SAN BRUNO, Calif. – LMU’s Jess Lawson was named the West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, her second conference honor of the season, after a stellar week in leading the Lions to a pair of wins and moving them into a tie for first place in the conference standings. Gonzaga’s Lauren Whittaker collected her 11th West Coast Conference Freshman of the Week award after averaging a double-double for the week.
 
WEST COAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – JESS LAWSON, GR., G, – LMU
Jess Lawson (Las Vegas, Nevada) helped lead LMU to wins last week over Gonzaga and Pepperdine as the Lions moved into a tie for first place with the Zags in the conference standings with an 11-3 league mark. The guard was stellar on both ends of the court, averaging 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 4.0 assists per game. In Saturday’s battle of conference leaders, between LMU and Gonzaga, Lawson scored 16 points, pulled down seven rebounds, dished out four assists and had a career-high seven steals. She was responsible for several key stops and forced turnovers for the Lions late in the contest, as they defeated Gonzaga, 72-63. In Thursday’s 72-62 win over Pepperdine, Lawson registered 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Lawson has helped guide LMU to five straight wins and nine of its last 10. The 11 conference wins is the most since the 2017-18 season and the 11-3 conference record is its best start to conference play since the 2003-04 season.
 
Also Nominated: Ella Brubaker, Seattle U; Florence Dallow, Portland; Candy Edokpaigbe, San Francisco
Daria Nestorov, Pacific; Kylie Ray, San Diego; Ava Schmidt, Santa Clara  ; Kennedie Shuler, Oregon State
 
WEST COAST CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK – LAUREN WHITTAKER, F – GONZAGA
Lauren Whittaker (Canterbury, New Zealand) averaged a double-double with 14.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in Gonzaga’s two games this past week. She led the Zags to a 66-56 win at San Diego Thursday, recording her 13th double-double of the season with 19 points on 8-of-11 from the field (72.7%) and 12 rebounds. She also had three steals and a block in the win. Against LMU Saturday, Whittaker finished with 10 points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes of action. The forward leads all freshmen nationally and ranks 15th overall in double-doubles this season. This is her 12th conference weekly recognition overall, as she was also named the player of the week Dec. 22.
 
Also Nominated: Lara Alonso-Basurto, Oregon State; Delainey Miller, Santa Clara; Sophia Mindermann, Pacific; Olivia Owens, San Diego
 
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
January 26: Kennedie Shuler, Oregon State
February 2: Kennedie Shuler, Oregon State
February 9: Florence Dallow, Portland
February 16: 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: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga and Aina Cargol, San Francisco
January 12: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
January 19: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
January 26: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
February 2: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga and Jada Kennedy, Portland
February 9: Olivia Owens, San Diego
February 16: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga