GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following Week 9 of the 2025-26 women's basketball season. Wayne State senior forward Gabi Lutchka received GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors while Northern Michigan redshirt freshman guard/forward Jordyn Schmittdiel was tabbed as GLIAC Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gabi Lutchka, Wayne State
Wayne State University senior forward Gabi Lutchka (Grass Lake, Mich.) earns GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors after helping the Warriors to a pair of wins last week against Parkside and Roosevelt. In the 95-88 triumph over the Rangers, she scored a career-high 32 points (12-of-17 FG, 4-of-5 3PT, 4-of-4 FT), while hauling in nine rebounds, dishing out four assists, and tallying two steals. During the 78-50 win against the Lakers, the 2023-24 All-GLIAC Second Team selection notched her third double-double of the season with a game-high 25 points and a team-best 10 rebounds. In the First half against RU, she was perfect from the floor (5-of-5 FG, 2-of-2 3PT), and finished the game +34 when on the court.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jordyn Schmittdiel, Northern Michigan
After delivering two dominant defensive performances in limited minutes during a road sweep, Northern Michigan women’s basketball forward Jordyn Schmittdiel has been named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week. Coming off the bench, Schmittdiel averaged 10.0 rebounds per game in just 15.5 minutes, helping fuel wins at Lake Superior State and Saginaw Valley State as NMU improved to 15-3 overall. Her impact was felt most on the defensive end, where her energy, rebounding presence, and ability to disrupt opposing offenses helped Northern’s second unit maintain its physicality and pace. Schmittdiel opened the weekend with a standout effort in an 80-61 win at Lake Superior State, grabbing 10 rebounds in 18 minutes. She added three steals and five points, consistently disrupting passing lanes and stepping out from the low block to cut off driving guards. She followed with another efficient performance in a 67-51 victory at Saginaw Valley State, again pulling down 10 rebounds in just 13 minutes while adding a steal and five points. Nine of her 20 rebounds came on the offensive end, creating extended possessions and additional scoring opportunities for the Wildcats. In GLIAC games, Schmittdiel ranks 10th in the conference in rebounding at 7.1 per game, despite coming off the bench, underscoring her efficiency and impact in limited minutes.
HONORABLE MENTION
Offense: Lauren Borsenik (Saginaw Valley State), Mia Riley (Ferris State), Soraya Timms (Michigan Tech), Paige VanStee (Grand Valley State), Jacy Weisbrod (Northern Michigan)
Defense: Mya Hiram (Ferris State), Laynie Meredith (Saginaw Valley State), Marie Outlay (Roosevelt), Kendall Standfest (Michigan Tech), Paige VanStee (Grand Valley State)
