Monday, November 25, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Alaska Fairbanks guard Ronnie Baker is among five GNAC Red Lion Player of the Week honorees for the Week of Nov. 18-24. 

Baker led the Nanooks to three wins last weekend and the tournament championship in the GCI Invitational at Fairbanks.

Here is a recap of this week's winners and honorable mention selections:

Basketball

Men - Ronnie Baker, Alaska Fairbanks (G, 6-3, Sr., Vallejo, CA – Diablo Valley) scored 59 points and also had 16 rebounds, 12 assists and four steals in leading the Nanooks to three wins and the tournament title in the GCI Alaska Invitational at Fairbanks.  Baker, who was named to the all-tournament team, scored a career-high 29 points in Saturday’s 83-72 win over Fresno Pacific. For the tournament, Baker shot 54.1 percent from the floor (20-37), 53.8 percent from the three-point line (7-13) and 80 percent from the foul line (12-15).   

Honorable Mention – David Downs, Seattle Pacific (G, 6-2, 195, Sr., Kirkland, WA – Bellevue Christian); Elijah Matthews, Simon Fraser (G, 6-1, Sr., Washington, DC – Pfeiffer); Austin Hudson, MSU Billings (F, 6-7, Jr., Salt Lake City, UT – Brighton); Kevin Davis, Central Washington (C, 6-9, Sr., Federal Way, WA – Beamer); Mario Donaldson, Northwest Nazarene (G, 6-3, Sr., Rockton, IL – Ellsworth CC); Mirza Sabic, Western Oregon (G/F, 6-6, Sr., Surprise, OR – Kennesaw State); Richard Woodworth, Western Washington (G, 6-3, Sr., Bellevue, WA – Newport).

Women- Katie Benson, Seattle Pacific (F, 6-1, Sr., Snohomish, WA – Snohomish) led the GNAC in scoring (28.5) and rebounding (11.5), and was second in blocks (3.0) and field goal percentage (.667) as the Falcons won a pair of games to improve to 6-0 in 2013. Benson also shot 83 percent from the free throw line and turned in seven steals while converting three-of-four attempts from long distance.

Honorable Mention – Chelsea Haskey, Saint Martin's (F, 6-1, Sr., Olympia, WA - Black Hills); Megan Hingston, Northwest Nazarene (G, 5-9, Sr., Keizer, OR - McNary).

Volleyball

Offense -  Elayna Rice, Northwest Nazarene (MB, 6-3, So., Billings, MT) and Katelynn Zanders, Alaska Anchorage (OH, 5-9, So., Anchorage, AK – South) ... Rice had 37 kills, including match highs of 20 in a 3-1 win over Western Oregon and 17  in a 3-0 sweep of Saint Martin’s as the Crusaders made a bid for a NCAA post-season playoff berth with a pair of wins.  Rice also had 20 digs and two blocks ... Zanders had 40 kills, the most for any GNAC player on the final weekend of the regular-season.  She  hit for a .342 percentage and also contributed defensively with 14 digs and six blocks.

Defense – Quinn Barker, Alaska Anchorage (L, 5-5, Jr., Mission Viejo, CA – Trabuco Hills) had 38 digs, including a career-high tying 25 at Seattle Pacific as the Seawolves finished conference play with a perfect 9-0 road record.  “She made several diving saves that extended rallies in the first and second set at Seattle Pacific,” coach Chris Green said.  “Her incredible back-row play was the difference in getting the early advantage.”

Honorable Mention – Kayla Erickson, Western Washington (MB, 6-0, Jr., Gig Harbor, WA); Linden Firethorne, Central Washington (MB, 6-0, So., Clinton, WA – South Whidbey); Chelsey Walter, MSU Billings (MB, 6-2, Jr., Billings, MT); Michelle Terpstra, Northwest Nazarene (S, 5-9, Jr., Ripon, CA); Larissa Hamilton, Saint Martin’s (MB, 6-0, Fr., Vancouver, WA).