Three Hope College winter sports standouts have been selected as MIAA Athletes of the Week: junior Leah Richards in women's basketball, sophomore Grace Dawson in women's diving, and freshman Layla Umstead in women's swimming.
Richards (DeWitt, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) is the MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week for the first time this season and the second time in her career.
The 6-2 forward helped lead the Flying Dutch to the Tip-Off Tournament championship with victories over Wisconsin-Platteville and No. 20 Illinois Wesleyan, averaging 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds. Richards shot 12-of-21 (.571) from the field and 7-of-8 (.875) from the free-throw line.
A business major, Richards posted 15 points and eight rebounds in the 72–65 win over Wisconsin-Platteville before posting 18 points and 11 rebounds in the 73–65 victory over Illinois Wesleyan.
Dawson (Jackson, Michigan / Western) is the MIAA Women's Diving Athlete of the Week for the third time this season and the fifth time in her career.
The sophomore turned in a strong weekend at the D3 Shootout hosted by the University of Chicago, a two-day meet featuring 10 teams from across the country, including four of the nation's top 11 women's programs.
Dawson placed fourth on the 1-meter board with a score of 424.05, finishing less than half a point out of third place, before adding a fifth-place finish on the 3-meter board. Her 1-meter performance met the NCAA Diving Regional qualifying standard, giving her qualifying marks on both boards this season. Dawson has now achieved NCAA Diving Regional scoring standards twice on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards.
Umstead (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison) is the MIAA Women's Swimming Athlete of the Week for the second time this season.
The freshman delivered a standout weekend at the D3 Shootout hosted by the University of Chicago last weekend.
Umstead highlighted the weekend by winning the 500 freestyle in 4:58.29, the fastest time in NCAA Division III this season by .77 seconds. Her mark also came in under last season's NCAA Championships invite time and met the NCAA B Cut standard. Umstead also competed in the 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 medley relay, 800 freestyle relay, and 200 freestyle relay.
