Tuesday, January 13, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Four GNAC teams are ranked in the Division II Sports Information Directors of America West Region Top 10 released Monday.

Alaska Anchorage and Seattle Pacific held the top two spots for the fourth week in a row while Alaska and Western Washington re-enter the Top 10.

Even though this is the first time since Dec. 1 that more than three teams are ranked in the poll, the GNAC has held the West Regions top spot for eight weeks.

The Seawolves took over the No. 1 slot after holding it for nearly the entire month of December. The Falcons, who spent three weeks as the West Regions top team, fell to second. Both UAA and SPU have only lost once this season.

Alaska, which is on a six-game win streak since dropping its first two conference games, re-enters the poll at No. 9 after a six week hiatus.

The Nanooks have 12 wins for the first time since the 2007-08 season and are on pace to have their best season in their GNAC history.

Western Washington, which has outscored its opponents by an average of 21.4 points in the last five games, snags the 10th spot in the poll.

Simon Fraser fell out of the West Region poll for the first time this season, but is in the “receiving votes” category.

With 44 points scored last week, Simon Fraser’s Erin Chambers takes over as the nation’s leading scorer.

Putting up 23.8 points per game, the senior forward has recorded 309 points so far, a feat only 11 other players have accomplished this year.

With at least 13 games left to play, the SFU senior is on pace to shatter the GNAC’s all-time scoring record set last season by MSUB’s Bobbi Knudsen. She also has a chance to be the first women’s, and fifth overall, GNAC basketball player to record 2,000 points in a career.

Chambers currently ranks in the top 10 in the conference in scoring, assists, free throw percentage and three-pointers made.

Notes:

• Simon Fraser head coach Bruce Langford has a chance this week to become the Clan’s all-time wins leader. With 363 victories, Langford needs two wins to surpass his predecessor, Allison McNeill. The Clan host Saint Martin’s and Western Oregon this week.

• Three teams in the GNAC have only recorded one loss at home this season – Alaska Anchorage, Seattle Pacific and Central Washington. The Seawolves and the Falcons are also both undefeated in road games.

• Central Washington snapped a four game losing streak against Simon Fraser Saturday and only allowed 54 points to the Clan. The Wildcats have allowed less than 54 points in six of their eight wins.

• With six steals in two games last week, Northwest Nazarene's Taylor Simmons reached the 200-steal mark. She also moved into the top 10 in the GNAC in career steals.
   
• Alaska’s Benissa Bulaya and Western Washington’s Taylor Peacocke were selected as Co-Players of the Week.