For Immediate Release
Monday, January 19, 2026
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet
NSIC North Division Player of the Week
#14 Ashton Safranski (G, 5-7, So., Fargo, N.D. / Fargo Davies HS) - MSU Moorhead
- Averaged 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals across two games
- Scored 17 points with seven assists, six steals and four rebounds in a victory over Augustana
- Netted 13 points with six rebounds, three assists and a steal against Wayne State
- Connected on five three-pointers throughout the weekend
NSIC South Division Player of the Week
- Averaged 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game in wins over Minot State and UMary
- Shot 56 percent from the field (13-of-23), and 4-of-7 from three
- Had 12 points and eight rebounds in a 92-73 win over Minot State
- Added 28 points on 8-12 shooting, and a season-high 16 boards in an 89-75 win at UMary
- Added two assists, one steal, and one block in both games
NSIC Shining 5*
Natalie Bremer (Minnesota State)
- Tallied 15 points against Minnesota Duluth while shooting 55.6 percent from the field
- Added seven rebounds and three assists against the Bulldogs
- Poured in 27 points against Bemidji State
- Collected three rebounds versus the Beavers
- The 18 wins marks the most consecutive wins in a season in program history
Natalie Nielsen (Southwest Minnesota State)
- Averaged 17.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg in the Mustangs' wins over Minot State and UMary
- Scored 17 points on 7-9 shooting and 3-3 from the free throw line over Minot State
- Added six rebounds and two blocks in the game
- Had 18 points (6-11, 1-1 from 3-point range) with 11 rebounds against UMary
- Recorded her sixth double double of the season
- Added two blocks and one assist against the Marauders
Kylah vanDonkersgoed (Wayne State)
- Scored career-high 33 points in 68-51 road win at MSU Moorhead Saturday
- Was second 30-point game in last three contests (31 vs. Northern State on 1/9/26)
- Made 12 of 18 shots from the field and was 7-7 at free throw line
- Also grabbed team-high seven rebounds in first NSIC road win of season for WSC
*Each week the NSIC will select one north division and one south division player of the week and highlight three other performances to make up the "NSIC Shining 5"
Women's Basketball Pages
2025-26 NSIC Players of the Week
11/18/25
N: #13
Bergan Kinnebrew – University of Mary
S: #30
Lauren Wilson – Concordia-St. Paul
11/24/25
N: #1
Emma Miller - Minnesota Crookston
S: #23
Lydia Haack – Concordia-St. Paul
12/1/25
N: #10
Abby John - MSU Moorhead
S: #5
Natalie Bremer - Minnesota State
12/8/25
N: #23
Claire Bjorge - Minnesota Duluth
S: #5
Natalie Bremer - Minnesota State (2)
12/15/25
N: #5
Allison Undlin - University of Mary
S: #11
Hailey Markworth - Winona State
12/22/25
N: #1
Emma Miller - Minnesota Crookston (2)
S: #5
Natalie Bremer - Minnesota State (3)
1/6/26
N: #13
Bergan Kinnebrew - UMary (2)
S: #23
Lydia Haack - Concordia-St. Paul (2)
1/12/26
N: #25
Izzy Moore - Northern State
S: #30
Lauren Wilson - Concordia-St. Paul (2)
1/19/26
N: #14
Ashton Safranski - MSU Moorhead
S: #22
Audrey Swanson - SMSU
About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past three decades, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 122 individual national champions. For additional information, visit
NorthernSun.org.
About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit
NCAA.org.
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