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SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Gonzaga’s Lauren Whittaker was recognized as the West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week for the fifth consecutive week and eighth time overall this season after averaging a double-double in two convincing wins. LMU’s Jess Lawson was named the West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after averaging a double-double in two key victories to extend the Lions’ winning streak to three games.
 
WEST COAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – JESS LAWSON, GR., G, – LMU
Jess Lawson (Las Vegas, Nev.) averaged 13.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in guiding LMU to a pair of wins this past week. The Lions handed Oregon State its first conference loss of the season with a 55-51 at home Thursday. In the win over OSU, Lawson totaled 14 points, 16 rebounds, and connected on all three of her three-point field goal attempts. Defensively, the guard helped LMU hold Oregon State to its lowest point total of the season. Lawson had 12 points and six rebounds in Saturday’s 74-54 win over Pacific. The 20-point win was LMU’s largest margin of victory against a West Coast Conference opponent since the Lions defeated San Francisco by 21 (66-45) in their opening game of the 2019 West Coast Conference Tournament on March 8, 2019. This is Lawson’s first West Coast Conference weekly honor.
 
Also Nominated: Dyani Ananiev, Portland; Winner Bartholomew, Pacific; Aina Cargol, San Francisco; Jada Hunter, Saint Mary’s; Maia Jones, Santa Clara; Kylie Ray, San Diego; Tamia Stricklin, Seattle U; Allie Turner, Gonzaga; Eleonora Villa, Washington State; Jenna Villa, Oregon State
 
WEST COAST CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK – LAUREN WHITTAKER, F – GONZAGA
For the fifth straight week and eighth time this season, Lauren Whittaker (Canterbury, New Zealand) has been recognized as the Freshman of the Week. She has collected nine total weekly honors, as the forward was named West Coast Conference Player of the Week once as well. Whittaker averaged 16.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game as Gonzaga earned double digit victories over San Francisco and San Diego this past week. She collected her 10th double-double of the season in Thursday’s 82-69 win over USF with 26 points and 11 rebounds. She owns two more double-doubles than all other freshmen in the country and is tied for the ninth-most in the nation overall. Whittaker also connected on all three of her three-point field goal attempts in the win over the Dons. In Saturday’s victory over San Diego, the freshman posted seven points, 13 rebounds and three steals in 24 minutes of action. Whittaker leads the West Coast Conference in scoring (19.3 ppg), rebounding (10.2 rpg) and field goal percentage (.575).  
 
Also Nominated: Jessica Ajayi, San Diego; Lara Alonso-Basurto, Oregon State, Julia Dalan, Portland; Keandra Koorits, Washington State; Delainey Miller, Santa Clara; Sophia Mindermann, Pacific; Noelia Mouriño, San Francisco
 
West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week
November 10: Allie Turner, Gonzaga
November 17: Tiara Bolden, Oregon State
November 24: Candy Edokpaigbe, San Francisco
December 1: Candy Edokpaigbe, San Francisco
December 8: Shorna Preston, Pepperdine
December 15: Sophie Glancey, Santa Clara 
December 22: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
December 29: Jenna Villa, Oregon State
January 5: Ashley Hawkins, Santa Clara
January 12: Maia Jones, Santa Clara
January 19: Jess Lawson, LMU
 
West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week
November 10: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
November 17: Aina Cargol, San Francisco
November 24: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
December 1: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
December 8: Ayla Williams, San Diego
December 15: Julia Dalan, Portland 
December 22: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
December 29: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
January 5: Aina Cargol, San Francisco & Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
January 12: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
January 19: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga