Monday, January 11, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – The conference’s weekly online radio show – GNAC Insider - aired its 78th episode Tues., Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. Pacific time. Guests for the second show of 2016 were Montana State Billings’ Janiel Olson, Alaska Anchorage Diante Mitchell and Saint Martin’s Krista Stabler.

Olson is a senior forward for the Montana State Billings women’s basketball team, rejoining the Yellowjackets after redshirting the 2014-15 season. Olson is fourth in the GNAC in rebounding (8.0 per game) after pulling down 32 boards in two games this week, highlighted by 18 against Saint Martin’s. She was named a First Team All-GNAC selection and the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. Olson’s return this season has sparked the Yellowjackets to a tie for first place in the GNAC standings with a 5-1 record after being picked seventh in the preseason coaches poll. They have won three straight games and will be on the road at Concordia and Western Oregon this week. Olson spoke about her return from an injury last season, the Yellowjackets' performance in GNAC play thus far and her dominance on the boards for MSUB.

Mitchell is a junior guard for the Alaska Anchorage men’s basketball team, playing in his first season with the Seawolves after transferring from Western Nebraska CC where he averaged 15 points per game. A starter in all 16 games he has played this season, Mitchell is averaging 11.8 points and 31.8 minutes per game, with 52 total assists while shooting 52 percent from the field and 48 percent from behind the arc. Mitchell has helped lead Alaska Anchorage to a 13-4 overall record and a perfect 6-0 in GNAC play. The Seawolves defeated Simon Fraser and Western Washington last week on their way to the Red Lion Team of the Week. They host Montana State Billings (3-3 GNAC) and visit rival Alaska (5-1 GNAC) this week. Mitchell spoke about transferring from WNCC, the transition to Alaska Anchorage and being the lone unbeaten team in all of GNAC basketball.

Stabler is a senior guard for the Saint Martin’s women’s basketball team and enters the week leading the GNAC with 18.5 points per game. She has scored two of the top five point totals in the GNAC this season, scoring a season high 38 points on Dec. 5. Stabler has led the Saints to a 3-3 GNAC record and 5-8 overall. On Wednesday, the Saints host Western Washington on ROOT SPORTS Northwest as the second televised game in the GNAC this season and the first in women’s basketball. Saint Martin’s then hosts Simon Fraser on Saturday. Stabler spoke about her scoring ability, her plans after school with a degree in Civil Engineering and the opportunity to play on ROOT SPORTS.

GNAC Insider is hosted by Rob Lowery airing live at 7 p.m. Pacific every Tuesday and is produced by the conference office. All episodes become available as free podcasts via iTunes. To listen to archived episodes go to GNAC.TV.