CLAREMONT, Calif. - Kate Risse of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's lacrosse team earned the SCIAC Defensive Player of the Week Award for games through Sunday, April 19, the conference office announced today. 

Risse had six caused turnovers, and six ground balls, to help CMS to a 2-0 week which included a key 19-12 win over Redlands, and holding Occidental to only two goals on Saturday. She had four caused turnovers and four ground balls in the Redlands win, which was a tight battle until CMS pulled away in the fourth.  

CMS has now had a total of five awards from the SCIAC this season, with Julia Ryan winning the Offensive Player of the Week twice and Ella Brown winning it once, while Lyla Johnston has also earned the Defensive Player of the Week.

The Redlands and Occidental wins helped set up a key final week, where CMS could earn at least a share of the regular season title with wins over first-place Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday and third-place Chapman on Saturday. The Athenas could also earn the inside track to host the SCIAC Semifinals and Championship if it beats Pomona-Pitzer by three goals, after the Sagehens won the first meeting by two (10-8).