Monday, January 23, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – A banner week for the Western Washington men’s and women’s basketball teams helped lead two Vikings to a sweep of the GNAC’s basketball Player of the Week honors.

Vikings’ guard Taylor Peacocke was named the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after a week in which she scored 68 points in wins over Simon Fraser and Montana State Billings. Peacocke went off for 41 points in the Tuesday win at Simon Fraser, which is the second-most points in a single game in WWU history and tied for third best in GNAC history. She shot 13 of 19 from the field, 5 of 8 from three-point range and 10 of 10 from the free throw line. Peacocke went on to score 27 points in Saturday’s 63-59 win over Montana State Billings. In the game, Peacocke converted a four-point play with 1:28 left that gave WWU the lead and went on to score the final eight points of the game.

On the men’s side, forward Jeffrey Parker netted the Player of the Week after he scored 59 points, shot 60.6 percent from the field and 68.6 percent from three-point range in a pair of wins that improved the Vikings’ record to 9-1 in conference play (15-3 overall). He scored 32 points on 11 of 18 from the field in Thursday’s 102-74 win over Northwest Nazarene and then added 27 points on 9 of 15 from the field and 5 of 9 from three-point range in Saturday’s 100-89 win over Central Washington.

Concordia’s McKenzie Warren once again led the list of four track weekly honorees, three of which set school records. Warren was named the Women’s Field Athlete of the Week for the second straight week after she finished two centimeters short of the all-time Division II record in the shot put. She won the event at the Bronco Invitational with a mark of 57 feet, 7 inches, which is also a Concordia and GNAC record. She won the event, in a field dominated by Division I competition, by eight feet. Warren went on to place third in the weight throw with a mark of 54 feet, 1 inch.

Northwest Nazarene’s Cole Hoberg collected the Men’s Field Athlete of the Week award after he set a school record in the high jump at the Bronco Invitational with a mark of 6 feet, 9.75 inches. The performance is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier, is second best in the GNAC, is tied for seventh in Division II this season and is tied for the fourth best mark in GNAC history.

Montana State Billings sprinter Sam Zook collected Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors after he set a Yellowjackets’ record in the 60 meters for the second straight week. Zook placed sixth in the event at the Air Force Invitational with a time of 6.90 seconds. The performance is No. 8 on the GNAC All-Time List and is second best in the league this season.

Central Washington’s Ali Anderson rounds out this week’s honorees. She was named Women’s Track Athelte of the Week after she ran a GNAC best and a NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark in the 800 meters at the WSU Open. Her time of 2:15.99 placed second in the race’s third section and ranks as the 12th best time in Division II this season. Anderson, a multi-event specialist, also tied for second in her flight of the long jump with a mark of 17 feet, 4.5 inches.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 21
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Jeffrey Parker (Western Washington, F, 6-6, Sr., Richmond, Calif. - Salesian): Parker scored 59 points, shot 60.6 percent from the field and 68.6 percent from three-point range to lead the Vikings to two wins to improve to 9-1 in GNAC play. He scored 32 points on 11 of 18 from the field in the Vikings’ 102-74 win over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday. He then added 27 points on 9 of 15 from the field and 5 of 9 from three-point range in WWU’s 100-89 win over Central Washington. Also Nominated: Demetrius Trammell (Western Oregon), Sekou “Suki” Wiggs (Alaska Anchorage), Bouna N’Diaye (Northwest Nazarene), Brandon Kenilvort (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Taylor Peacocke (Western Washington, G, 5-9, Sr., Kenmore, Wash. – Sacramento State Univ.): Peacocke exploded for 68 points in two wins for the Vikings. She scored a career-high 41 points in Tuesday’s 84-72 win at Simon Fraser, the second most single game points in WWU history and tied for the third best in GNAC history. She went 13 of 19 from the field, 5 of 8 from three-point range and 10 of 10 from the free throw line. Peacocke went on to score 27 points in Saturday’s 63-59 win over Montana State Billings. She converted a four-point play with 1:28 left to give WWU the lead and proceeded to score the final eight points of the game. Also Nominated: Sydney Azorr (Western Oregon), Autummn Williams (Alaska Anchorage), Kailee Skjold (Alaska), Ellie Logan (Northwest Nazarene), Bailey Cartwright (Concordia).

MEN’S TRACK
Sam Zook (Montana State Billings, Jr., Casper, Wyo. – Kelly Walsh): For the second week in a row, Zook broke his own school record in the 60 meters, placing sixth in the event at the Air Force Invitational in a time of 6.90 seconds. The time is second best in the GNAC this season and No. 8 in GNAC history. Also Nominated: Logan Blake (Northwest Nazarene).

MEN’S FIELD
Cole Hoberg (Northwest Nazarene, Sr., Prairie City, Ore. – Prairie City): Hoberg was one of two GNAC athletes this week to set a school record in the men’s high jump. Hoberg won the high jump at the Bronco Invitational with a clearance of 6 feet, 9.75 inches. In addition to the school record, Hoberg claimed a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and tied for the fourth best mark in GNAC history. Hoberg’s performance ties him for seventh in the GNAC this season. Also Nominated: Chuck Carr (Montana State Billings), Jared Webster (Northwest Nazarene), James Phillips (Concordia).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Ali Anderson (Central Washington, Jr., Camano Island, Wash. – Stanwood): Anderson ran the fastest time in the GNAC this season in the 800 meters, placing second in the third section at the WSU Open in a time of 2:15.99. The performance is a NCAA Championships provisional qualifier and is the 12th best in Division II this season. Anderson, a multi-event specialist, also tied for second in her flight of the long jump with a mark of 17 feet, 4.5 inches. Also Nominated: Lexi Tubbs (Northwest Nazarene).

WOMEN’S FIELD
McKenzie Warren (Concordia, Sr., Boring, Ore. – Mt. Hood CC): Warren finished just two centimeters short of the NCAA Division II record in the shot put, winning the event at the Bronco Invitational with a mark of 57 feet, 7 inches. The performance is also a GNAC record. Warren won the event, which was dominated by Division I competition, by eight feet. Warren also placed third in the weight throw with a mark of 54 feet, 1 inches. Also Nominated: Michaela Johnson (Montana State Billings), Kawena Warren (Northwest Nazarene).