Monday, January 8, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – Solid scoring performances by top performers on two of the conference’s most improved teams are this week’s GNAC Basketball Players of the Week.

Simon Fraser senior guard Kedar Salam was selected as the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he averaged 33.5 points and six rebounds in a pair of home contests. Salam went off for 40 points in Thursday’s 91-78 win over Central Washington, becoming just the third player in SFU’s NCAA era to score 40 or more points. He connected on 11 of 19 from the field, 6 of 9 from three-point range and was a perfect 12 of 12 from the free throw line. In Saturday’s 82-81 loss to Northwest Nazarene, Salam again led SFU with 27 points on 11 of 22 from the field to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

Salam finished the week shooting 53.7 percent from the field. After entering the week shooting just 59 percent from the free throw line, Salam proceeded to go 15 of 15 in the two games. He is the first SFU men’s basketball player honored since Sango Niang on Jan. 19, 2015 as the Clan improved to 8-6 overall, 2-4 GNAC.

Concordia senior guard Danielle Hartzog gave the Cavaliers their second straight Women’s Basketball Player of the Week selection after she averaged 25 points, 7.5 rebounds, three assists and 3.5 steals in two home wins. She scored 16 points and added six rebounds in the Cavaliers’ 71-60 win over Western Washington. In Saturday’s 79-69 victory over Simon Fraser, Hartzog scored a career-high 34 points as she made 15 of 28 from the field. The 15 field goals made ties for third most in a game in GNAC history while her 28 attempts ties for sixth most. In addition to the scoring, Hartzog finished with nine rebounds, four assists, five steals and a block.

Hartzog helped Concordia improve to 10-4 overall. The Cavaliers are keeping pace in the GNAC standings and stand tied for third with Seattle Pacific and Montana State Billings at 4-2.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 19
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Kedar Salam (Simon Fraser, G, 6-3, Sr., Toronto, Ont. – Univ. of British Columbia): Salam had a breakout week for the Clan as he averaged 33.5 points in two games last week. Salam finished with 40 points in Thursday’s 91-78 win over Central Washington, connecting on 11 of 19 from the field, 6 of 9 from three-point range and 12 of 12 from the free throw line to go with six rebounds. In Saturday’s 82-81 last-second loss to Northwest Nazarene, Salam led SFU with 27 points on 11 of 22 from the field to go along with six rebounds and five assists. Salam finished the week shooting 53.7 percent from the field and went a perfect 15 of 15 from the free throw line. He averaged 59.7 percent from the stripe entering the week. Also Nominated: Christopher Edward (Concordia), Zack Rollins (Montana State Billings), Luke Chavez (Saint Martin’s), Coleman Wooten (Seattle Pacific), Malik Morgan (Western Oregon), Daulton Hommes (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Danielle Hartzog (Concordia, G, 5-9, Sr., Beaverton, Ore. – Colorado Mesa Univ.): Hartzog averaged 25 points, 7.5 rebounds, three assists and 3.5 steals per game as the Cavaliers scored home wins over Western Washington and Simon Fraser. In Thursday’s 71-60 win over the Vikings, Hartzog finished with 16 points and six rebounds and shot 6 of 8 from the free throw line. In Saturday’s 79-69 win over the Clan, Hartzog led all scorers with a career-high 34 points, going 15 of 28 from the field in an effort where she tied for the third most field goals made in a game in GNAC history and tied for the sixth most attempts. She also finished with nine rebounds, four assists, five steals and a block. Also Nominated: Alisha Breen (Montana State Billings), Colette Gall (Northwest Nazarene), Makenna Schultz (Saint Martin’s), Nicole Vander Helm (Simon Fraser), Kennedy Corrigan (Western Oregon), Nikki Corbett (Western Washington).