Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – Knox College’s Bria Medina was named the Midwest Conference women’s basketball Player of the Year while Ripon College claimed half of the league’s major awards as the all-conference teams were announced on Thursday afternoon.
With the Midwest Conference Tournament yet to be played, Medina’s 605 points in 2025-26 are the second-most single-season points in conference history. Through games on February 25, Medina is second in Division III in scoring (24.2 points per game) and was the only Midwest Conference player to average over 20 points per game in league contests. She has scored in double figures in each of Knox’s 25 games, putting together 23 games of 20+ points, five games of 30+ points and scoring a career-high 40 points at Illinois College on January 27. Medina also led the league in minutes (36.4 per game), free throw percentage (86.7%), was second in field goal percentage (47.5%), third in assists per game (4.1), fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.1) and 17th in rebounding (5.4 per game).
Ripon’s Laney Havlovitz was named the MWC Defensive Player of the Year after leading Ripon to a top 20 national ranking and a 23-2 record. Across all contests, Havlovitz led the MWC in steals (70 total/2.8 per game), was 11th in minutes (29.3 per game) and tied for 22nd in rebounding (4.6 per game).
Grinnell College’s Ava Wu was recognized as the league’s Newcomer of the Year. In her first collegiate season, Wu was one of the top three-point shooters in the league – connecting on 39 total triples (1.6 per game), good for sixth in the MWC. She also finished 20th in the conference in scoring (8.7 ppg).
Joining Medina and Havlovitz on the first team were Cornell College’s Erin Knowles, Illinois College’s Jayln Patterson, Lawrence University’s Kate Adams and Ripon’s Natalie Rauwolf.
The second team was composed of two players each from three different schools: Knox’s Kylee Callahan and Nayeli Nidez Acuna, Lawrence’s Charlotte Brennan and Sophie Morey and Ripon’s Sophie Schlieve and Halle Van Horn.
Ripon College was named the MWC Coaching Staff of the Year. Led by head coach Lauren Busalacchi in her 13th season, the Red Hawks tied a school record for wins (23) and became the first Midwest Conference women’s basketball program to complete an undefeated conference season. With two wins this weekend, the Red Hawks can tie a conference record for most victories in a season. This is Ripon’s seventh consecutive coach/coaching staff of the year award.
The full list of All-Conference and major award honorees can be found below.
Newcomer of the Year – Ava Wu, Grinnell College
Player of the Year – Bria Medina, Knox College
Defensive Player of the Year – Laney Havlovitz, Ripon College
Coaching Staff of the Year – Ripon College - Head Coach: Lauren Busalacchi
First Team All-Conference
Erin Knowles, Forward - Cornell College (So.)
Jayln Patterson, Forward - Illinois College (Sr.)
Bria Medina, Guard - Knox College (Jr.)
Kate Adams, Guard - Lawrence University (Jr.)
Laney Havlovitz, Guard - Ripon College (Jr.)
Natalie Rauwolf, Guard - Ripon College (Sr.)
Second Team All-Conference
Kylee Callahan, Guard - Knox College (Sr.)
Nayeli Nidez Acuna, Guard/Forward - Knox College (So.)
Charlotte Brennan, Point Guard - Lawrence University (Jr.)
Sophie Morey, Forward - Lawrence University (Sr.)
Sophie Schlieve, Forward - Ripon College (Jr.)
Halle Van Horn, Forward - Ripon College (So.)