VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State Lady Blazer basketball sophomore Erin Whalen was named Gulf South Conference Player of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday.  This is Whalen's first weekly honor for Player of the Week for her career as she earned Freshman of the Week on Mar. 5, 2024, for the final week of the 2023-24 regular season.
 
A native of Cumming, Ga., Whalen averaged a double-double in three games last week helping lead VSU to a 2-1 record.  She averaged 10.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, going 13 of 39 from the field (.333) with three triples and three free throws for 32 points.  She hauled in 37 rebounds, including 33 on the defensive end, while registering seven assists and six steals. 
 
Against Auburn Montgomery on Feb. 27, Whalen tallied her team-leading ninth double-double of the season with 16 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.  She pulled down 13 rebounds at Christian Brothers the game before and now has 11 games this season with double figure rebounds.  
 
Whalen and the Lady Blazers open the 2025 Truist Gulf South Conference Championship at West Florida on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. ET in the quarterfinal round.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for complete details on the game.