Tuesday, March 12, 2019
GNAC Championships MVP
Ellie Logan
Northwest Nazarene
G • 5-9 • Sr. • Fossil, Ore.
Northwest Nazarene senior Ellie Logan earned GNAC Championships MVP honors after averaging 14 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in her team’s victories over Western Washington and Alaska Anchorage. Her week began with a big outing against the Vikings in which she totaled 13 points, shoot 4 of 10 from the field while making 5 of 6 free throws attempts. Logan’s biggest game came one night later against the top-seeded Seawolves, dropping a team-high 15 points while pulling down eight rebounds in the title-clinching victory.
#GNACWBB In 280
#SurviveAndAdvance Northwest Nazarene and Alaska Anchorage have both advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament, which will tip-off with West Regional action on Friday in La Jolla, Calif. The Nighthawks earned a No. 2 seed with the Seawolves following right behind at No. 3.
#ChampionshipsThriller Northwest Nazarene took home the GNAC Championships title last week in Bellingham, outlasting top-seeded Alaska Anchorage for a 70-64 victory in the thrilling final. The Nighthawks advanced to the championship game after defeating host Western Washington in the semifinals.
#WanderseeWanderDo Alaska Anchorage senior Hannah Wandersee was named the GNAC Player of the Year last week in addition to being the only player selected as First Team All-GNAC for a second straight season. Wandersee led the race all season after being voted as the Preseason Player of the Year back in October.
#LaudsForLogan Northwest Nazarene senior Ellie Logan received GNAC Championships MVP honors after averaging 14 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in her team’s victories over Western Washington and Alaska Anchorage.
AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage split its two games last week, earning a runner-up finish at the GNAC Championships. The team blew out Central Washington for a 70-52 victory on Friday afternoon before falling in a thrilling title tilt to No. 2 seed Northwest Nazarene one night later.
• Friday’s 18-point victory marked the team’s 21st consecutive win and came on the heels of their regular-season title clinching victory just six days prior. Senior Hannah Wandersee led the way in the win, scoring a game-high 21 points while pulling down a team-high seven rebounds.
• Wandersee was one of four Seawolves to finish at least one game scoring in double figures on the week. She is the team’s leader in scoring, averaging 14.5 points per game. She is followed closely by fellow senior Sydni Stallworth, who is scoring at a clip of 9.9 points per game.
• Alaska Anchorage was tied for first in the GNAC with most all-conference selections at four. Wandersee (First Team) and senior Tara Thompson (Second Team) headlined UAA’s representation, while guards Stallworth and Yazmeen Goo earned honorable mention nods.
• The Seawolves also led the way in the conference’s superlative categories. Wandersee was named the GNAC Player of the Year after receiving Preseason Player of the Year recognition back in October, while head coach Ryan McCarthy was named the GNAC Coach of the Year. The honor was McCarthy’s fourth of his career.
• The team has hung its hat on its Mayhem defense throughout the 2018-19 campaign. Quick hands and aggressive play has UAA ranked second nationally and first in the GNAC in steals at 15 per game.
• Alaska Anchorage is ranked No. 8 in the latest WBCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 13 in the D2SIDA Poll.
• The team heads to La Jolla, Calif. this week as the No. 3 seed in the NCAA West Region, where it will meet No. 6 Hawaii Pacific in the quarterfinal round on Friday. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. at RIMAC Arena.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• The Nighthawks went to Bellingham last week and promptly played some of their best basketball of the season at the GNAC Championships. The club topped host Western Washington for a five-point victory on Friday afternoon before taking down top-seeded Alaska Anchorage in a 70-64 win in the tournament’s title tilt.
• The victory earned NNU the GNAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Tournament. One night later it was revealed that it will be the No. 2 seed in this week’s NCAA West Regional.
• Senior Ellie Logan shined for Northwest Nazarene in the wins, leading her team with an average of 14 points and 7.5 rebounds per game up in Bellingham. The standout performance earned the guard honors as GNAC Championships MVP.
• The Nighthawks were named the GNAC’s co-Team of the Week after their showing at the GNAC Championships. It was their second such honor of the season.
• Guard Avery Albrecht leads the team with 13.7 points per game as the postseason continues. Logan is following closely behind at a clip of 11.4 points per game.
• The team finished the regular season with three all-conference selections. Albrecht and Logan were named to the GNAC’s First Team, while guard Marina Valles earned Second Team honors.
• The Nighthawks are ranked No. 5 in the latest WBCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 9 in the D2SIDA Poll.
• Northwest Nazarene will tip-off its NCAA West Region run in Friday’s quarterfinal meeting with No. 7 seed Humboldt State. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m in La Jolla, Calif.