RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the women's basketball players of the week for the opening week of the 2024-25 season. Harding's Sage Hawley earned the Offensive Player honor and the Lady Bisons' Josie Williams claimed the Defensive Player accolade.

#theGAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Sage Hawley, F, Harding, Sr., Memphis, Tennessee
Hawley registered consecutive 30-point performances at the D2CCA Tipoff Classic. In a victory against Adams State, she went 13-for-16 from the floor en route to scoring 30 points. She grabbed nine rebounds and blocked a shot. Against West Texas A&M, she hit 14-of-23 shots, pulled down nine rebounds and added three blocked shots.

#theGAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Josie Williams, G, Harding, So., Conway, Arkansas
Williams single handedly accounted for all of the Lady Bisons' steals in games against Adams State and West Texas A&M. In the come-from-behind win against the Grizzlies, she collected three steals. Against the Lady Buffs, she recorded a game-high three steals.

OTHERS NOMINATED

Tequaza Chambers, G (Southern Arkansas), Haleigh Crews, G (Arkansas-Monticello), Mackenzie Crusoe, G (Oklahoma Baptist), Caitlin Kobiske, F (Southeastern Oklahoma State), Payton Jones, G (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Hannah Giddey, F (Southern Nazarene), Averi Zinn, G (Southwestern Oklahoma State)

Kira Bass, F (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Jillian Crawford, G (Southern Nazarene), Mason Jones, G (Southwestern Oklahoma State)

A three-person committee selects all GAC Athlete of the Week awards