Wednesday, January 29, 2020

OFFICIATING APPRECIATION WEEK: The game can’t be played without the men and women in stripes. The GNAC and its 11 schools will take time out to recognize those who keep order on the courts.

The GNAC’s winter Officiating Appreciation Week will take place from January 27 to February 2, with Saint Martin’s, Seattle Pacific and Western Oregon honoring officials the following week at those schools’ home games.

The Officiating Appreciation Week is part of a nationwide effort by NCAA Division II schools and conferences, the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) and the Division 2 Athletic Directors Association (D2ADA) The effort is designed to not only recognize officials for what they do in all sports but also to encourage student-athletes to consider officiating following their competitive careers.

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jeanann Lemelin
Montana State Billings
G • 5-6 • Sr. • Billings, Mont.

Lemelin led the Yellowjackets to a home split last week with 48 points, shooting 60.7 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from three-point range. Lemelin set an MSUB record with eight three-pointers made in Saturday’s 72-64 win over Saint Martin’s. She scored 30 points in the win to go with four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Lemelin opened the week with 18 points in Thursday’s 69-63 loss to Seattle Pacific.

Also Nominated: Taylor Shaw (Central Washington), Dorcas Wu (Concordia), Erin Jenkins (Northwest Nazarene), Tierney DeDonatis (Saint Martin’s), Ozioma Nwabuko (Simon Fraser), Cali McClave (Western Oregon), Emma Duff (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska lost 93-61 at Simon Fraser on Thursday and 88-47 at Western Washington on Saturday.

• Jocelyn Gandara led the Nanooks with 30 points and eight rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field in the two games. Her week was highlighted by 26 points in Saturday’s loss at WWU as she connected on 12 of 20 from the field. Gandara leads the GNAC in scoring with 18.1 points per game.

• Sam Tolliver finished the week with totals of 25 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Tolliver’s top performance came in Burnaby as she scored 22 points on 6 of 16 from the field, 5 of 9 from three-point range and 5 of 8 from the free throw line. She also had two rebounds and two assists in the game. Tolliver is fourth in the conference with 14.7 points per game and second with 2.5 three-pointers made per game.

• The Nanooks will open the second half of conference play at home, hosting Seattle Pacific on Thursday and Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage saw its 13-game win streak snapped with a 71-64 loss at Western Washington on Thursday but quickly bounced back to top Simon Fraser on Saturday, 87-66.

• Rachel Ingram led the Seawolves in scoring against the Vikings with 14 points to go with two rebounds. Ingram also scored nine points against the Clan. She shot 50 percent from the field and 53.8 percent from three-point range in the two games.

• Tennae Voliva led the Seawolves with 29 points and 15 rebounds in the two games. Voliva scored 10 points and added five rebounds against the Vikings before registering a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds while making 7 of 8 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free throw line against the Clan.

• The Seawolves lead the GNAC and rank second in Division II with 284 steals while also ranking seventh with a 23.1 scoring margin.

• Alaska Anchorage enters this week ranked No. 9 in the latest WBCA National Rankings and No. 10 in the latest D2SIDA poll. The Seawolves fell one spot to No. 2 in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings.

• Alaska Anchorage is now 19-2 overall and 9-1 in conference play. The first-place Seawolves will open the second half of GNAC play at home, hosting Saint Martin’s on Thursday and Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington went 2-0 in Oregon last week, beating Concordia 75-54 on Thursday and Western Oregon 70-50 on Saturday.

• Kaelie Flores finished the week with totals of 27 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and an assist. She scored 12 points and added six rebounds at Concordia then scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field at Western Oregon.

• Taylor Shaw scored in double digits in both games with 16 points against the Cavaliers and 10 points against the Wolves. She also finished with totals of four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. Shaw connected on 56.3 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from outside.

• The Wildcats already played a game this week, losing at Northwest Nazarene on Tuesday, 72-63.

• The Wildcats are among others receiving votes in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings.

