VALDOSTA, Ga. - Junior Erin Whalen was selected as National Player of the Week by the NCAA Division II Conference Information Directors of America and WBCA today, becoming the first Lady Blazer in program history to earn the recognition. 

Whalen averaged a strong double-double over three big wins this week, scoring 16.7 points per game and grabbing 11 rebounds per game. She shot an efficient 48.8% from the field including 36.4% from three-point range. The guard created opportunities for VSU on both ends of the floor with nine steals and nine assists.

She opened the week with 13 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and two assists in just 24 minutes in the 107-55 Lady Blazer win over Fort Lauderdale on Monday. The Cumming, Ga. native dropped 19 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four steals in a big conference win over Mississippi College on Friday. Her 17 rebounds were the most in a game by any guard in the GSC this season. She ended the week with 18 points at a 53.8% clip in another conference win over Delta State. 

The Lady Blazers improved to 6-7 overall and 3-4 in the Gulf South Conference following the big week. Whalen and the team will travel to Tennessee this weekend to take on Union (Friday, 6:30 p.m. ET) and Christian Brothers (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET).