Guiding the defending champion UC Santa Barbara Gauchos to a 2-0 mark in the opening week of conference play earned Lauren Pedersen her first career Big West Player of the Week accolade. She is the first Gaucho to receive a weekly award this season.

Pedersen led the Gauchos in scoring in both Big West victories, as UC Santa Barbara defeated Long Beach State (66-48) and preseason favorite UC Riverside (47-40). Against Long Beach State, the 5-11 guard drained 16 points and grabbed six rebounds, while adding four assists and three steals to her total.

Two days later against UC Riverside, Pedersen fired a .625 three-point field goal percentage, going 5-for-8, en route to a 21-point total. Her five three pointers tied a career-best mark. The Brea, Calif., native also tied her career-high in both games with seven field goals made.

For the week, Pedersen averaged 18.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest, while shooting .438 from the floor.

Others nominated: Kristina Santiago (Cal Poly), Lyndsey Grove (Cal State Fullerton), Paige Mintun (UC Davis), Seyram Gbewonyo (UC Riverside), Gretchen Tiernan (Pacific)