Monday, January 11, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. – Three of the biggest scoring performances in a week of many 30-plus point scoring performances headline this week’s GNAC Player of the Week selections.

Western Washington’s Jeffrey Parker and Western Oregon’s Andy Avgi share this week’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week awards after both players posted the top-two men’s scoring performances of the week. Parker came alive for 39 points to lead the Vikings to a 100-99 overtime victory at Alaska on Thursday. Parker made 15 of 28 from the field, tying for the 10th most field goals made in a GNAC game, and connected on 8 of 17 from three-point range, which is 15th best in conference history, while pulling down 11 rebounds. In Saturday’s loss 87-84 loss at Alaska Anchorage, Parker added 21 points on 7 of 16 from the field. In the two games, Parker averaged 30 points per game, made 50 percent of his shots from the field (22-44) and 42.3 percent from three-point range (11-26).

Avgi averaged 29 points per game, made 64.7 percent of his shots from the field (22-34) and made 5 of 10 from three-point range as the No. 6/14 ranked Wolves won both of last weekend’s contests. In Thursday’s 96-90 overtime win over Seattle Pacific, Avgi scored 34 points on 15 of 22 from the field (tied for 10th on the GNAC single game list) and added four blocks. In Saturday’s 74-61 win over Saint Martin’s, which was aired on ROOT SPORTS, Avgi scored 24 points as he connected on 7 of 12 from the field and 4 of 7 from three-point range.

The performances by Parker and Avgi lead a list of four 30-plus point performances by GNAC men’s players last week with a total of 11 this season.

Alaska’s Jordan Wilson added a 30-plus point performance of her own as she earned the GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week award. Wilson opened her week on Thursday by going off for 35 points on 13 of 18 from the field and 9 of 11 from the free throw line to lead the Nanooks to a 75-66 win over Concordia. Her 13 field goals made is the third best single game performance in GNAC history. In Saturday’s 75-55 win over Western Oregon, Wilson led the way with 25 points, connecting on 9 of 13 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free throw line.

Wilson’s performance at Concordia was one of two 30-plus point performances iN GNAC women’s basketball this week and one of six total this season.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 19
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Jeffrey Parker (Western Washington, F, 6-6, 200, Jr., Richmond, Calif. - Salesian): Parker averaged 30 points per game, hit 50 percent from the field (22-44) and 42.3 percent from three-point range (11-26) as the Vikings split their games. Parker exploded for 39 points and 11 rebounds in Thursday’s 100-99 overtime win. His 15 field goals made ties him for 10th in the GNAC single game performance list and his eight three-pointers made is tied for 15th. In Saturday’s loss to Alaska Anchorage, Parker contributed 21 points on 7 of 16 from the field. Parker enters the week ranked third in the GNAC in scoring, averaging 19.3 points per game, and is second in three-pointers made (2.8 per game).

Andy Avgi (Western Oregon, F, 6-6, 260, Sr., Woodburn, Ore. - Woodburn): Avgi averaged 29 points in two games, connecting on 64.7 percent from the field (22-34) and 5 of 10 from three-point range as the No. 6/14 ranked Wolves beat both Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin’s. In the 96-90 overtime win over the Falcons, Avgi scored 34 points on 15 of 22 from the field with four blocks. In Saturday’s televised 74-61 win over Saint Martin’s, Avgi scored 24 points as he connected on 7 of 12 from the field and 4 of 7 from three-point range. Avgi enters the week ranked second in the GNAC in scoring (21.3 points per game) and is third in field goal percentage (.590). Also Nominated: Kendall Denham (Montana State Billings), Bouna N’Diaye (Northwest Nazarene), Cole Preston (Saint Martin’s), Spencer Svejar (Alaska Anchorage), Travante Williams (Alaska).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Jordan Wilson (Alaska, F, 5-11, Jr., Henderson, Colo. – Prairie View): Wilson averaged 30 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as the Nanooks scored home wins over Concordia and Western Oregon. She blistered the nets for 35 points on 13 of 18 from the field and 9 of 11 from the free throw line and also pulled down 12 rebounds in the 75-66 win over Concordia. Her 13 field goals made is the third best single game performance in GNAC history. Wilson added 25 points on 9 of 13 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free throw line in Saturday’s 75-55 win over Western Oregon. Wilson enters the week second in the GNAC in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game, and is sixth in field goal percentage (.528) Also Nominated: Tia Briggs (Western Washington), Elisa Homer (Simon Fraser), Janiel Olson (Montana State Billings), Jasmine Parker (Central Washington), Kiki Robertson (Alaska Anchorage), Taylor Simmons (Northwest Nazarene), Krista Stabler (Saint Martin’s).