SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Coastal Carolina’s Samantha Courtemanche and Furman’s Avery Whitehead have been named the Southern Conference women’s lacrosse offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for all competition from April 13-19.
 
Courtemanche tallied six points on four goals and two assists in Coastal Carolina’s 11-10 SoCon victory over Mercer on Friday. The graduate student from Ellicott City, Maryland, earned her third offensive player of the week honor after scoring the game-winning goal with 11 seconds remaining on a behind-the-head shot. She shot .571 with six of her seven shots on-goal. Courtemanche is No. 13 nationally in assists (27) and in points (60). 
 
Coastal Carolina (8-6, 2-1 SoCon) will travel to Jacksonville on Friday, April 23, for a 4 p.m. draw. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
Whitehead recorded four draws and three ground balls and tied her career high of three caused turnovers on April 18 in Furman’s 19-5 win over Stetson, giving the Paladins their sixth straight victory. The senior from Memphis, Tennessee, earned her second player of the week honor of the season and was part of a Furman defense that held Stetson to its lowest shot total of the year. The Hatters only attempted 14 shots during the game, seven in both halves. Whitehead and the Paladins forced their opponent into 21 turnovers and limited them to just 2-of-6 on free-position attempts. Furman’s six straight wins tie a school record that was previously set in 2017.
 
Furman (9-3, 2-0 SoCon) will go to Spartanburg, South Carolina, for its conference match against Wofford (2-7, 1-2) on Wednesday, April 21, at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. 
 
Other offensive nominees:  Hannah Demis (Furman), Haliey Rhatigan (Mercer) and Ally Furnari (Wofford).
 
Other defensive nominees: Anya McSorely (Coastal Carolina) and Lily Morin (Mercer). 
 
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
April 6       Elisabeth Ralph, Wofford
April 12    Ally Furnari, Wofford
April 20           Samantha Courtemanche, Coastal Carolina



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 
April 6      Regan Lingo, Furman
April 12    Kelsey Thompson, Wofford
April 20    Avery Whitehead, Furman