• Central Washington is now 11-8 overall (6-5 GNAC). Up next, the Wildcats will return home to host Montana State Billings on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia went 0-2 last week with a 75-54 loss to Central Washington on Thursday and a 79-70 loss to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Abby Aplaca finished the week with totals of 31 points, five rebounds, four steals and an assist, shooting 45.8 percent from the field. Aplaca opened the week with 16 points against the Wildcats then finished the week with 15 points, seven assists and three rebounds against the Nighthawks.

• Dorcas Wu totaled 31 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steals in the two games. Wu scored 11 points and grabbed six boards against CWU before leading all scorers with 20 points to go with six rebounds against NNU. Wu is averaging 8.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and ranks fifth in the GNAC with 1.1 blocked shots per game.

• Tamika Etherly shot 45.5 percent from the field to score 27 points on the week, topped by her 17 points against CWU.

• The Cavs will open the second half of GNAC play on the road, playing at Western Washington on Thursday and at Simon Fraser on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings split at home last week with a 69-63 loss to Seattle Pacific on Thursday and a 72-64 victory over Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• Jeanann Lemelin was named the GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after she led the Yellowjackets with 48 points, shooting 60.7 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from three-point range. Lemelin set an MSUB record with eight three-pointers made in Saturday’s win over the Saints. She scored 30 points in the win to go with four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Lemelin opened the week with 18 points in Thursday’s loss to Seattle Pacific

• Taryn Shelley finished the week with totals of 24 points, 17 rebounds, a steal and a block. She registered her seventh double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds against the Falcons then closed the week with seven points and seven rebounds against the Saints. Shelley is 15th in the GNAC with 12.2 points per game and fourth with 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

• Shayla Montague scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals on the week. Her week was highlighted by a 17-point, six-rebound performance against the Saints.

• The Yellowjackets sit right in the middle of the pack in sixth place with a 5-5 conference mark (10-9 overall). The Yellowjackets will open the second half of conference play on the road, playing at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and at Central Washington on Saturday.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene went 2-0 on its Oregon road trip, taking a 63-53 win at Western Oregon on Thursday and a 79-70 win at Concordia on Saturday.

• Erin Jenkins led the offensive charge with 41 points in the two games to go with 11 rebounds, two steals and an assist while making 66.7 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from three-point range. Jenkins dropped a career-high 29 points and added six rebounds at Western Oregon, connecting on 10 of 14 from the field, 3 of 5 from beyond the arc and 6 of 8 from the free throw line. She finished the week with 12 points and five rebounds at Concordia.

• Marina Valles averaged 15 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals in the two games while shooting 42.3 percent from the field. Valles scored 14 points against the Wolves then followed with 16 points against the Cavs. Valles leads the GNAC and ranks fourth in Division II with 3.61 steals per game and fifth with 65 total steals.

• The Nighthawks already played a game this week, dropping Central Washington on Tuesday, 72-63.

• The Nighthawks are ranked No. 7 in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings, one spot up from last week.

• Northwest Nazarene is now 14-5 overall and sits in second place with a 9-2 conference mark. Up next, the Nighthawks will continue their homestand as they host Montana State Billings on Thursday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s split last week, winning 63-62 at Seattle Pacific on Tuesday before losing to Montana State Billings on Saturday, 72-64.

• Tierney DeDonatis averaged 22 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game last week while connecting on 53.6 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and 85.7 percent from the free throw line. DeDonatis went off for 26 points, four rebounds and four assists at SPU then followed with 18 points, five assists and three rebounds at MSUB.

• Bria Thames continues to be a double-double machine this season as she finished the week with totals of 33 points, 27 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Thames registered 20 points and 15 rebounds at SPU then followed with 13 points and 12 rebounds at MSUB. She has put up a double-double in four straight games and ranks 18th in Division II with nine double-doubles while also ranking 11th with 204 rebounds.

• Claire Dingus scored in double-digits in both games, making 45.8 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the free throw line. She also added 20 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block on the week. Dingus’ week was highlighted by a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds in Billings. She leads the GNAC and ranks fourth in Division II with five offensive rebounds per game.

