FARMINGTON, Utah (March 2, 2026) – The Big Sky Conference announced its Player of the Week honors, presented by
JAMBAR, with men's basketball, women's basketball, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's golf, women’s golf and softball all in action.
Big Sky Softball Player of the Week (March 2, 2026)
Softball Player of the Week: Lafulafu Malepeai, Sacramento State (OF, Sr., South San Francisco, Calif.)
Senior Lafulafu Malepeai helped lead Sacramento State to a 4-2 record last week. That included wins against Pacific, Santa Clara, San Jose State and Sacred Heart. The outfielder hit four home runs in six games while batting .438 (7-for-16) with a .609 on-base percentage and 1.375 slugging percentage. She scored six runs, tallied eight RBIs, and six of her seven hits went for extra bases (four homers, a double and a triple). In addition, she did not commit an error in the outfield.
The South San Francisco, Calif., native had at least on RBI in five of the six games, and reached base safely in at least two plate appearances in all but one game.
Against Nevada, who is ranked sixth in the Mid-Major top 25 poll, Malepeai reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs, a triple, homer and three RBIs. She also homered against Pacific, Santa Clara and San Jose State. She had 22 total bases during the week, and started all six games in left field.
Others Nominated for Softball Player of the Week
Katie Walling (UNC), Mia Martinez (PSU)
Big Sky Softball Pitcher of the Week (March 2, 2026)
Softball Pitcher of the Week: Alexa Ortiz, Sacramento State (P, Jr., Chandler, Ariz.)
Junior Alexa Ortiz helped lead Sacramento State to a 4-2 record last week. That included wins against Pacific, Santa Clara, San Jose State and Sacred Heart.
In two appearances, the right-hander had a 1.40 ERA, and opponents hit just .148 when she was in the circle. In 15.0 innings, Ortiz allowed eight hits with 14 strikeouts and a 0.93 WHIP. She was 1-1, beating Sacred Heart, and was the unlucky losing pitcher to San Jose State despite throwing a three-hit shutout through seven innings before the Hornets lost in the eighth.
Against Sacred Heart, the Chandler, Ariz., native allowed three hits and two runs with seven strikeouts over seven innings in the Hornets’ 3-2 win. The loss to San Jose State saw her throw a career-high eight innings, allowing five hits and two runs with seven strikeouts.
Others Nominated for Softball Pitcher of the Week
Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung (PSU), Anna Wilming (UNC)
Big Sky Women's Basketball Player of the Week (March 3, 2026)
Women's Basketball Player of the Week: Taylee Chirrick, Montana State (G, So., Roberts, Mont.)
Montana State's sensational sophomore led the Bobcats to three wins in five days, including two on the road, by scoring 52 points and grabbing 23 rebounds. She also dished out three assists and blocked two shots, but Chirrick made history by piling up 11 pilfers to forge a tie for the Montana State and Big Sky Conference single-season steals record with 124. She caught former Bobcat guard Liz Holz, whose 124 steals in 1988-89 held up for 37 years.
Others Nominated for Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Jocelyn Land (MSU), Rubi Gray (SAC), Antoniette Emma-Nnopu (WSU)
Big Sky Men's Basketball Player of the Week (March 3, 2026)
Men's Basketball Player of the Week: Jed Miller, Montana State (G, Sr., Agoura Hills, Calif.)
Jed Miller led Montana State to three wins in five days to close the regular season, averaging 18.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game against Portland State, Sacramento State, and Northern Arizona. This performance has earned him Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors. Miller ranked second in the Big Sky in rebounds and assists during the final week of the regular season while also shooting 18-of-37 (48.6%) from the field and 11-of-22 (50.0%) from three during that stretch. Miller's strongest performance of the week came during the Cats' 84-69 win over the Vikings on Feb. 26, when he tallied 25 points (7-of-15 FG, 4-of-8 3FG), nine rebounds, six assists, three steals, and one block. His efforts helped Montana State earn three-straight double-digit victories to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Big Sky Tournament. He is the second Bobcat this season to earn the honor, joining teammate Patrick McMahon.
Others Nominated for Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Alton Hamilton IV (EWU), Jackson Rasmussen (UI), Quinn Denker (UNC), Jaylin Henderson (PSU), Tijan Saine Jr. (WSU)
Big Sky Men's Tennis Player of the Week (March 4, 2026)
TBA
Big Sky Women's Tennis Player of the Week (March 4, 2026)
TBA
Big Sky Men's Golfer of the Week (March 4, 2026)
TBA
Big Sky Women's Golfer of the Week (March 4, 2026)
TBA
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