SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Gonzaga’s Lauren Whittaker tied the record for most West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week awards, as the forward was honored for the 12th time this season. Oregon State’s Tiara Bolden captured West Coast Conference Player of the Week honors for the second time this season.
 
Whittaker, a national freshman of the year candidate, matched the conference record of 12 freshman of the week honors originally set by Santa Clara’s Tess Heal during the 2022-23 season. The Gonzaga forward set the record for most consecutive freshman of the week honors with seven earlier this year. The conference began recognizing a freshman of the week in the 2020-21 season.  
 
WEST COAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – TIARA BOLDEN, SR., G, – OREGON STATE
Tiara Bolden (Eugene, Ore.) averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in leading Oregon State to double-digit wins over Portland and Washington State to keep pace in the conference regular-season title race. Oregon State is in third place in the standings, a game behind Gonzaga and LMU. In the 64-54 win over Portland, Bolden scored a career-high 29 points on 11-of-20 (55.0%) shooting from the field, including three three-pointers to go along with six rebounds. In the 79-51 victory over Washington State, she recorded 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
 
Also Nominated: Ella Brubaker, Seattle U; Alex Covill, Washington State; Candy Edokpaigbe, San Francisco; Maya Hernandez, LMU; Kylie Ray, San Diego; Ava Schmidt, Santa Clara; Abigail Shoff, Saint Mary’s; Lainey Spear, Portland; Taija Sta. Maria, Pepperdine; Sydney Ward, Pacific; Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
 
WEST COAST CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK – LAUREN WHITTAKER, F – GONZAGA
Lauren Whittaker (Canterbury, New Zealand) added to her tremendous double-double total for the season with two more this past week. She now has 15 double-doubles on the year, which leads the nation among freshmen and is tied for 13th overall. She guided Gonzaga to convincing wins over Washington State and Pacific to keep pace with LMU in a tie for first place in the conference standings. In the 75-50 win over WSU, Whittaker scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and added 11 rebounds in 24 minutes of action. In Saturday’s 85-70 victory at Pacific, the forward recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds along with two steals and a block in 25 minutes. Whittaker has been recognized by the conference a total of 13 times this season. Along with her 12 freshman of the week awards, the Gonzaga forward earned conference player of the week honors once.
 
Also Nominated: Lara Alonso-Basurto, Oregon State; Aina Cargol, San Francisco; Keandra Koorits, Washington 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 17: Jess Lawson, LMU
February 23: Tiara Bolden, Oregon State
 
 
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 17: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
February 23: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga