CHICAGO — Indiana University Northwest claimed a clean sweep of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference basketball Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season, as EJ Brown-Griffin (women's basketball) and Amarion Johnson (men's basketball) were both recognized for their standout defensive performances.
On the women's side, senior forward EJ Brown-Griffin earned CCAC Defensive Player of the Week after anchoring the RedHawks on the glass and in passing lanes over a two-game stretch. Brown-Griffin averaged 6.5 defensive rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, while also contributing 15.0 points per contest. She recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Indiana University East before following it with an 18-point, 11-rebound, two-steal performance in a 53-45 conference win over Judson University. Her defensive presence helped IU Northwest to a 1–1 week.
On the men's side, Amarion Johnson collected his second CCAC Defensive Player of the Week award this season after protecting the paint and setting the tone defensively for the RedHawks. The junior averaged 2.0 blocks, 1.0 steals and 3.0 rebounds on the week, highlighted by a three-block performance against the University of Saint Francis (Ind.). Johnson also delivered offensively, finishing the week with back-to-back double-figure scoring games, including 17 points, six rebounds and a block in an 80-70 conference victory over Judson as IU Northwest improved to 4–2 in league play.
