Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Forward Hanna Johansson has been voted the GNAC Women's Basketball Player-of-the-Year leading a clean sweep by Alaska Anchorage of the conference's special awards.

Seawolf guard Haley Holmstead, who finished sixth in the conference in scoring (15.1), was voted the GNAC Newcomer-of-the-Year and UAA's Gritt Ryder, who averaged 5.6 points and 3.5 assists, was voted the GNAC Freshman-of-the-Year.

Meanwhile, Tim Moser was named the GNAC Coach-of-the-Year for the third time. He also won the award in 2007 and 2009. In six seasons at UAA, the 1998 Colorado State-Pueblo grad has a career record of 160-31, including 25-4 this season.

Though Johansson, who ranks 11th in scoring (14.1), fourth in rebounding (9.4) and third in field goal percentage (56.5), was the Player-of-the-Year, she was not a unanimous choice on the all-conference team.

Two players– Simon Fraser forward Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, who leads the GNAC in scoring (18.5) and rebounding (13.3) and ranks second in field goal percentage (56.5), and Montana State Billings guard Bobbi Knudsen, who ranks second in scoring (17.7) and fifth in assists (3.8) – were the only players to earn that distinction.

Raincock-Ekunwe and Johansson, who were repeaters from last year's first team, were joined on the first team by Knudsen, Holmstead and guard Kristin Schramm of Western Washington.

Second team selections included guard Corinn Waltrip of Western Washington, forwards Briaunna King of Northwest Nazarene, Katie Benson of Seattle Pacific and Megan Hingston of Northwest Nazarene and center Nicole Bozek of Alaska Fairbanks.

Eight players were honorable mention selections including three from Central Washington, two from Alaska Anchorage and one each from Seattle Pacific, Simon Fraser and Western Oregon.