GALESBURG, Ill. ­— The Knox College athletics department today revealed its Male and Female Athletes of the Week for events that occurred between Dec. 1-7, with the awards going to sophomore Nayeli Nidez Acuña of the women's basketball team and senior Russell Wright of the men's basketball squad.

Nidez Acuña, a 5-10 forward from Tucson, Arizona, averaged 19.0 points and 8.0 rebounds without a single turnover in a pair of tough losses for the women last week. First, she knocked down 13-of-16 field goals in scoring 28 points (matching a career high set just before Thanksgiving) and snared eight boards, plus dished out two assists in a 90-83 road loss at Millikin University on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Four days later, she provided 10 points on 4-of-5 from the floor with eight rebounds once again, and added three assists and two blocks against the 10th ranked UW-Whitewater Warhawks in a 77-66 defeat.

A 6-6 forward from Savannah, Georgia, Wright had a career night at Greenville University on Wednesday, Dec. 10 to help Knox pull out a 131-127 overtime victory on the road, which also earned him Midwest Conference Performer of the Week honors. In 33 minutes on the court, Wright poured in a career-high 30 points on 13-of-17 field goals and 4-of-4 free throws, while grabbing 12 rebounds to tie another personal best, giving him his fifth double-double in a Prairie Fire uniform. He also handed out seven assists — the most in his career — and swatted three blocks matching another personal high. He led Knox in each of those statistical categories in the game as well, and only turned the ball over once against the Panthers' high-pressure defense.

The Knox Athletes of the Week will be announced every Tuesday afternoon throughout the athletic calendar.