KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Mid-America Christian (Okla.) junior forward Taliah Lee was voted as NAIA Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week after back-to-back wins that showcased her defensive ability. 

Lee, a 6-foot-3 junior from Spokane Valley, Washington, anchored MACU’s defense in a two-game stretch that featured historic production in both rim protection and perimeter disruption. In a 77–65 victory over Wayland Baptist (Texas) on Jan. 8, she swatted five shots—tying the third-most blocks in a single game in program history—while helping Mid-America Christian tie its team single-game record with eight total blocks. Two days later, in a 65–49 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State, Lee flipped the script and became a turnover-forcing machine, recording seven steals to tie the second-most in a game in MACU history.

Across the week, Lee finished with nine steals and eight blocked shots in just 69 total minutes. Lee averaged 10.5 rebounds per game, totaling 21 boards over the two contests, including 16 defensive rebounds. Against Wayland Baptist, she pulled down 13 rebounds (11 on the defensive glass), repeatedly ending possessions and preventing second-chance opportunities. Even in the OPSU game—where her steals grabbed the headlines—she still collected eight rebounds and contributed five assists, showing that her influence extended beyond the defensive box score.

Offensively, Lee averaged 12.0 points per game for the week, scoring 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting against Wayland Baptist and adding 10 points versus OPSU. While her shooting efficiency dipped in the second game (4-of-13), her overall week still closed at 43.5% from the field, and she continued to stretch the floor with two made three-pointers across the two wins.