IRVINE, Calif. - The Big West announced the winners of its weekly basketball awards following an exciting week of games. This week, UC Santa Barbara's Alexis Whitfield earned her first career weekly award after being named The Big West Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week.

Whitfield has started the season on fire currently shooting .591 from the field and .455 from beyond on the arc. This past week Whitfield averaged 21.0 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game. Whitfield led the team in scoring during both games for the Gauchos against Idaho State and Southern Utah. In UC Santa Barbara's game against Southern Utah Whitfield recorded her second double-double of season, her first coming the week prior against San Francisco. 

The Gauchos are currently 2-1 and will head south to San Diego this weekend to compete in The Dana on Mission Bay Thanksgiving Classic hosted by the University of San Diego. UC Santa Barbara will open up the classic against UNLV on Friday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m.