Rosemont, Ill. - Fighting Illini freshman Alex Wittinger was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday, Feb. 1, as announced by the league office. Wittinger is coming off of a standout performance in her home state of Minnesota, racking up a career-best 27 points and 15 rebounds. The honor is the second for Wittinger this season as she was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Dec. 13.

As a team, the Orange and Blue have garnered four Freshman of the Week honors this year, marking the second time in program history that Illinois has received four Freshman of the Week nods in one season. 

A native of Delano, Minn., Wittinger started out hot for the Illini against Minnesota, going 4-for-4 in the first quarter of the game. She earned the 10th double-figure scoring game of her career, and also her third double-double. She tallied four rejections in the game as well, the 10th time this season she's recorded multiple blocked shots in a game. 

Wittinger is averaging 10.2 points per game this season and 12 per game in Big Ten play. She grabs 6.2 rebounds per game for the Illini and is second on the team with 33 blocked shots so far this year. Wittinger ranks second in the conference for her 3.5 offensive rebounds per game, and her 1.7 blocks per game is fifth in the league. 

Wittinger and the Illini will host seventh-ranked Ohio State tonight at 6 p.m. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network and also honors National Women & Girls in Sports Day. Several Illini teams will sign autographs on the concourse prior to the game, and Illinois head softball coach, Tyra Perry, will address the crowd at haftime. 

Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for all the latest on Illinois women's basketball.