Editor's note: Charlie Creme, Graham Hays and Mechelle Voepel each vote to determine espnW's national player of the week, which is awarded every week of the women's college basketball season.
Iowa's Megan Gustafson got her 77th career double-double on Sunday, tying her with former Ohio State standout Jantel Lavender for most in Big Ten history. With five regular-season games left -- including next Sunday versus league-leader Maryland (ESPN2, 1 p.m. ET) -- Gustafson seems sure to soon own the record herself.
After two more performances in which Gustafson showed that she'll score no matter how teams guard her or how many defenders they use to do it, she is the espnW national player of the week. Gustafson has been on our "also considered" list almost every week this season, which is understandable considering she leads Division I in scoring (27.2 PPG), is second in field goal percentage (70.4) and is tied for fifth in rebounding (12.7).
The results this week were key for the No. 16 Hawkeyes, as they beat No. 23 Michigan State 86-71 on Thursday and avoided the upset bug that has hit some other Big Ten teams against Ohio State. The two victories put the Hawkeyes at 19-5 overall and in second place in the Big Ten at 10-3, one game behind the Terrapins.
Gustafson had 41 points on 17-of-24 shooting from the field, with 14 rebounds and four blocked shots, against the Spartans, who defeated Iowa earlier this season in East Lansing, Michigan. Iowa got revenge at home Thursday.
On Sunday on the road in a 78-52 win against the Buckeyes, Gustafson had 29 points (14 of 19 shooting) and 16 rebounds.
"We emphasize giving up the good shot to get a great shot," said Gustafson, whose Hawkeyes rank second in Division I in field goal percentage, at 52.2 behind Oregon's 52.5.
Ducks junior Sabrina Ionescu was other top contender for player of the week honors after two 27-point performances in victories against Cal and Stanford. Gustafson and Ionescu are also atop the list for national player of the year.
Gustafson has scored at least 30 points eight times this season, including a season-best 44 against Drake in December. The 6-foot-3 senior from Port Wing, Wisconsin, has established herself as one of Iowa's all-time great athletes and keeps adding to her résumé for the WNBA draft.
Also considered: Kalani Brown, Baylor; Cece Hooks, Ohio; Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon; Beatrice Mompremier, Miami; Micheala Onyenwere, UCLA
Previous winners: Kristine Anigwe, Cal (Nov. 12) | Kierra Anthony, Louisiana Tech (Nov. 19) | Jackie Young, Notre Dame (Nov. 26) | Christyn Williams, UConn (Dec. 3) | Jenna Allen, Michigan State (Dec. 10) | Alanna Smith, Stanford (Dec. 17) | Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (Dec. 24) | Katie Benzan, Harvard (Dec. 31) | Kalani Brown, Baylor (Jan. 7) | Cierra Dillard, Buffalo (Jan. 14) | Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State (Jan. 21) | Paris Kea, North Carolina (Jan. 28) | Asia Durr, Louisville (Feb. 4)