SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford’s Elisabeth Ralph and Furman’s Avery McIlwaine have been named the Southern Conference women’s lacrosse offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from March 23-29.
 
Ralph earned the Terriers’ first offensive player of the week honor of the season after pacing Wofford to a team season-high 13 goals against Kennesaw State on Friday. She led the squad with a season-high six points on five goals and an assist, matching career highs in points and goals. The five goals mark the most recorded by a Terrier since Ralph scored as many against American on March 7, 2020. The junior also dished an assist in addition to compiling a team-best five draw controls and two caused turnovers on the defensive side of the ball. Ralph is ranked third in the SoCon with 2.83 draws per game and fourth with 2.33 goals per game.
 
Wofford (0-6, 0-2 SoCon) travels to Clinton, South Carolina, on Wednesday to visit Presbyterian for a 3 p.m. opening draw as the Terriers seek their first win of the season.
 
McIlwaine earned her first career defensive player of the week honors after winning 17 draws in the Paladins’ two games last week, marking Furman’s fourth straight week with a defensive player taking home the weekly award. She set a school record and tied the SoCon individual-game record with 12 draws in the 19-5 win over Winthrop on Wednesday and tallied five more draws on the road at Campbell on Saturday. The freshman scooped up four ground balls and caused one turnover on the week, along with recording one goal and an assist. McIlwaine was part of the Furman defense that limited Winthrop to just 15 shots and allowed its fewest goals since defeating Howard 22-0 on April 20, 2019. McIlwaine has won 3.12 draw controls per game this season, which is good for second in the SoCon, and leads the conference with 25 draws.
 
Furman has earned five of seven defensive player of the week honors this season for a total of nine, marking the most defensive honors a school has received in SoCon women’s lacrosse history.
 
The Paladins (5-3, 0-0) will open conference action on Saturday, April 3, against conference leader Coastal Carolina. The opening draw is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
 
Other offensive nominees: Kayla Downey (Coastal Carolina) and Hannah Demis (Furman). 
 
Other defensive nominees: Anya McSorley (Coastal Carolina). 
 
2021 Southern Conference Women’s Lacrosse Players of the Week
 
Offense
Feb. 16    Kyra LaMotte, Furman
Feb. 23    Samantha Courtemanche, Coastal Carolina
March 2   Samantha Courtemanche, Coastal Carolina
March 9   Monica Manley, Coastal Carolina
March 16 Lily Morin, Mercer
March 23  Lauren Cremen, Coastal Carolina
March 30  Elisabeth Ralph, Wofford


Defense
Feb. 16    Lauren Farber, Furman
Feb. 23    Emily D’Orsaneo, Coastal Carolina
March 2   Claire Martell, Coastal Carolina
March 9   Avery Whitehead, Furman
March 16 Meghan Deehan, Furman
March 23 Meghan Deehan, Furman
March 30 Avery McIlwaine, Furman