Thursday, October 22, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Megan Mullings has had a year to remember.

A transfer from Arizona’s South Mountain Community College last year, Mullings stepped onto the Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team and became one of the most dynamic threats in the GNAC. After leading the Seawolves to a 29-2 record and into the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament, the forward was named the GNAC Newcomer of the Year and a First Team All-GNAC selection. Heading into her senior season, Mullings has been selected to the Division II Preseason Bulletin Super 16 and now claims another award: GNAC Preseason Player of the Year.

Mullings was almost a unanimous selection for the award, receiving 8 of 10 possible first place votes (coaches could not vote for their own players). She was one of nine unanimous selections to the 2015-16 GNAC Preseason All-Conference Team. Teammate Kiki Robertson, receiving one first place vote, also joined Mullings as a unanimous selection. Western Washington junior guard Taylor Peacocke received two first place vote and was also unanimously voted by the coaches onto the preseason all-conference squad.

Other unanimous selections include Simon Fraser forward Meg Wilson, Central Washington guard Jasmin Edwards, CWU forward Jasmine Parker, Western Washington center Kayla Bernsen, Montana State Billings forward Alisha Breen and Saint Martin’s guard Krista Stabler. Repeat selections include Wilson, Robertson, Northwest Nazarene guard Taylor Simmons, Alaska forward Jordan Wilson and MSUB forward Janiel Olson.

With Mullings at the helm, the Seawolves won the GNAC Tournament and hosted the NCAA West Region Tournament. Mullings led the Seawolves with 13.6 points per game, averaging 4.9 rebounds ranking fourth in Division II with a .604 field goal percentage.

Mullings is joined by teammates Robertson and guard Jenna Buchanan on the preseason all conference team. Robertson was the GNAC Defender of the Year, leading the conference in assists (180) and steals (100) and ranked second in assists/turnover ratio (2.1). Buchanan was Honorable Mention All-GNAC as a junior, ranking third on the team with 11.3 points per game.

Peacocke finished second in the voting after leading the Vikings with 13.5 points per game in 2014-15. Peacocke was a Second Team All-GNAC selection as the Vikings finished tied for second in the GNAC. This year, Peacocke will guide Western Washington after being picked second in the preseason coaches poll. Bernsen, also a unanimous pick, paced the Vikings with 6.7 rebound per game and was third on the team with 11.7 points per game. Her 200 rebounds ranked sixth in the GNAC.

Simon Fraser’s Meg Wilson is the team’s leading returning scorer (12.9 ppg) and rebounder (8.7 rpg). Wilson was one of the top inside presences in the conference, ranking second in the GNAC in rebounding. She is the lone Clan player on the preseason all-conference team and will need to help lead Simon Fraser after the loss of GNAC Player of the Year Erin Chambers.

Central Washington’s Edwards and Parker lead the fourth ranked team in the preseason coaches poll. Edwards is one of two underclassman on the list and was selected as the GNAC Freshman of the Year last season. She was second on the team with 12.2 points per game and led the Wildcats with 121 assists and 39 steals. Parker averaged 10.1 points per game as a sophomore and led the team with 7.7 rebounds per game and 45 blocks. She was third in the conference in rebounds and fourth in blocks.

Simmons led the GNAC in steals per game (3.6), was fifth in assists per game (4.0) and eighth in scoring (13.7 ppg) for Northwest Nazarene. She also shot .460 from the field and averaged 4.4 rebounds. Simmons is joined by sophomore guard Ellie Logan on the preseason all-conference team. As a freshman, Logan was second on the team in points (13.3) and had a .829 free throw percentage.

Breen and Olson lead Montana State Billings into 2014-15 as preseason all-conference selections. As a sophomore, Breen was second on the team with 15.5 points per game and led the Yellowjackets with 7.6 rebounds per game. She shot .442 from the field and .834 from the charity stripe. Olson returns for MSUB after missing last season with a torn ACL. As a junior, Olson was the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, leading the conference in rebounds per game (9.7).

Jordan Wilson led Alaska last season with 15.6 points per game, ranking sixth in the GNAC. She was also eighth in the league in shooting percentage (.502) and averaged 5.6 rebounds per game. Saint Martin’s Stabler is a unanimous selection heading into her senior season. An Honorable Mention All-GNAC selection last season, the guard led the Saints with 12.1 points per game, shooting .385 from the field and .802 from the free throw line. Western Oregon junior guard Jordan Mottershaw rounds out the 15 preseason all-conference selections. Mottershaw was second with the Wolves in scoring (12.0 ppg). She shot .361 from the field and .815 from the charity stripe.

The women’s basketball season begins on Oct. 25 with an exhibition match between Western Washington and Quest. Alaska Anchorage will play three games at the CCA Division II Top-Off Classic in Anaheim, Calif., starting on Oct. 31. Conference play will begin on Tues., Dec. 1 with Central Washington hosting Northwest Nazarene.