Monday, December 17, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – In a quiet week for many GNAC teams thanks to fall finals, Western Oregon and Saint Martin’s made noise in Hawaii to provide this week’s GNAC Player of the Week performances.

Western Oregon junior forward Riley Hawken was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he led the Wolves to a pair of wins over Hawaii Hilo and Emmanuel (Ga.) to improve to 8-1 on the season, finishing with 38 points and 16 rebounds. In Friday’s 80-69 win over the Vulcans on Friday in Hilo, Hawken was one of the five WOU players to score in double figures, finishing with 15 points and five rebounds.

On Sunday, Hawken opened the Hoops In Hawaii D2 Power Invitational with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds led lead the Wolves past Emmanuel 76-64. His performance included six offensive rebounds and 8 of 10 shooting from the free throw line. Western Oregon will face UC San Diego in the tournament semifinals on Monday and will take on either Dallas Baptist or Chaminade on Tuesday.

Saint Martin’s sophomore guard/forward Saniah Simpson-Patu received the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week award for her work in helping the Saints secure a split in the islands, finishing with 46 points and 12 rebounds. She opened with a career-high 34 points in Saturday’s 86-67 loss at Hawaii Pacific, shooting 13 of 20 from the field, 2 of 3 from three-point range and 6 of 8 from the free throw line.

Simpson-Patu followed that up with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to help the Saints beat Chaminade on Sunday, 69-59. She also finished with three steals in the contest. The Saints, now 4-6 on the season, will close their three-game Hawaii road trip on Tuesday at Hawaii Hilo.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 17
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Riley Hawken (Western Oregon, F, 6-6, Jr., Vancouver, Wash. – Concordia Univ.): Hawken led the Wolves to two wins in Hawaii with 38 points and 16 rebounds, shooting 44 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line. He opened the trip with 15 points and five rebounds in Friday’s 80-69 win at Hawaii Hilo. Hawken then posted a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Wolves opened the Hoops In Hawaii D2 Power Invitational with a 76-64 win over Emmanuel (Ga.) on Sunday. His performance included 8 of 10 from the free throw line and six rebounds. Also Nominated: Luke Lovelady (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Saniah Simpson-Patu (Saint Martin’s, G/F, 5-10, So., Las Vegas, Nev. – Rainier Beach): Simpson-Patu led the Saints to a split in Hawaii as she finished with 46 points and 12 rebounds, connecting on 60 percent from the field. She opened the week with a 34-point performance in Saturday’s 86-67 loss at Hawaii Pacific, going off for 13 of 20 from the field, 2 of 3 from three-point range and 6 of 8 from the three-point line. Simpson-Patu then added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to help the Saints beat Chaminade on Sunday, 69-59. Also Nominated: Alexis Pana (Central Washington), Ali Nelke (Western Oregon).