Each week the sports staff will pick one Whitman athlete that performed exceptionally in the previous weekend’s games. The distinction will be judged both on the individual’s performance and their impact on the team.

After two wins against teams in the top half of the Northwest Conference this week, the Whitman women’s basketball team clinched its first playoff berth since the 2005-06 season. Junior guard Hilary White scored 15 and 19 points in the Missionaries two decisive wins against Pacific Lutheran and Whitworth, respectively, and is this week’s Whitman athlete of the week. Against Whitworth, the win on Tuesday that stamped the team’s ticket to the playoffs, White had five rebounds, five assists and three three-pointers.

White leads the team in points (13.8 per game), steals (46) and offensive rebounds (41), while being second in three-pointers made, assists and minutes played. The Northwest conference has also awarded her honorable-mentions student athlete of the week honors six times already this season.