BELLINGHAM, Wash. – When you average 25.0 points and 16.5 rebounds per game you will get recognized…and for Western Washington University senior forward Olivia Hodges that earned her the WBCA/D2CIDA National Player of the Week award.
 
The Vikings earned a pair of decisive wins last week thanks to the efforts of Hodges, who finished with double-doubles in both victories.
 
The senior transfer from Cal State LA started her week with a 13-point, 16-rebound performance in the Vikings 86-57 win over Concordia University Irvine, making all four of her shots from the field and adding two assists, a blocked shot and a steal.
 
Less than 24 hours later, she finished with a career-high 37 points – tied for the third-most in a game in Western Washington history – and 17 rebounds, which ranks in the top 10 in a single game in program history in WWU's 82-65 win over Azusa Pacific.  She went 14-of-20 from the field and 9-of-12 at the free throw line in the second game.
 
Hodges averaged 25.0 points and 16.5 rebounds per game while going 18-of-24 from the floor, adding three assists, two steals and a blocked shot along the way. Hodges, named as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week, is the NCAA Division II leader in rebounds through Sunday's play for the 5-2 Vikings.
 
The 37-point, 17-rebound double-double rivaled two big games by WWU Hall of Famer Gina Sampson in 1995, who put together a 42-point, 18-rebound performance against Western Oregon and a 33-point, 25-rebound double-double against Puget Sound.
 
In seven games this season, Hodges has recorded five double-doubles to lead NCAA Division II while averaging 16.6 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. She ranks 2nd in the GNAC in rebounding and her 84 total rebounds lead the nation.
 
Hodges is the first Viking to earn the National Player of the Week honor since former All-American Taylor Peacocke was selected on January 16-22, 2017 following her 41-point performance at Simon Fraser.
 
The Vikings (5-2) make their home debut in Carver Gym this weekend hosting the Lynda Goodrich Classic games Friday and Saturday at noon and 2:30 pm on WECU Court. WWU opens the tournament on Friday facing the University of Mary and completes play on Saturday vs. San Francisco State, with both games featuring a 2:30 pm tip-off.