NEW YORK - Villanova junior Kaisla Kollanus (Hyvinkaa, Finland/Makelanrinteen Iukio) of the women' swimming program was named the BIG EAST Women's Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week on late Tuesday afternoon for the second week in a row. The news came via a conference press release.

Kollanus becomes the second Wildcat to win the conference award in consecutive weeks after sophomore Emily Mayo did so on Nov. 26 and Dec. 9.

In the final regular-season meet of the year, the Wildcat women lost to the Pittsburgh Panthers at the Villanova Swim Complex, 182.5-111.5.

The Hyvinkaa, Finland native won the 50 and 100 freestyle events with times of 24.00 and 52.23.

Kollanus won the same two events last week against Richmond with times of 24.17 in the 50 freestyle and 52.29 in the 100 freestyle.

The junior also helped Villanova finish third against Pitt in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:46.85.

On the campaign, Kollanus leads the Wildcats in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.54 which she set on Nov. 20, 2014 at the Hokie Invite in Christiansburg, Va. That time is still second best in the conference for 2014-15.

This comes as the Wildcat's seventh BIG EAST Women's Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week award this year after freshman Gabby Daigneault on Oct. 28, junior Fiona Hardie on Nov. 4, senior Sara Jurek on Nov. 11 and sophomore Emily Mayo on both Nov. 26 and Dec. 9 and now, Kollanus on Feb. 3 and Feb. 10.

The women are next in action when the squad travels to Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. for the BIG EAST Championship from Wed., Feb. 18 to Sat., Feb. 21. Be sure to check out the conference's Championship Central Page for details surrounding the event such as ticket information, race times and BIG EAST Digital Network Coverage.