Monday, December 5, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of undefeated runs over the first two games of the conference season have earned Western Washington guard Taylor Stafford and Alaska Anchorage forward Autummn Williams selections as the GNAC Players of the Week.

Stafford averaged 29 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 3.5 steals over the two games as the Vikings scored road victories over Saint Martin’s and Seattle Pacific and improved their overall record to 7-0. Against the Saints on Thursday, Stafford poured in 30 points on 10 of 19 from the field to go along with eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals to lead WWU to the 91-78 victory. The Vikings needed every one of his 28 points in a hard-fought 96-91 overtime victory over the Falcons on Saturday. Stafford’s scoring went along with nine rebounds, eight assists and a steal.

Stafford enters the week ranked fourth in the GNAC in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game, and is ninth in the league in rebounding at seven rebounds per game. The senior is also second in the GNAC in assists (six per game) and steals (2.3 per game) and eighth in free throw shooting (.861).

Williams provided the scoring force for Alaska Anchorage as the Seawolves opened GNAC play with key early-season wins over Simon Fraser and Western Washington. The senior scored 15 points in Wednesday’s 75-59 win over the Clan, connecting on 7 of 10 from the field to go along with three steals and three assists. Three days later, Williams led the Seawolves with 21 points and six rebounds, connecting on 10 of 18 from the field in a 80-69 win over the Vikings.

Williams enters the week ranked fifth in the GNAC in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game. She also ranks third in the league with an average of 2.7 steals per game and seventh with an average of 4.5 assists per game.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 14
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Taylor Stafford (Western Washington, G, 6-1, Sr., Chicago, Ill. – Univ. of Evansville): Stafford averaged 29 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game as the Vikings improved to 7-0 on the season and opened conference play with two road wins. He scored 30 points on 10 of 19 from the field to go along with eight rebounds, seven assists and six steals in Thursday’s 91-78 win at Saint Martin’s. He then added 28 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and a steal in the Vikings’ 96-91 overtime win at Seattle Pacific on Saturday. Also Nominated: Bryan Berg (Western Oregon), Christopher Edward (Concordia), Kaileb Rodriguez (Northwest Nazarene), Dom Hunter (Central Washington), Suki Wiggs (Alaska Anchorage), Tyler Copp (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Autummn Williams (Alaska Anchorage, F, 5-10, Sr., Rochester, N.Y. – Univ. of Little Rock): In two big home wins to kick off the GNAC schedule, Williams scored 36 points while shooting 61 percent from the field (17 of 28) while averaging four rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. She scored 15 points on 7 of 10 from the field to go along with three steals and three assists in Wednesday’s 75-59 win over Simon Fraser on Wednesday. She then led the Seawolves with 21 points and six rebounds in Saturday’s 80-69 win over the Vikings. Also Nominated: Shelby Snook (Western Oregon), Danielle Hartzog (Concordia), Kate Cryderman (Northwest Nazarene), Tiana Hanson (Montana State Billings), Taylor Peacocke (Western Washington), Jordan McPhee (Seattle Pacific).