Monday, October 24, 2016

PORTLAND – NCAA Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officiating June Courteau joined GNAC Insider on Tuesday at 7 p.m. (Pacific) for its 103rd episode, which also featured Azusa Pacific quarterback Andrew Elffers and Montana State Billings men’s soccer midfielder Rhys Lambert.

Courteau has nearly half a century’s worth of experience in women’s basketball, including 43 years as an official. Now working at the NCAA national office, Courteau became the NCAA Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officiating in the fall of 2014. She officiated in 20 NCAA Division I Championship tournaments, including 12 Women’s Final Fours and five national championship games. Courteau also spent time officiating in the WNBA for 14 years from 1997 to 2011, where she worked 13 championship finals games and two all-star games. Courteau has also worked the Olympic Games.

In his junior season, Elffers has helped guide Azusa Pacific to a 7-1 record, while leading the GNAC in pass efficiency. The dual-threat quarterback also ranks seventh in the conference in rushing with 64 carries for 222 yards and four touchdowns and has completed 103 of 152 passes for 1404 yards and 13 touchdowns. His 13 touchdowns are already the most by a Cougar since the team joined the GNAC in 2012. This Saturday, the Cougars will host Central Washington with a chance to secure the GNAC title with a victory. Azusa Pacific is 6-0 in conference play and is two wins away from becoming just the third team this decade to win the GNAC with a perfect record.

Lambert has been an instrumental part in Montana State Billings success this season as the team has gone 8-4-3 this season and 4-2-3 in conference play. In September, Lambert played a particularly crucial role as a defensive midfielder. Montana State Billings went on a five-match winning streak, recording shutouts in all five matches and outscoring opponents 16-0. Last week, MSUB won both of its home matches against Concordia and Seattle Pacific, allowing just one goal in the two matches. This week, the ‘Jackets will go on the road to face Western Washington and Simon Fraser.