BOSTON, Mass. (November 24, 2025) – Emerson College junior forward Claire English has been named the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Defensive Athlete of the Week, presented by SKYBOKX 109, for women's basketball the Conference office announced this morning.

English earns the weekly recognition for the first time in her career and she is the second Emerson student-athlete to earn the honors this season after junior Kaylin O'Meara received the award following the opening week of the season two weeks ago.

English is the second Lion to earn NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors this season after pulling down 14.5 rebounds and contributing 2.5 blocks and 2.0 steals per game (PHOTO BY Nancy Gonzales)

English led an Emerson team that held its two opponents at the Lafrance Hospitality Tournament, hosted by UMass Dartmouth, to a combined 36.2-percent shooting, including 26.3% from three-point distance. She pulled down a team-high 14.5 rebounds per game for the weekend, including 7.5 per game at the defensive end, and averaged a team-high 2.5 blocked shots and 2.0 steals per game. English averaged a double-double for the two games, contributing 17.5 points on 71.4-percent shooting (15-for-21) with 3.0 assists per game.

English posted her first double-double of the season against UMass Dartmouth on Saturday with 17 points and a season-high 15 rebounds (seven offensive), finishing 8-for-13 shooting with a career-high four assists and season-best totals of three blocked shots and two steals. She followed that up with her second double-double in as many days for the Lions in Sunday's 72-61 win over the University of New England with a season-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and 14 rebounds (seven offensive), two assists, two steals, and two blocked shots.

English has started all six games for Emerson thus far this season and is tied with O'Meara for second in the NEWMAC with her 1.5 blocked shots per game, while ranking seventh with 8.3 total rebounds and fifth with 3.2 offensive boards per game. She is ranked third on the team with her 9.2 points per game on 58.1-percent shooting, while adding 1.5 assists in 21.2 minutes per game. English has scored in double-figures in three of six games this season, pulling down double-digit rebounds the last two games to complete her first two double-doubles of the season.

English, named to the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team last winter, has started 32 of her 50 career games played at Emerson and totaled 292 points as a 55.1-percent career shooter, 303 rebounds, 56 blocked shots, 39 assists and 33 steals over her career. She has scored in double-figures 13 times over her career, with double-digit rebounds in 15 contests and nine career double-doubles.

Emerson (4-2, 0-0 NEWMAC) is back in action tomorrow night when it hosts Western New England University for its lone game of the Thanksgiving holiday week at Bobbi Brown and Stephen Plofker Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m.

For the latest on Emerson Athletics, follow the Lions via social media on Instagram and online at emersonlions.com powered by SIDEARM Sports.