Monday, January 7, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of junior guards, Northwest Nazarene’s Adonis Arms and Central Washington’s Alexis Pana, led their teams to a pair of 2-0 weeks in the return to GNAC play to earn the conference’s selections as GNAC Players of the Week.

Arms was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his efforts in improving the surging Nighthawks to 8-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play. He finished with 43 points, nine assists, five steals and three blocks in the two games. Arms set the pace with 26 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in Tuesday’s 90-87 win over Central Washington. He made 11 of 16 from the field. Arms then added a 17-point performance in Thursday’s 94-79 win over Montana State Billings. His ledger included four rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals.

Arms and Northwest Nazarene continues a four-game homestand this week, hosting Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.

Pana was selected as the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after she finished with 33 points, 14 assists, 12 rebounds and four steals to lead the Wildcats to a road sweep in Oregon. She finished with a double-double of 18 points and 10 assists to go with five rebounds and three steals in a 78-65 win on Thursday at Western Oregon. Pana then finished with 16 points with five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in Saturday’s 66-58 win at Concordia.

With the wins, Central Washington improved to 8-3 overall and is tied for second in the GNAC at 3-1. The Wildcats host a pair of home games this week, welcoming Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 19
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Adonis Arms (Northwest Nazarene, G, 6-6, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis. – Mesa CC): Arms led the Nighthawks to two wins in the return to GNAC play, finishing with 43 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, five steals and three blocks for the week. In Tuesday’s 90-87 win over Central Washington, Arms set the pace as he scored 26 points on 11 of 16 from the field with five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Arms added a 17-point performance in Thursday’s 94-79 win over Montana State Billings. He also had four rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals as NNU improved to 8-2 overall. Also Nominated: Tyler Brimhall (Alaska Anchorage), Gamaun Boykin (Central Washington), Jarrett Gray (Concordia), Melvin Newbern, Jr., (Montana State Billings), EJ Boyce (Saint Martin’s), Julian Roche (Simon Fraser), Riley Hawken (Western Oregon), Trevor Jasinsky (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Alexis Pana (Central Washington, G, 5-9, Jr., Hilo Hawaii – Hilo): Pana finished with 33 points, 14 assists, 12 rebounds and four steals as she led the Wildcats to a pair of road victories to re-open conference play. She finished with a double-double of 18 points and 10 assists to go with five rebounds and three steals in Thursday’s 78-65 win over Western Oregon. She finished shooting 53 percent from the field and went 4 of 6 from three-point range. Pana then finished with 16 points in Saturday’s 66-58 win at Concordia. She also had five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. Also Nominated: Safiyyah Yasin (Alaska Anchorage), Abby Xhang (Concordia), Taryn Shelley (Montana State Billings), Avery Albrecht (Northwest Nazarene), Makenna Schultz (Saint Martin’s), Samantha Beauchamp (Simon Fraser), Natalie DeLonge (Western Oregon), Kelsey Rogers (Western Washington).