Wednesday, January 8, 2020
THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bria Thames
Saint Martin’s
F • 6-0 • Sr. • Beaverton, Ore.
Thames averaged a double-double of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games as the Saints went 1-1 last week. She led the Saints with 39 points and 21 rebounds, shooting 71.4 percent from the field. Thames connected for 22 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three assists in Thursday’s 96-62 win over Alaska. She then finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in Saturday’s 73-63 loss to Alaska Anchorage.
Also Nominated: Safiyyah Yasin (Alaska Anchorage), Jeanann Lemelin (Montana State Billings), Marina Valles (Northwest Nazarene), Jessica Jones (Simon Fraser), Tresai McCarver (Western Oregon), Anna Schwecke (Western Washington).
AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska went 0-2 last week, losing at Saint Martin’s, 96-62, on Thursday and at Seattle Pacific, 83-70, on Saturday.
• Jocelyn Gandara averaged 19.5 points and seven rebounds in the two games. She scored 18 points and added five rebounds and two steals against the Saints then just missed a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds to go with two assists and two blocks against the Falcons.
• Sam Tolliver scored 18 points on 7 of 17 from the field and 4 of 7 from three-point range against the Saints then tacked on 21 points against the Falcons, shooting 7 of 16 from the field and 3 of 5 from outside.
• Sabrina Ungaro dropped 13 points against SMU then scored 20 points against SPU. She shot 55 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from outside and a perfect 5 of 5 from the free throw line in the two games.
• The Nanooks return home this week, hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.
ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage opened the new year with a 78-47 victory at Seattle Pacific on Thursday and a 73-63 win at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.
• Safiyyah Yasin led the Seawolves in scoring in both games. She recorded 16 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal against the Falcons, shooting 4 of 8 from the field, 3 of 4 from three-point range and 5 of 6 from the free throw line. Yasin followed that with 18 points, 6 rebounds, two assists and two steals against the Saints. Yasin ranks sixth in the GNAC with 14.4 points per game.
• Yazmeen Goo totaled 22 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals on the week. Goo is third in the GNAC with a .557 field goal percentage, fourth with 4.21 assists per game and fifth with 1.93 steals per game.
• Tennae Voliva locked things down on defense as she registered 12 points, 17 rebounds, five steals, four blocks and an assist. She leads the conference and ranks 22nd in Division II with 130 rebounds.
• The Seawolves are ranked No. 7 in both the latest WBCA and D2SIDA national rankings. They also made the jump to No. 1 in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings.
• The Seawolves will look to add to their nine-game winning streak at home, hosting Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.
CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington lost its only game of the week, dropping an upsetting 63-45 game at Montana State Billings on Thursday.
• The Wildcats struggled to connect, shooting just 33.3 percent from the field and scoring fewer than 10 points in both the first and third quarters.
• Kassidy Malcolm led the Wildcats in scoring with 12 points to go with six rebounds, an assist and a steal. Malcolm connected on 4 of 8 from the field, 2 of 3 from three-point range and 2 of 2 from the free throw line.
• Alexis Pana also scored in double digits with 10 points while adding four rebounds. Pana shot 50 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from outside. She leads the GNAC and ranks 26th in Division II with 5.1 assists per game.
• The Wildcats are one of three GNAC teams among others receiving votes in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings.
• Central Washington fell to 7-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The Wildcats will look to bounce back in Alaska as they take on the Seawolves on Thursday and the Nanooks on Saturday.
CONCORDIA
• Concordia lost at home to Simon Fraser, 56-45, on Thursday and Western Washington, 88-41, on Saturday.
• Olivia Vezaldenos led the Cavaliers in scoring against the Clan, scoring 14 points and adding nine rebounds, two steals and an assist on 6 of 17 shooting from the field.
• Riley Friauf registered 11 points, six rebounds and two blocks against the Clan then led the Cavs’ starters with eight points and five rebounds against the Vikings. Friauf ranks 14th in the conference with 5.8 rebounds per game.
• Mya Brazile led the Cavs against the Vikings with 13 points, four rebounds and two assists off the bench. Brazile also contributed five points, three rebounds and two assists off the bench against the Clan.
• The Cavs already played a game this week, topping in-state rival Western Oregon, 54-43, at home on Tuesday.
• The Cavs are now 3-10 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Up next, the Cavs will stay home to host Montana State Billings on Thursday.
MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings split last week’s games, defending its home court with a 63-45 victory over Central Washington on Thursday before bowing out to Northwest Nazarene, 80-48, on Saturday.
• A full team effort led to Thursday’s win over CWU. The Yellowjackets limited the Wildcats to just 33.3 percent shooting from the field and forced 19 turnovers for 18 points.
• Hannah Collins led the MSUB starters against CWU with 15 points, shooting 6 of 14 from the field and 3 of 6 from three-point range, while adding four rebounds, three assists and a steal.
• Shayla Montague came off the bench against CWU to contribute 16 points, four rebounds and two blocks, connecting on 6 of 9 from the field and 4 of 7 from outside.
• Jeanann Lemelin totaled 21 points, seven assists, seven steals and four rebounds on the week, connecting on 3 of 8 in both games. Lemelin led the Yellowjackets with 12 points against the Nighthawks to go with four steals, three assists and a rebound.
• The Yellowjackets were among others receiving votes in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings.
• The Yellowjackets will continue conference play in Oregon, playing at Concordia on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.
NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene topped Montana State Billings, 80-48, on Saturday to hand the Yellowjackets their first home loss of the season.
• The Nighthawks limited the Yellowjackets to 25.9 percent shooting from the field and scored 29 points off 25 turnovers en route to the 32-point victory.
• Marina Valles led all scorers with 21 points, shooting a perfect 8 of 8 from the field, 3 of 3 from three-point range and 2 of 2 from the free throw line. Valles also recorded six rebounds, three assists and a steal. She is fifth in the GNAC with 14.6 points per game and ranks fourth in Division II with 46 steals and 3.83 steals per game.
• Avery Albrecht scored 14 points and added four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. She ranks third in the conference with 16.3 points per game and 10th with a .504 field goal percentage.
• The Nighthawks lead the conference in scoring offense (78.9 points per game), steals (16.33 per game) and turnover margin (+10.17).
• The Nighthawks made the jump to No. 6 in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings.
• Northwest Nazarene is now 9-3 overall and 4-0 in conference play. Up next, the Nighthawks will travel to Alaska to play in Fairbanks on Thursday and Anchorage on Saturday.
SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s split at home last week with a 96-62 rout of Alaska on Thursday and a 73-63 loss to Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.
• Bria Thames was named the GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the week after she averaged a double-double of 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. Thames connected for 22 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three assists against the Nanooks then finished with 17 points and nine rebounds against the Seawolves.
• Tierney DeDonatis led all scorers against the Nanooks with 27 points to go with three assists and a rebound. DeDonatis connected on 9 of 13 from the field, 4 of 7 from three-point range and 5 of 6 from the free throw line.
• Claire Dingus recorded seven points and seven rebounds against the Nanooks then went off for 27 points and nine rebounds against the Seawolves, shooting 7 of 12 from the field, 2 of 2 from outside and 11 of 11 from the free throw line.
• The Saints will hit the road this week, playing at Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday.
SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific dropped a 78-47 game to Alaska Anchorage on Thursday before turning things around to top Alaska, 83-70, on Saturday.
• Madi Hingston led the Falcons in scoring against the Seawolves with nine points off the bench to go with four rebounds, two steals and a block.
• Ashlynn Burgess led the Falcons to their first win in conference play as she registered a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds while adding three assists against the Nanooks. Burgess connected on 10 of 13 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free throw line. She ranks 15th in the GNAC in scoring with 12.7 points per game.
• Kayla Brundidge also recorded a double-double off the bench with 10 points and 12 rebounds to go with five blocks, two assists and two steals against Alaska.
• Hailee Bennett scored 23 points on 7 of 11 from the field and 9 of 9 from the free throw line while also tallying four rebounds and three assists against Alaska.
• The Falcons will continue conference play at Simon Fraser on Thursday and Western Washington on Saturday.
SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser went 2-0 in Oregon with a 56-45 victory at Concordia on Thursday and a 64-57 win at Western Oregon on Saturday.
• Jessica Jones averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She opened the week with 13 points, six rebounds and an assist at Concordia then tacked on 22 points and seven rebounds at Western Oregon, shooting 8 of 14 from the field and 4 of 6 from three-point range against the Wolves.
• Ozi Nwabuko finished short of a double-double against the Cavs with 10 points and eight rebounds. She finished the week with 11 points, six rebounds and three steals against the Wolves.
• The Clan is among others receiving votes in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings.
• Simon Fraser is now 8-6 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Up next, the Clan will return home to host Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.
WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon split at home last week with a thrilling 73-70 double-overtime victory over Western Washington on Thursday and a 64-57 loss to Simon Fraser on Saturday.
• Prior to their lead in the second overtime period, the Wolves’ only lead was when the score was 2-0 in the first quarter.
• Tresai McCarver led all scorers against the Vikings with 22 points to go with seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block. McCarver connected on 8 of 23 from the field and 6 of 9 from the free throw line.
• Meadow Aragon just missed a double-double against WWU with 10 points and nine rebounds while adding two steals and two blocks off the bench.
• Amber Winkler registered a double-double in the loss to the Clan with 14 points and 10 rebounds to go with an assist and a block. Winkler connected on 5 of 11 from the field and 3 of 6 from outside.
• Shariah Green led the Wolves in scoring against the Clan with 17 points to go with five rebounds. She shot 8 of 11 from the field.
• The Wolves already played a game this week, losing a 54-43 game at in-state foe Concordia on Tuesday.
• The Wolves will finish the week at home, hosting Montana State Billings on Saturday.
WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington split in Oregon last week, losing a tough 73-70 game in double overtime at Western Oregon on Thursday before handling Concordia, 88-41, on Saturday.
• Anna Schwecke led the Vikings in Monmouth with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds to go with three steals and a block. Schwecke then recorded nine points, four steals and three rebounds in the win over the Cavs.
• Kelsey Rogers scored 15 points off the bench against the Wolves then scored eight against the Cavs, shooting 50 percent from the field in the two games.
• Emma Duff pulled down 10 rebounds at Western Oregon then led the Vikings in scoring with 12 points at Concordia to go with two rebounds and a block. Duff made 5 of 7 from the field and 2 of 3 from outside against the Cavs.
• The Vikings remain idle in the D2SIDA West Region Rankings, entering the week tied for No. 10 with Cal Poly Pomona.
• Western Oregon is now 8-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play. Up next, the Vikings will continue conference play at home, hosting Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.