Aug. 25, 2010

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - South Carolina State's Briana Lopez has been named Great West Conference Offensive Player of the Week while Houston Baptist's Lara Johnson has been honored as the Defensive Player of the Week for their individual performances last week. The conference office announced Wednesday.

Lopez, a forward from Santa Barbara, Calif., captures offensive player of the week honors with a goal and an assist in the 2-1 upset victory over Navy. The freshman assisted on the game's first goal to put the Lady Bulldogs up, 1-0, then collected the game winner in the 87th minute - just 20 seconds after Navy tied the game.

Johnson earns defensive player of the week honors after recording a career high six saves in shutting out Sam Houston State, 1-0. The sophomore keeper from Deer Park, Texas, stopped a point-blank shot then later dove to her right and gloved the rebound out of harm's way late in the second half.

Others nominated were Cindy Hedden (F) of Houston Baptist, Mariah Hebbe (GK) of South Carolina State, Erin Bello (F) and Jen Ogren (GK) of South Dakota and Nicole Archibald Spencer (F) and Hailey Brown (GK) of Utah Valley.