany Lutheran |
| Morgan Bednarek |
Crown |
All-Defensive
| MyKenzie Leccia |
UW-Superior |
| Morgan Bednarek |
Crown |
| Kaylee Hunter |
Bethany Lutheran |
| Shelby Mortenson |
Minnesota Morris |
| Maddy Grove |
Minnesota Morris |
All-Sportsmanship
| Madison Reedy |
Bethany Lutheran |
| Sydney Cotten |
Crown |
| Madeline Prahl |
Martin Luther |
| Gabby Randt |
Minnesota Morris |
| Lydia Schroeder |
North Central |
| Katelyn Lindberg |
Northwestern |
| Colleen Claude |
UW-Superior |