GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced the ninth GLIAC Lacrosse Athlete of the Week awards for the 2024 season. Northern Michigan redshirt senior midfielder Minnie Bittell received offensive player of the week recognition, while Concordia St. Paul freshman goalkeeper Marge Lucio was named defensive player of the week.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Minnie Bittell, Northern Michigan

After being honored as one of the graduating seniors before the game, Minnie Bittell poetically turned in a career performance. Bittell tied her career-best nine points in a game with five goals and four assists from eight shots on target to earn her third GLIAC weekly honor of the season. Along with her offensive prowess, Bittell scooped a career-high six grounds balls, caused two turnovers, and recorded five draw controls. Bittell has recorded five or more points in 11 of her 14 games this season and leads the GLIAC in goals (59), assists (25), points (84), and shots (121), all of which are single-season career highs for Minnie who is now eight points shy of 300 career points.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Marge Lucio, Concordia St. Paul

Marge Lucio responded to a relentless attack from Northern Michigan by producing a school record 22 saves, second-most in Division II this season, 10 more than her previous career-best and breaking a record that was established in CSP's inaugural season in 2017. She faced 53 shots in the game, and added a pair of ground balls. In just 13 games in her debut season in the net, she's already fourth in career saves at CSP with a 109, and her 8.38 saves per game is second-best in team history. She's leading the GLIAC in saves, ranking 27th in the nation.