Wednesday, February 26, 2020

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Yazmeen Goo
Alaska Anchorage
G • 5-10 • Sr. • Daly City, Calif.

Goo led Alaska Anchorage to two wins to clinch at least a share of the conference title, scoring a career-high of 16 points in both games to go with 12 assists and six steals. She shot 72.7 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from three-point range and 73.7 percent from the free-throw line. She also led the Seawolves’ defense in limiting both Simon Fraser and Western Washington to under 40 percent shooting from the field.

Also Nominated: Jocelyn Gandara (Alaska), Dorcas Wu (Concordia), Jeanann Lemelin (Montana State Billings), Marina Valles (Northwest Nazarene), Bria Thames (Saint Martin’s), Jessica Jones (Simon Fraser), Shariah Green (Western Oregon), Kelsey Rogers (Western Washington).

AROUND THE GNAC
ALASKA
• Alaska lost 81-64 to Western Washington on Thursday and 76-52 to Simon Fraser on Saturday in the Nanooks’ final homestand of the season.

• Jocelyn Gandara led the Nanooks in scoring again with 48 points in the two games to go with 17 rebounds, four steals and three assists. She opened the week with a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds against WWU. She closed the week with 23 points, five rebounds and four steals against SFU. Gandara leads the GNAC with 19 points per game and ranks 20th in Division II with 127 free throws made.

• Sam Tolliver finished the week with totals of 19 points, four rebounds, four assists and a block. Her week was highlighted by a 15-point performance against the Vikings as she connected on 5 of 13 from the field and 4 of 7 from three-point range.

• The Nanooks will finish their season in Oregon, playing at Concordia on Thursday and at Western Oregon on Saturday.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage extended its winning streak to nine games to clinch at least a share of the regular-season title. The Seawolves beat Simon Fraser on Thursday, 85-61, and Western Washington on Saturday, 83-76.

• Yazmeen Goo was named the GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after she scored a career-high of 16 points in both games while also adding 12 assists and six steals while connecting on 72.7 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from beyond the arc and 73.7 percent from the free-throw line. She opened the week with 16 points and six assists against the Clan then followed with 16 points, six assists and five steals against the Vikings while playing a key role in a defense that limited both teams to under 40 percent shooting.

• Safiyyah Yasin finished the week with totals of 44 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. She scored 19 points against the Clan then closed the week with a game-high 25 points against the Vikings.

• The Seawolves moved up two spots to No. 5 in the latest WBCA National Rankings and moved up one spot to No. 7 in the latest D2SIDA poll. The Seawolves were ranked No. 3 in the first NCAA Division II West Region Rankings.

• The Seawolves will end their regular season on the road, playing at Western Oregon on Thursday and at Concordia on Saturday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington went 2-0 in its last homestand, collecting a 70-46 win over Western Oregon on Thursday and an 82-45 win over Concordia on Saturday.

• Taylor Shaw led the Wildcats with 25 points on 53.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. She scored 12 points and pulled down three rebounds against WOU then finished the week with 13 points on 5 of 10 from the field and 3 of 7 from outside against the Cavaliers.

• Jonnae Richardson finished the week with totals of 22 points, 21 rebounds, four assists and three steals. She scored seven points to go with nine rebounds and two steals off the bench against the Wolves. Richardson then got the start and closed the week with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds on 6 of 7 from the field and 2 of 2 from three-point range against the Cavs.

• The Wildcats were among others receiving votes in the final D2SIDA West Region Rankings.

• The Wildcats will end their regular season on the road, playing at Saint Martin’s on Thursday and at Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

CONCORDIA
• Concordia went 0-2 on the road last week, losing 74-52 at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and 82-45 at Central Washington on Saturday.

• Dorcas Wu led the Cavaliers in scoring again with 27 points to go with seven rebounds, seven steals and an assist. She scored 14 points on 6 of 14 from the field to go with five rebounds and three steals at NNU. She followed with 13 points, four steals and two rebounds while making 5 of 11 from the field at CWU. Wu is averaging 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds and two steals per game.

• Olivia Vezaldenos started in both games for the Cavs, scoring 21 points and adding nine rebounds, three assists and three steals on the week. She scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds against the Nighthawks then closed the week with 12 points, five rebounds and two steals against the Wildcats.

• The Cavs rank fifth in the GNAC with 3.1 blocked shots per game and sixth with 7.5 steals per game.

• The program will play its final games on LCEF Court this week, hosting Alaska on Thursday and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings split on the road last week, losing at Saint Martin’s on Thursday, 58-51, before beating Seattle Pacific on Saturday, 91-66.

• Jeanann Lemelin led the Yellowjackets in scoring as she went off for 43 points to go with seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Lemelin scored 11 points on 5 of 10 from the field to go with six rebounds and a pair of steals at SMU. She then led all scorers with 32 points on 11 of 13 from the field and 10 of 12 from three-point range at SPU. Her 10 three-pointers set the MSUB record and rank second all-time in the GNAC. Lemelin ranks second in the GNAC with 2.4 three-pointers made per game and a .416 three-point field goal percentage.

• Hannah Collins finished the week with totals of 32 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. She scored 16 points in both games, connecting on 37.9 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the free-throw line.

• Taryn Shelley scored 18 points and added 19 rebounds and five blocks on the week. Her week was highlighted by a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds against the Saints.

• The Yellowjackets are tied for sixth place with the Saints with a 9-9 conference mark. They will host Western Washington on Thursday and Simon Fraser on Saturday for a chance to clinch a spot in the GNAC Championships.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene extended its winning streak to five games with a 74-52 win over Concordia on Thursday and an 82-62 rout of Western Oregon on Saturday.

