COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Fort Lewis College defender Madyson Wellcome was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, RMAC Assistant Commissioner announced today.

“Madyson continued to improve this year,” said fifth-year FLC head coach Damian Clarke, whose team is ranked No. 14 in the latest NCAA Division II poll. “I think this (past) weekend was a huge performance from her. Physically, the ways that she imposes herself, she runs through tackles and breaks up a lot of things to get us the ball back.”

Wellcome, a 5-foot-4 sophomore from Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz., led the Skyhawks to a pair of 2-1 wins last week over Colorado Christian last Friday and in double overtime over Metro State last Sunday.

The honor marks the second time that Wellcome has been recognized by the RMAC in its weekly awards. She previously was chosen as the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 12, 2010.

Wellcome was also named the RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year this past August, and was a third team All-RMAC performer and a second team All-Central Region selection (both NSCAA and Daktronics) as a true freshman. Just last week, RMAC sports information directors voted her onto the RMAC All-Academic second team.

Fort Lewis (11-1-3 overall, 8-1-2 in the RMAC) wraps up its regular season home schedule this coming weekend, when it hosts Adams State (6-7-1, 3-6-1) at 1 p.m. Friday and suddenly red-hot New Mexico Highlands (9-6-0, 7-4-0) at 1 p.m. Sunday. After losing a 3-2 overtime thriller to Fort Lewis on Sept. 30, the Cowgirls have reeled off seven straight wins, outscoring their opponents 26-3 in that stretch.