For the third time this season, Carroll senior forward Natalie Gricius has been named the CCIW Women's Basketball Player of the Week, following a remarkable two-game performance that propelled the Pioneers to wins over Elmhurst and Augustana.

Gricius opened the week by recording yet another double-double in Carroll's road victory at Elmhurst, finishing with 27 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 8-of-9 at the line. She added 2 assists and 2 steals, anchoring a Carroll team that controlled the second half and held off an early Elmhurst push. The night was historic as well—midway through the contest, Gricius became just the third player in program history to surpass 1,500 career points and 500 career rebounds, cementing her place among the all-time greats. 

She followed with another standout performance in Saturday's home win over Augustana, scoring 18 points on an efficient 6-for-11 shooting while contributing 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals as the Pioneers rolled to a 75-55 victory. Her early scoring set the tone, and her late-game playmaking helped Carroll close out one of its most complete conference wins of the season.

Across the two wins, Gricius averaged 22.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 steals, while shooting 56% from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Her dominance at all three levels—scoring inside, stepping out from deep, creating second-chance opportunities, and defending with energy—continues to set the standard for one of the CCIW's top teams.

Already the league's leading scorer, Gricius has once again affirmed her status as one of the conference's most impactful and consistent all-around players, guiding Carroll to a 2-0 week and strengthening the Pioneers' position atop the CCIW standings. The Pioneers next game comes on Wednesday as they travel to North Park to play at 7pm as they look to extend their winning streak.