SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Gonzaga University's Maud Huijbens showcased exceptional talent on the court this past week, earning her the Heluva Good Dip West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors. This prestigious recognition marks her first career weekly honor from the WCC.
Huijbens, who plays as forward for the Bulldogs, dominated during her games against Portland and Santa Clara, averaging 21.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Her shooting percentage was remarkable, hitting 73.1 percent (19-of-26) from the field throughout the week.
During the game against Portland, she was unstoppable, finishing the first half with a perfect shooting record of 6-of-6, accumulating 19 points and 12 rebounds by the game's end. Her performance continued to shine against Santa Clara, where she achieved 23 points and 10 rebounds. Notably, she scored 13 points during the second half, going 6-of-7 from the field against the Broncos.
Huijbens wasn't the only player nominated for the week; other outstanding contenders included Zeryhia Aokuso from Saint Mary's and Debora dos Santos from San Francisco, showcasing the competitive spirit across the conference.
Meanwhile, the Gonzaga women's soccer team is strengthening its lineup through the transfer portal, having recently signed freshman defender Anna Rydin from Clemson. Hailing from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Rydin played only two games during her freshman year at Clemson but was previously recognized as All-State and All-Region Eastern North Carolina during her senior year at Chapel Hill High School.
Head coach Katie Benz expressed enthusiasm about Rydin’s potential, stating, "We couldn’t be more excited to add Anna to the family. She’s coming to us ready to work and make an impact on the field." The Zags aim to improve on their previous season’s record of 10-7-2, which saw them finish third in the West Coast Conference.
Rydin becomes GU's first transfer portal signing this offseason, following the transfers of former midfielder Emelia Warta to Florida State and goalkeeper Norah Schmidt to Oakland. The team looks forward to bolstering its defense with Rydin joining returning players, including sophomores Makayla Werner and Olivia Webster, along with junior Lauren Chin, who all played pivotal roles last season.
Gonzaga women’s athletics continue to thrive, with Huijbens and Rydin embodying the spirit of excellence and commitment to developing competitive programs within the West Coast Conference.