HILLSBORO, Ore. – The Northwest Conference office announced its Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of March 3 through March 9, with Sami Stadtlander, Lana Davis, Janice Hellesto and Abby Matelski raking in the weekly honor. 

For softball, Stadtlander helped the Bruins win two games in their four-game series versus No. 3 Linfield over the weekend. In the second game of the series, she recorded a crucial home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, driving in two runs that sparked the Bruins' lead en route to a 10-2 mercy-rule finish in the bottom of the sixth against the Wildcats.

In the final game of the series, the junior hammered two home runs for the Bruins, including a vital three-run homer to bring the Bruins within one in the bottom of the sixth. She followed up with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh with the score tied 6-6, securing the 9-6 final. Stadtlander recorded eight total RBIs across both wins, good enough for softball player of the week.

In the Bruins' lacrosse contests versus Whitworth and Whitman, Davis made key plays that led to back-to-back wins on the road. The senior midfielder scored 11 goals for Fox, including three against Whitworth in the 18-6 final on Saturday and eight versus Whitman en route to a 16-13 victory, tying the program's single-game goals record. Along with her 11 goals, Davis recorded six assists, 15 draw controls, six ground balls, and six caused turnovers across both games. This marks Davis's second offensive player of the week recognition on the season.

After her first career collegiate outdoor meet, Hellesto has already put her name in the GFU record books. The freshman's third long jump of the day at the Linfield Erik Anderson Memorial Icebreaker was the second-best in program history as she tallied a 18-10.75. That jump was not only good for first at the meet, not only good for first in the conference, but currently sits as the farthest long jump in Division III by over six inches. In addition to her long jump skills, Hellesto showed off her versatility by clocking a 12.70 in the 100m, a time good for third in the NWC and 10th in the nation.

For women's golf, Matelski was the top GFU finisher at the star-studded Westbrook Invite, shooting a 149 (+7) for the tournament. The junior had two birdies and a day one score of 73 (+2) before one birdie and a 76 (+5) on day two. Thanks in part to Matelski's efforts, the Bruins finished fourth in the tournament, ahead of three nationally ranked teams and NWC foe Whitworth. This is Matelski's first Northwest Conference Women's Golf award since joining the Bruins.

Stadtlander and the softball team will be heading on the road for their second four-game series of the season. The Bruins will face off against Whitworth on March 14–15 with first pitch set for noon. Davis and the women's lacrosse team will be staying home for a midweek game against Occidental on Thursday, March 12, starting at 6:00 p.m. Hellesto and the track & field program will host the Rich Allen Classic at home this Saturday starting at 10:00 a.m., while Matelski and the women's golf team will be in Salem on Saturday and Sunday to compete in the Willamette Valley Cup.