Tuesday, December 5, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – After leading her team to a 7-0 start with a pair of high-scoring affairs last weekend, Montana State Billings senior forward Alisha Breen has been named by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) as its Division II Women’s National Player of the Week.

Breen recorded just the 15th 60-point weekend in GNAC history, helping the Yellowjackets remain perfect on the year with wins in their first two GNAC games last week. Breen recorded 31 points in a 75-62 win over Western Washington last Thursday and 29 more in a 70-61 victory over Simon Fraser on Saturday.

Thursday’s season-high marked Breen's fifth-career 30-point game. She connected on 11 of 17 shots from the field including a perfect 4 for 4 from beyond the arc while making all five free-throw attempts.

Breen was even more efficient on Saturday, shooting 9 for 12 from the field while connecting on 4 of 5 3-pointers.

In addition to her 60 points, Breen had a dozen rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in 73 minutes of action. She shot 20 of 29 (68.9 percent) from the field, 8 of 9 (88.8 percent) from 3-point range and converted 12 of 13 free throws (92.3 percent). Breen leads the GNAC 21.7 points per game and is shooting 51.4 percent from beyond the arc.

The selection comes in a week where GNAC players swept the USBWA’s Division II awards. Western Washington junior guard Trey Drechsel was named the organization’s Men’s National Player of the Week.

Montana State Billings closes out non-conference action this month with five contests before taking on Seattle Pacific in GNAC action on Dec. 28.