ST. LOUIS, MO. ? The Missouri Valley Conference announced Monday (Jan. 28) that Drake junior Lauren Dybing (Bloomington, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) has been selected as the State Farm/MVC Women's Basketball Player of the Week. This marks the third time this season that a Bulldog has been tabbed for the weekly honor with senior Jill Martin (Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk) twice (Dec. 31 and Nov. 26) taking home the accolades.

Dybing turned in back-to-back gems last week averaging a team-high 18.0 points per game, while pulling down 8.0 rebounds and blocking 2.0 shots in helping the Bulldogs to a 2-0 mark.

Dybing established new career highs in scoring (21) and rebounding (9) in lifting Drake to a 75-70 win over Bradley on Thursday (Jan. 24). She contributed five of her career- and game-high 21 points in an 18-7 run over the final 4:42 to allow the Bulldogs to overcome a six-point deficit en route to collecting the victory. She connected on 7-of-9 shots from the field and made 7-of-9 at the free throw line while adding a block.

In Drake's 66-63 victory over Northern Iowa on Sunday (Jan. 27), she poured in her third straight double-figure scoring output with 15 points, while pulling down seven rebounds and rejecting a career-best three shots in helping Drake end a six-game losing streak to in-state opponents. She finished the contest 5-for-11 from the floor, and drained 5-of-7 at the line.

On the year, Dybing is averaging 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. In league-only affairs, the numbers jump to 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Drake is 7-1 this season when she leads the team in blocks.

The Bulldogs (13-5) return to action on Thursday (Jan. 31) battling league-leading Illinois State in Normal, Ill., at 7:05 p.m. The Redbirds will come into play riding a 13-game winning streak and sitting at No. 24 in the latest Associated Press women's basketball poll.