Thursday, December 20, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of career-best performances for Montana State Billings freshman forward Taryn Shelley and Saint Martin’s senior guard EJ Boyce have earned the duo selection as GNAC Players of the Week.

Shelley, a freshman transfer from Washington State, finished just short of two double-doubles to lead the Yellowjackets to a split at the Daytona Beach Shootout in Florida. She opened the tournament with a double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds in Tuesday’s 48-47 win over Maryville. In the contest, Shelley finished shooting 8 of 12 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free throw line. On Wednesday, Shelley scored eight points to go with nine rebounds and four blocks in an 89-66 loss to Angelo State.

Shelley enters the holiday break averaging 7.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and has helped lead the Yellowjackets to a 4-4 record. Montana State Billings on Thurs., Jan. 3, hosting Saint Martin’s.

Boyce was selected as the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he led the Saints to a 76-59 home win over Dixie State on Tuesday. He finished the night with 28 points, connecting on 10 of 16 from the field while tying his career high with eight three-pointers. He also had three rebounds as the Saints improved to 9-1 on the season.

Boyce leads the Saints in scoring with 12.2 points per game and is shooting 42 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three-point range. The Saints, picked to win the GNAC in the Preseason Coaches Poll, returns to action on Thurs., Jan. 3, at Simon Fraser.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 18
MEN’S BASKETBALL
EJ Boyce (Saint Martin’s, G, 6-2, Sr., Boise, Idaho – San Jose State Univ.): Boyce scored 28 points in 31 minutes of action to lead the Saints to a 76-59 win over Saint Martin’s on Tuesday. He connected on 10 of 16 from the field and an impressive 8 of 14 from three-point range. The eight treys tied a career high for the senior. Boyce also had three rebounds in the victory. Also Nominated: Malcolm Cola (Central Washington), Jarrett Gray (Concordia), Zack Rollins (Montana State Billings), Othniel Spence (Simon Fraser), Trevor Jaskinsky (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Taryn Shelley (Montana State Billings, F, 6-3, Fr., Shoreline, Wash. – Washington State Univ.): Shelley finished with one double-double and just missed a second to help lead the Yellowjackets to a split at the Daytona Beach Shootout. She had her double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds in the team’s 48-47 win over Maryville on Tuesday. She finished shooting 8 of 12 from the field and also had a block and a steal. Shelley then finished with eight points and nine rebounds in MSUB’s 89-66 loss to Angelo State on Wednesday. Also Nominated: Sala Langi (Alaska Anchorage), Kaelie Flores (Central Washington), Abby Zhang (Concordia), Claire Dingus (Saint Martin’s), Jessica Jones (Simon Fraser), Ali Nelke (Western Oregon), Kelsey Rogers (Western Washington).