SAINT PETER, Minn. – Gustavus fifth-year guard Emma Kniefel (Medford, Minn.) was named to the D3hoops.com National Team of the Week on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Kniefel is having a career start to her final season, opening the year averaging 15.0 points per game against a trio of WIAC opponents, including No. 13 nationally-ranked UW-Stout. In Gustavus' season-opener against UW-La Crosse, Kniefel totaled 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting, as well as three rebounds and a pair of steals. Her eighth point, scored on a free-throw in the second quarter, helped her become the 13th member of the program's 1,000 point club.

Her performance the following day led the Gusties to a dominating victory over UW-Eau Claire, as the Medford native shot 9-for-13 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from three for a total of 24 points. The 24 points tied the most in her career, while the six made threes and nine field goals were also career-best marks. Her six from long range were the most for any Gustie in a game since 2018, while the team collected 11 total, four shy of the program record. Kniefel chipped in a team-leading five rebounds as well. Against Stout, Kniefel led the team in assists with five, while adding seven points, a pair of rebounds, and a steal.

This is Kniefel's first national weekly honor and the second weekly award of her career as she was named the MIAC Athlete of the Week on Feb. 19 of last season. She is just the third player in program history to be named to the D3hoops.com National Team of the Week, joining now Assistant Coach Angie (Peterson) Potts '04 HOF '19 and Jess Vadnais '08 HOF '23. Potts earned the honor in week seven of the 2001-02 season, while Vadnais received the award three times in the 2007-08 season. 

After a trio of victories on the road to start the season, including last week's 62-53 win over No. 13 UW-Stout, the Gusties (3-0 overall) will close out the WIAC portion of their schedule at UW-River Falls (2-1 overall) Wednesday night in River Falls.