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Nov 28, 2025; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Second half action as Indiana battles Gonzaga during the Women's Coconut Hoops Blue Heron Division at FGCU's Alico Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Redshirt freshman forward Lauren Whittaker continues to make history, becoming just one of two freshmen to ever be named a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award.
She joins Fairfield Stags forward Meghan Andersen, who did it recently in the 2023-24 season. No freshman has ever won the award or been named a finalist. Whittaker’s semifinalist selection is the fourth in Gonzaga Bulldogs history.
Whittaker’s 13 double-doubles of 2025-26 are the most of any freshman nationally and tied for the 15th-most in all of college basketball. She also leads the West Coast Conference in scoring (19.1 points per game), rebounding (10.1 rebounds per game), and field goal percentage (54.9 shooting percentage).
As for the team’s bounce-back performance on Thursday night in the Kennel, Gonzaga proved that the Inland Northwest runs through them with a resounding 75-50 victory against the Washington State Cougars.
The Zags beat the Cougars on the glass, 43-26, behind Whittaker (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Jaiden Haile’s (13 points, 11 rebounds) double-doubles. It was also done without the efforts of freshman guard Paige Lofing (flu) off the bench.
Coach Lisa Fortier has now had 11 straight seasons of 20+ wins. Her team currently stands at 20-8, 12-3 in the West Coast Conference and is currently in a tie for the top of the standings with Loyola Marymount Lions (18-8, 12-3 WCC). Three regular-season games remain before the West Coast Conference Tournament begins at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to ESPN’s Charlie Creme, Gonzaga is out of the NCAA Tournament field as LMU is given the West Coast Conference automatic bid as a No. 15 seed.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
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