Ivy League Release | Big 5 Release | USBWA Release

PHILADELPHIA - For the second week in a row, University of Pennsylvania women's basketball freshman center Eleah Parker has been named both Co-Player and Rookie of the Week by the Ivy League following her career-best efforts in Penn's 79-77 win vs. Villanova. The Player of the Week honor is the second overall for Parker, while the Charlotte, N.C. native has now been named Rookie of the Week five times this year. 

Parker came up big against the Wildcats, helping lead the Quakers to their first victory against Nova since 2001 and keeping the Red and Blue in the hunt for a Big 5 title. The freshman totaled a new career-high 25 points, while collecting a team-best nine rebounds and also notching three steals and three blocks on the defensive end. With seven points at halftime and Penn holding a six-point lead, the Quakers went to Parker in the post time and time again and the rookie proved up to the task. In the third and fourth quarters alone, Parker notched 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, while going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in crucial moments. Coach Mike McLaughlin himself considered it "one of the best second halves of college basketball I've seen, as dominant in the post as I've seen in a really long time." 

Parker currently leads all freshmen in the Ivy League in both scoring (13.1) and rebounds (7.5), while ranking third overall in the Ancient Eight in field goal percentage (.518). Her five Rookie of the Week honors are the most for a Penn player since Michelle Nwokedi won six her freshman season. 

Penn is back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 24, set to face Temple in a Big 5 finale that will decide who will share the city title with Villanova. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. inside McGonigle Hall. 

UPDATE: It was announced Tuesday afternoon that Parker earned another weekly award, this time from the USBWA! Parker has been named National Freshman of the Week by the esteemed writer's organization for the second time this year, becoming only the second player in the existence of the award to win multiple times. On Wednesday, Parker earned the second Big 5 Player of the Week honor of her career.