On Monday, Samantha Swensen ’10 became the year’s first Amherst women’s basketball NESCAC Player of the Week. During the sixth annual Pioneer Valley Classic, she averaged 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game to gain recognition as the most valuable player of the tournament. The reigning NESCAC Rookie of the Year, Swensen has picked up right where she left off, leading the Jeffs to a 6-0 start. She is averaging 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, helped by 22 points in the Classic semifinal against Westfield State College and 10 more in the final against Springfield College. All of this has come in an average of 20.3 minutes per game.

• Christian Witzke ’09—Men’s Swimming and Diving

Junior Christian Witzke became the NESCAC Men’s Swimming and Diving Performer or the Week after his impressive showing against Middlebury College last weekend. He led the team to victory as the anchor of the 400-yard freestyle relay, as well as by outracing the opposition to win the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events. Witzke’s wins led Amherst to a 3-0 record going into winter break, and maintained Witzke’s personal winning streak on the season. Next up for the Jeffs is a Jan. 5 meet against Hamilton College, where Witzke will aim to continue his strong start.