• Marina Valles led the Nighthawks with 28 points, 10 assists and 10 steals in the two games. She shot 50 percent from the field and 100 percent from the free-throw line. Valles opened the week with 12 points against the Cavaliers on 5 of 10 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line while adding five assists, two rebounds and two steals. She followed that with 16 points on 6 of 12 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line to go with eight steals and five assists against the Wolves. Valles leads the GNAC and ranks eighth in Division II with 3.15 steals per game.

• Emma Clark scored 12 points off the bench in both games, connecting on 52.9 percent from the field, 60 percent from outside and 75 percent from the free-throw line. She also contributed four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

• The Nighthawks were ranked No. 5 in the first NCAA Division II West Region Rankings.

• The Nighthawks secured a bye in the GNAC Championships with their conference mark of 15-3 heading into the final week of the regular season. The Nighthawks will take to the road for their final two games, playing at Seattle Pacific on Thursday and at Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s extended its winning streak to five games to put itself in a tie for sixth place with Montana State Billings. The Saints beat Seattle Pacific on Tuesday, 63-58, before fending off the Yellowjackets on Thursday, 58-51.

• Janealle Sutterlict paced the Saints, scoring 30 points in the two games to go with 10 rebounds, six steals and three assists. She connected on 39.3 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. Sutterlict opened the week with 16 points and five rebounds against SPU. She followed by scoring 14 points and adding five rebounds, five steals and two assists against MSUB. Sutterlict ranks fifth in the conference with a .391 three-point field goal percentage.

• Bria Thames scored 29 points and added 13 rebounds, six steals and five assists on the week. She scored 12 points on 5 of 10 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line to go with six rebounds and five steals against the Falcons. She finished the week by scoring 17 points on 7 of 17 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line while contributing seven rebounds and three assists against the Yellowjackets. Thames ranks 14th in Division II with 11.2 rebounds per game.

• The Saints will look to claim a spot in the GNAC Championships as they close their regular season schedule, hosting Central Washington on Thursday and Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific went 0-2 last week, losing 63-58 at Saint Martin’s on Tuesday and 91-66 against Montana State Billings at home on Saturday.

• Hailee Bennett led the Falcons with 29 points in the two games to go with six rebounds, three assists and a steal while shooting 58.8 percent from the field, 60 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the free-throw line. Bennett contributed eight points and five rebounds at SMU. She then scored a team-high 21 points on 7 of 10 from the field, 2 of 4 from outside and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line against MSUB.

• Bayley Brennan finished the week with totals of 23 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal as she made 43.8 percent from the field, 45.5 percent from beyond the arc and 100 percent from the free-throw line. Getting the starting nod on Tuesday, Brennan scored 15 points on 5 of 9 from the field, 3 of 6 from outside and 2 of 2 from the free-throw line against the Saints. She came off the bench against the Yellowjackets to score eight points.

• The Falcons will finish their season at home, hosting Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and Central Washington on Saturday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser split on its Alaska road trip last week, losing 85-61 at Alaska Anchorage on Thursday before bouncing back to complete a 76-52 rout of Alaska on Saturday that clinched the Clan a spot in the GNAC Championships.

• Jessica Jones led the Clan in the scoring department again with 29 points to go with seven rebounds, an assist and a steal. Jones connected for 23 points on 7 of 21 from the field and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line in Anchorage. She then scored six points and added four rebounds in Fairbanks. Jones leads the GNAC and ranks ninth in Division II with 3.29 three-point field goals per game.

• Kendal Sands came off the bench to score 14 points to go with three assists and two rebounds against the Seawolves. She made 3 of 3 from the field, all beyond the arc, and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line in the game. Sands then earned the start on Saturday and scored seven points on 3 of 4 from the field while adding seven rebounds and seven assists against the Nanooks.

• The Clan already played a game this week, losing at Western Washington on Tuesday, 95-66.

• The Clan was ranked No. 9 in the first NCAA Division II West Region Rankings.

• Simon Fraser is 17-12 overall and sits in fourth place with a 12-7 conference mark. The Clan will hit the road for its final game of the regular season, playing at Montana State Billings on Saturday.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon saw its losing streak extend to 12 games last week, losing at Central Washington on Thursday, 70-46, and at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, 82-62.

• Shariah Green was the only WOU player to score in double digits in both games, leading the Wolves in scoring again with 31 points on 45.8 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from beyond the arc and 77.8 percent from the free-throw line. Green opened the week with 16 points on 6 of 14 from the field, 1 of 2 from outside and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line at CWU. She finished the week with 15 points and three rebounds at NNU.

• Tresai McCarver finished the week with 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals as she connected on 42.9 percent from the field. Her week was highlighted by an 11-point, four-rebound performance in Ellensburg.

• The Wolves will finish their season at home, hosting Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington split in Alaska last week, beating the Nanooks on Thursday, 81-64, before losing to the Seawolves on Saturday, 83-76.

• Kelsey Rogers led the Vikings with 31 points on 59.1 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line in the two games. Rogers opened the week with 12 points on 6 of 10 from the field against the Nanooks. She then scored 19 points on 7 of 12 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line while adding nine rebounds, three blocks and an assist against the Seawolves.

• Emma Duff scored 25 points and added 17 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and a steal on the week. She just missed a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds in Fairbanks. Duff then scored 16 points on 6 of 10 from the field to go with five rebounds and three assists in Anchorage.

• The Vikings already played a game this week, beating Simon Fraser at home on Tuesday, 95-66.

• The Vikings were ranked No. 7 in the first NCAA Division II West Region Rankings.

• Western Washington sits in third place with a 13-6 conference mark. The Vikings will finish their regular season on the road, playing at Montana State Billings on Thursday.