Georgetown, Texas – Colorado College's Steph Kelly and Southwestern University's Makaela Starks earned the Independent Women's Lacrosse Schools (IWLS) Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week Awards respectively for the week ending March12, 2017 by a vote of the Independent Schools' Coaches. This is the first time that both Kelly and Starks have been honored with the award.

Offensive Player of the Week
Steph Kelly, Colorado College, Junior, Attack
Kelly, a junior from St. Louis, MO, had an outstanding all-around offensive week on attack for the Tigers scoring 14 goals, handing out 13 assists, winning 29 draw controls, and adding six ground balls and two caused turnovers. Kelly's best performance of the week was in a 22-11 victory over Emerson College when she garnered four goals, 1 assist, nine draw controls, and two ground balls. The junior's efforts helped pace Colorado College to a 5-0 week and 7-0 start to the season. Colorado College has the week off and will next host Chapman University on Tuesday March 21 at noon.

Defensive Player of the Week
Makaela Starks, Southwestern University, Senior, Defense
Starks, a senior from Plano, TX, paced a strong 2-1 week for the Pirates with her 11 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. Starks best defensive effort of the week came in Southwestern's 17-7 win over Beloit College where the senior picked up five ground balls, caused five turnovers, and scored her first career goal. This is the third time a Southwestern student-athlete has earned a player of the week award this season. Southwestern dropped its game on Monday to Lynchburg College, and travels to North Carolina for a pair of road games against Guilford College on Friday, March 17 and Meredith College on Sunday, March 19.

Nine institutions comprise the IWLS: Colorado College, Dean College, D'Youville College, Franciscan
University, Northland College, University of Northwestern-St. Paul, Southwestern University, State University of New York – Canton, and the University of Dallas.