SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Gonzaga’s Lauren Whittaker broke the record for most West Coast Conference Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week awards, as the forward was honored for the 13th time this season. LMU's Andjela Matic captured West Coast Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week honors after delivering the Lions a clutch performance to help clinch the West Coast Conference Women's Basketball regular season championship.
Whittaker, a national freshman of the year candidate, broke 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 – ANDJELA MATIC, SR., G, – LMU
Andjela Matic (Ub, Serbia) delivered in the clutch for LMU, helping the Lions earn a place in West Coast Conference history by hitting a game-winning three with two seconds left in overtime at Oregon State on Saturday. The 71-69 victory earned LMU the West Coast Conference regular season title. Matic registered 10 points, four assists and four rebounds in the win. Matic opened the week with a strong two-way production night in the 66-57 win at San Francisco, scoring 15 points while adding four rebounds and three steals. The Lions' senior shot 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from the three-point line on the week. This was Matic's first conference honor and LMU's third weekly recognition of the season.
Also Nominated: Ella Brubaker, Seattle U; Alex Covill, Washington State; Florence Dallow, Portland; Ashley Hawkins, Santa Clara; Daria Nestorov, Pacific; Olivia Owens, San Diego; Kennedie Shuler, Oregon State; Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
WEST COAST CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK – LAUREN WHITTAKER, F – GONZAGA
Lauren Whittaker (Canterbury, New Zealand) added to her nationally freshman-leading double-double total for the season with two more this past week. Whittaker boasts 17 double-doubles on the season, which also is tied for 12th overall in the country. In Thursday's 75-67 win over Saint Mary's, Whittaker scored 18 points and picked up 12 rebounds in the victory while shooting 60 percent (6-for-10) from the field. In the overtime loss to Portland, Whittaker posted her second 30-point game of the season, scoring 30 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The freshman shot 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the field. This was the Conference's eighth 30-point game of the season. Her 37 points against Oregon State on January 22nd is the most points scored in a game this season for the league. Whittaker has been recognized by the conference a total of 14 times this season. Along with her record 13 freshman of the week awards, the Gonzaga forward earned conference player of the week honors once.
Also Nominated: Keira Lindemans, Oregon State; Delainey Miller, Santa Clara; Sophia Mindermann, Pacific; Olivia Owens, San Diego; Jana Vesic, Seattle U
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
March 2: Andjela Matic, 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 17: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
February 23: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga
March 2: Lauren Whittaker, Gonzaga