ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference has released its first Conference Player of the Week awards of the 2024-25 school year, and a pair of University of Northwestern athletes were among the opening week winners. Emery Maki (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) was named the Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week one day after the NCCAA awarded her with the sport's National Student-Athlete of the Week. Morgan Eckman (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) was the other winner, as she was voted as the UMAC Women's Golf Player of the Week.

The entire UMAC Press Release can be accessed here.

Maki earned her honor after her first collegiate cross country race on Friday, which resulted in her edging out teammate Isabelle Yuhanna (Ham Lake, Minn./North Lakes Academy) by one second to take the gold. It is the first UMAC weekly honor that the All-Conference track star has received in her short time on campus. Eckman, on the other hand, is no stranger to UMAC Player of the Week awards. The reigning UMAC Player of the Year and UMAC Rookie of the Year was twice given the award in her freshman season. She picked up right where she left last season off over the weekend in Wisconsin, finishing one shot off the lead.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Emery Maki (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing), Sophomore, Northwestern
Hibbing, Minn. / Hibbing
- The track star made her cross country debut on Friday in a triangular with North Central and Oak Hills Christian, finishing in first place.
- Maki won the 5k race with a time of 20:26.

WOMEN'S GOLF ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Morgan Eckman (Jordan, Minn./Jordan), Sophomore, Northwestern
Jordan, Minn. / Jordan
- Finished in 5th place at the Battle on the Border event in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
- Her two-day total of 155 (+11) was just one stroke behind a four-way tie for 1st place. Shot 76 (+4) in round 1 and 79 (+7) in round 2.
- Led the Eagles to a 5th-place team finish in the field of 18.

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Northwestern's 2024-25 UMAC Player of the Week Honors (2)
 
Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Week (1)
9/3: Emery Maki (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing)
 
Women's Golf Player of the Week (1)
9/3: Morgan Eckman (Jordan, Minn./Jordan)