A huge win over a ranked opponent to start the new year helped earn a Hillsdale College women's basketball player some well-deserved recognition from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference this week.

Senior guard Emma Ruhlman was named the G-MAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week for her performance in a win over 19^th-ranked Malone on Saturday. It's Ruhlman's first career weekly conference honor, and the Chargers' second of the season along with Annalise Pietrzyk's award in November.

Ruhlman, a four-year veteran and team captain for the Chargers, had arguably her best game in a Hillsdale uniform against the Pioneers. The senior from Warren, Pennsylvania led all scorers with 16 critical points in a defensive slugfest, shooting 60% from the floor and a perfect 3 of 3 from beyond the arc. Ruhlman also was a force on the boards, grabbing a career-high 14 rebounds in the victory to post her first-ever double-double as a guard.

Beyond her raw numbers, Ruhlman also was her best in the most important moments in the game for the Chargers. The senior knocked down two 3-pointers to spearhead an 18-5 run to end the second quarter that helped the Chargers seize control of the game, and she was a perfect 7 of 7 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter while also grabbing seven of her 14 rebounds in the final period to help Hillsdale hold on for the upset win.

Ruhlman is in her second year as a starter and third as a contributor for the Chargers, and currently leads Hillsdale in rebounds per game (6.3) while also contributing 7.9 points and 2.6 assists per contest. She and the Chargers will aim to continue their winning ways tonight, Monday, as Hillsdale hosts another tough league opponent in Walsh at 5:30 p.m.