• Saint Martin’s is 9-8 overall (4-6 GNAC) on the season. Up next, the Saints will head to Alaska to play in Anchorage on Thursday and in Fairbanks on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific went 1-1 last week, losing a tough 63-62 game to Saint Martin’s on Tuesday before edging out Montana State Billings on Thursday, 69-63.

• Ashlynn Burgess led the Falcons with 36 points to go with 12 rebounds, two assists and a block in the two games. She opened the week with 25 points and four rebounds against the Saints, connecting on 12 of 15 from the field. She followed with 11 points and eight rebounds against the Yellowjackets. Burgess is second in the GNAC and ranks 26th in Division II with a .582 field goal percentage.

• Hailee Bennett finished the week with totals of 28 points, nine assists and five rebounds as she shot 52.6 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from three-point range. Bennett scored 10 points and added six assists at SMU then finished the week with 18 points at MSUB. She leads the conference and ranks 10th in Division II with a .909 free throw percentage.

• The Falcons will stay on the road, playing at Alaska on Thursday and at Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser split at home last week with a 93-61 win over Alaska on Thursday and an 87-66 loss to Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Ozi Nwabuko led the Clan with 32 points and 15 rebounds while adding three steals, an assist and a block in the two games. Nwabuko opened the week with 18 points and seven rebounds against the Clan then followed with 14 points and eight rebounds against the Seawolves. On the week, Nwabuko connected on 72.2 percent from the field.

• Claudia Hart averaged 15.5 points, six rebounds and 2.5 assists in the two games, shooting 57.9 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from three-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line. Hart scored 15 points and added six rebounds and three assists against the Nanooks then closed the week with 16 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists against the Seawolves.

• Jessica Jones totaled 19 points in the two games, led by her 16-point performance against the Nanooks. Jones leads the GNAC and ranks 25th in Division II with 2.94 three-pointers per game.

• Simon Fraser is now 12-8 overall and sits in a tie for third place with Western Washington with a 7-3 conference mark. The Clan will continue its four-game homestand as it hosts Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon lost 63-53 to Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and 70-50 to Central Washington on Saturday in Monmouth.

• Shariah Green averaged 12 points and six rebounds in the two games, making 39.1 percent from the field. Green scored 12 points and added seven rebounds against NNU then followed with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists against CWU. Green ranks tied for 23rd in the GNAC with 10.8 points per game, 20th with 4.9 rebounds per game and 18th with a .451 field goal percentage.

• Cali McClave finished the week with 19 points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal. Her week was highlighted by her 14 points against the Nighthawks as she shot 5 of 8 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free throw line.

• Keyonna Jones scored 19 points in the two games, led by her 12 points against the Wildcats as she connected on 5 of 7 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free throw line.

• The Wolves open the second half of GNAC play on the road, playing at Simon Fraser on Thursday and at Western Washington on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington was named the GNAC Team of the Week after completing a sweep at home over the Alaska schools. The Vikings upset the first-place and nationally-ranked Seawolves on Thursday, 71-64, then finished an 88-47 rout of the Nanooks on Saturday.

• Emma Duff led the Vikings with 28 points to go with 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in the two games as she connected on 57.9 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range. Duff opened the week with a game-high 20 points on 8 of 11 shooting from the field and 3 of 5 shooting from outside against the Seawolves. She followed with eight points and seven rebounds against the Nanooks.

• Lexie Bland scored in double digits in both games, opening the week with 10 points, eight assists and two steals against the Seawolves. She closed the week with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal against the Nanooks. Bland made 53.3 percent from the field and 60 percent from beyond the arc on the week.

• Anna Schwecke finished the week with totals of 20 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Her week was highlighted by her 18-point, seven-rebound performance against the Nanooks as she connected on 7 of 8 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free throw line. Schwecke eclipsed the 1,000-point milestone for her collegiate career in the win. She leads the GNAC and ranks sixth in Division II with a .618 field goal percentage.

• The Vikings moved up one spot to No. 6 in the latest D2SIDA West Region Rankings.

• Western Washington improved to 13-5 overall and sits in a tie with Simon Fraser for third place in the GNAC standings with a 7-3 conference mark. Up next, the Vikings will continue their homestand as they host Concordia on Thursday and Western Oregon on Saturday.