Monday, December 11, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – The thinner Rocky Mountain air provided for a pair of strong offensive performances by Montana State Billings basketball players to lead the GNAC Player of the Week awards.

For the third time in five weeks, senior forward Alisha Breen has been selected as the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after she scored 49 points and shot 62.5 percent from the field to help the Yellowjackets improve to 9-0 on the season. She finished with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds in Friday’s 62-57 come-from-behind win over Rocky Mountain, scoring 14 of those points in the final five minutes. Breen then scored 26 points in Saturday’s 87-65 rout of Providence (Mont.). In the process, Breen made 15 of 16 from the free throw line and became MSUB’s career record holder for free throws made.

Junior guard Sven Jeuschede was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after averaging 22.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 56.8 percent from the field as the Yellowjackets went 2-1. Jeuschede scored back-to-back 20-point performances, making 7 of 13 from the field in both contests, in Wednesday’s 89-66 win over Montana Tech and Thursday’s 85-74 win over Providence (Mont.). He then added 28 points in Saturday’s 95-87 loss to Rocky Mountain, connecting on 11 of 18 from the field and 6 of 11 from three-point range.

In the second week of the indoor track and field season, Central Washington picked up a sweep of the women’s weekly awards. Junior Ali Anderson was named the Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after she won the 400 meters at the Jackson’s Open. Her time of 56.20 seconds is No. 8 on the GNAC All-Time Top-10 List. Anderson also placed second in the 200 meters in 25.29 seconds and ran the anchor leg on the Wildcats’ winning 4x400-meter relay team.

Wildcats’ junior HarLee Ortega earned Women’s Field Athlete of the Week award with her third-place finish in the women’s triple jump at the Jackson’s Open. Her mark of 38 feet, 8.75 inches, bettered by two Division I athletes, moves her No. 6 on the GNAC All-Time Top-10 List. Ortega also placed fifth in the 60-meter hurdles in 9.27 seconds and ran the second leg on the Wildcats’ 4x400-meter relay team.

Northwest Nazarene senior John Van Beuren was named the Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after he won both throws at the Jackson’s Open. Van Beuren set a school record in the indoor shot put with his winning mark of 51 feet, 7.25 inches, an event he won by over two feet. He also won the weight throw with a mark of 57 feet, 9 inches, which is No. 10 on the GNAC All-Time Top-10 List.

Saint Martin’s junior Jackson Hand earned Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors after he placed third behind two Division I opponents in the 200 meters at the Jackson’s Open. His time of 22.01 seconds ranks 18th in Division II this season.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 15
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Sven Jeuschede (Montana State Billings, G, 6-3, Jr., Roesrath, Germany – Leverkusen): Jeuschede averaged 22.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, shooting 56.8 percent from the field to lead the Yellowjackets to a 2-1 week. He opened with a 20-point performance in Wednesday’s 89-66 win over Montana Tech and matched that in Thursday’s 85-74 victory over Providence (Mont.), shooting 7 of 13 from the field in both games. Jeuschede finished with a 28-point performance in a 95-87 loss to Rocky Mountain on Saturday, connecting on 11 of 18 from the field and 6 of 11 from three-point range. Also Nominated: Jared Mathews (Saint Martin’s), Tanner Omlid (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Alisha Breen (Montana State Billings, F, 5-10, Sr., Choteau, Mont. – Choteau): Breen scored 49 points, shot 62.5 percent from the field and made 15 of 16 from the free throw line as she led MSUB to two wins as the Yellowjackets improved to 9-0 on the season. She finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds in Friday’s 62-57 come-from-behind win over Rocky Mountain, scoring 14 of those points in the final five minutes of the game. Breen then finished with 26 points in Saturday’s 87-65 win over Providence (Mont.), her fourth 20-plus point performance in a row. During the game, Breen broke MSUB’s career free throws made record. Also Nominated: Bailey Cartwright (Concordia), Saniah Simpson-Patu (Saint Martin’s).

MEN’S TRACK
Jackson Hand (Saint Martin’s, Jr., Edmonds, Wash. - Kings): Hand placed third behind two Division I competitors in the 200 meters at the Jackson’s Open. His time of 22.01 seconds currently ranks No. 18 on the Division II performance list. Also Nominated: Trevaughn Scott (Central Washington).

MEN’S FIELD
John Van Beuren (Northwest Nazarene, Sr., Boise, Idaho – Centennial): Van Beuren won both the men’s shot put and weight throw at the Jackson’s Open. He broke the NNU school record in the shot put with a mark of 51 feet, 7.25 inches and won by over two feet. Van Beuren’s winning mark of 57 feet, 9 inches, in the weight throw is No. 10 on the GNAC All-Time Top-10 List. Also Nominated: Armando Tafoya (Central Washington), Josh Schulz (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S TRACK
Ali Anderson (Central Washington, Jr., Camano Island, Wash. – Stanwood): After winning the field honor last week, Anderson earned the women’s track award after winning the 400 meters at the Jackson’s Open with a time of 56.20 seconds. The Performance puts Anderson at No. 8 on the GNAC All-Time Top-10 List. Anderson also placed second in the 200 meters in 25.29 seconds, bettered only by a Division I athlete, and ran the anchor leg on the Wildcats’ winning 4x400-meter relay team (3:56.96). Also Nominated: Kirkland Kelly (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S FIELD
HarLee Ortega (Central Washington, Jr., Payette, Idaho – Payette): Ortega placed third (behind two Division I athletes) in the women’s triple jump at the Jackson’s Open. Her mark of 38 feet, 8.75 inches, moves her into No. 6 on the GNAC All-Time Top-10 List. Ortega also finished fifth in the 60-meter hurdles in 9.27 seconds and ran the second leg on the Wildcats’ winning 4x400-meter relay team (3:56.96). Also Nominated: Ashley Vest (Saint Martin’s).