Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – For the second year in a row, Ella Ten Pas of Ripon College has been named the Midwest Conference (MWC) Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, headlining the 2025 All-Conference awards as a First Team selection.
 
In conference play, the senior forward ranked second in rebounding with 9.6 boards per game while contributing 12.4 points per contest. Ten Pas also made a strong defensive impact, averaging 1.4 blocks and 1.8 steals per game.
 
Cornell College freshman forward Erin Knowles was named the MWC Women’s Basketball Newcomer of the Year and joins Ten Pas on the First Team. Knowles led the league in scoring and field goal percentage, averaging 19 points per game in MWC play while shooting 48.4 percent from the field. She also contributed 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, along with nine total blocks.
 
Joining Ten Pas and Knowles on the First Team are Grinnell senior forward Sara Booher, Ripon sophomore guard Laney Havlovitz, Knox sophomore Bria Medina, and Grinnell sophomore forward Bailey Strovers.
 
Earning Second Team honors are Lawrence sophomore guard Charlotte Brennan, Lake Forest senior guard Rebecca Christodoulou, Lawrence senior forward Mallory Meyer, Illinois College junior forward Jayln Patterson, Ripon freshman guard Halle Van Horn, and Grinnell senior guard Nikki Ware.
 
For the fourth consecutive season, Ripon College was voted MWC Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff of the Year. Led by 11th-year head coach Lauren Busalacchi, the Red Hawk staff guided their team to its second straight sweep of the MWC regular-season and tournament titles, finishing 15-1 against league opponents. With a 23-4 overall record, Ripon is set to make its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance on Friday—its fourth under Busalacchi.
 
Knox College received the MWC Women’s Basketball Team Sportsmanship Award, presented to the team that best exemplifies the highest ideals of sportsmanship in the MWC. The Prairie Fire are led by head coach Seth McDowell.
 
The full list of All-Conference and major award honorees can be found below.
 
Newcomer of the Year – Erin Knowles, Cornell College
Player of the Year – Ella Ten Pas, Ripon College
Coaching Staff of the Year – Ripon College, Head Coach: Lauren Busalacchi
Team Sportsmanship Award – Knox College
 
First Team All-Conference
Sara Booher, Grinnell College, Senior – Forward
Laney Havlovitz, Ripon College, Sophomore – Guard
Erin Knowles, Cornell College, Freshman – Forward
Bria Medina, Knox College, Sophomore – Guard
Bailey Strovers, Grinnell College, Sophomore – Guard
Ella Ten Pas, Ripon College, Senior – Forward
 
Second Team All-Conference
Charlotte Brennan, Lawrence University, Sophomore – Guard
Rebecca Christodoulou, Lake Forest College, Senior – Guard
Mallory Meyer, Lawrence University, Senior – Forward
Jayln Patterson, Illinois College, Junior – Forward
Halle Van Horn, Ripon College, Freshman – Guard
Nikki Ware, Grinnell College, Senior - Guard