GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 5 of the 2025-26 women's basketball season. Purdue Northwest senior forward Alyssa Cole earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors while Wayne State senior forward Taylor Thompson was recognized as GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Alyssa Cole, Purdue Northwest
Purdue Northwest Women's Basketball senior forward Alyssa Cole has been named this week’s GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, her second of the season, after she had her best game of the season in helping the Pride to a thrilling double-overtime win over UIndy this past Saturday. She finished with her first double-double of the season with 26 points and ten rebounds. During the game she also totaled five assists and three steals with one block on the defensive end. Cole ended the game going a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line and shot .421 from the field.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Taylor Thompson, Wayne State
Wayne State University senior forward Taylor Thompson (Grand Blanc, Mich.) has been selected GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in her career after hauling in a game-best 13 defensive rebounds, while blocking three shots, and notching two steals in the 78-66 win at Tiffin on Dec. 9. Thompson added a game-high 26 points (8-of-14 FG, 10-of-17 FT) and five assists on the offensive end of the floor for her first double-double of the season and eighth of her career. The 2024-25 Second Team All-GLIAC selection was +15 when on the floor.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Maddie Geers (Davenport), Ella Mason (Michigan Tech), Taylor Thompson (Wayne State), Paige VanStee (Grand Valley State)
Defense: Riley Milausnic (Purdue Northwest), Reese Polega (Davenport), Kendall Standfest (Michigan Tech), Paige Vanstee (Grand Valley State)
