Anelise DiGiovanni and Sadie Newton named CCIW Players of the Week Feb. 24, 2026

Women’s Lacrosse Sweeps First CCIW Players of the Week Award of Season

DiGiovanni named offensive player of the week, Newton tabbed as defense

2/24/2026 1:00:00 PM

CCIW Release

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - In the first edition of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Week honors for the women's lacrosse season, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's lacrosse team swept the honors. Senior Anelise DiGiovanni (Lockport, Ill.-Lockport Township) was tabbed the offensive player of the week, while senior Sadie Newton (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) was named the defensive player.

DiGiovanni picks up the first weekly accolade of her career, while Newton earns the defensive nod for the first time. She earned the first weekly honor in her time donning the Green and White when she was named the offensive player of the week March 25, 2025. That was also the last time the Titans swept the award, as Lizzie Rymarcsuk earned the honor alongside Newton. Illinois Wesleyan sweeps the accolade after opening the season with a 2-0 week, marking the best start for the program since 2019.

DiGiovanni led the Illinois Wesleyan offense in its first two contests of 2026. For the week, DiGiovanni totaled 16 points, an average of eight per game, composed of six goals, averaging three per game, and 10 assists, an average of five per set. She added six ground balls, an average of three per set, and three caused turnovers.

Opening the season with a 15-12 victory over Illinois Institute of Technology Saturday, Feb. 21, DiGiovanni posted three goals and a career-high three assists for a total of six points, then a career-best, along with three ground balls and a trio of caused turnovers. DiGiovanni followed with a career-best game, as she notched career-highs of 10 points and seven assists, while tying her career-high of three assists in the 20-10 win over Augsburg University Sunday, Feb. 22. The senior added three ground balls to her stat line in the win.

Newton led the defensive efforts in the two wins. For the week, Newton totaled 14 draw controls, an average of seven per game, 11 ground balls, averaging 5.5 per game, and eight caused turnovers, an average of four per game, while adding seven points all by way of goals, an average of 3.5 scores per contest.

The Bloomington, Ill. native opened the season with three goals for three points, six draw controls, four caused turnovers, and three ground balls in the 15-12 victory over IIT Saturday, Feb. 21. In the 20-10 win over Augsburg Sunday, Feb. 22, Newton tallied eight draw controls, eight ground balls, four caused turnovers, and four points.

The Green and White return to action Wednesday, Feb. 25, hosting Aurora University for a 4 p.m. bout.

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