Monday, November 21, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – It was two in a row for Seattle Pacific junior forward Shaw Anderson and a repeat for Central Washington’s women in the GNAC Player of the Week award selections.

Anderson earned his second Men’s Basketball Player of the Week award after he averaged 24.5 points, four assists and three rebounds in the Falcons’ two games at the GNAC/PacWest Challenge in Azusa, California. On Friday, Anderson led SPU with 19 points on 5 of 7 from the field, 3 of 3 from three-point range and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line in the Falcons’ 77-70 loss to host Azusa Pacific. He followed that up with a 30-point performance in Saturday’s 79-70 victory over Concordia, connecting on 11 of 17 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line to go with four rebounds and six assists.

For the week, Anderson made 64% of his shots from the field, 71.4% from three-point range and 92.3% from the free-throw line. In four games, he is averaging 27.3 points per game, is shooting 60.4% from the field and has made all but one of his 35 free-throw attempts.

Sophomore guard Valerie Huerta became the Wildcats’ second Women’s Basketball Player of the Week award winner this season after she averaged 27.5 points per game at the Westminster Invitational, making 64.5% of her shots from the field, 66.7% from three-point range and going a perfect 9 for 9 from the free-throw line. Huerta blistered MSU Denver for 37 points in Friday’s 95-76 victory, tying for the 10th-best single-game scoring performance in GNAC history. She connected on 14 of 19 from the field, 6 of 7 from long range and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line.

Huerta followed that up with an 18-point performance in Saturday’s 87-76 win over Westminster (Utah), making 6 of 12 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. In four games this season, Huerta is averaging 20.3 points per game while shooting 50% from the field, 52.9% from the three-point line and 92.3% from the free-throw line.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 14
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Shaw Anderson (Seattle Pacific, F, 6-6, Jr., Kelso, Wash. – Kelso): Anderson led Seattle Pacific to a 1-1 week at the GNAC/PacWest Challenge with averages of 24.5 points four assists and three rebounds per game, shooting 64% from the field, 71.4% from three-point range and 92.3% from the free-throw line. Anderson led the Falcons with 19 points on 5 of 7 from the field, 3 of 3 from outside and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in Friday’s 77-70 loss to Azusa Pacific. He then posted his second 30-plus point scoring performance of the season in Saturday’s 79-70 win over Concordia, scoring 30 on 11 of 18 from the floor and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line to go with four rebounds and six assists. Also Nominated: Jaycson Bereal, Jr. (Alaska), Carrington Wiggins (Montana State Billings), Tru Allen (Northwest Nazarene), Immanuel Oludele (Simon Fraser), John Morrill-Keeler (Western Oregon), D’Angelo Minnis (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Valerie Huerta (Central Washington, G, 5-4, So., Whittier, Calif. – Saint Paul): Huerta averaged 27.5 points per game and shot 64.5% from the field, 66.7% from three-point range and was a perfect 9 of 9 from the free-throw line in two wins at the Westminster Invitational in Salt Lake City. Huerta blistered MSU Denver for 37 points in a 95-76 victory on Friday, making 14 of 19 from the field, 6 of 7 from three-point range and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. The 37 points tied Huerta for the 10th-best single-game performance in GNAC history. In Saturday’s 87-67 win over the host Griffins, Huerta finished with 18 points on 6 of 12 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line to go with four assists. Also Nominated: Emma McKenney (Alaska), Vishe’ Rabb (Alaska Anchorage), Kortney Nelson (Montana State Billings), Jordan Pinson (Northwest Nazarene), Schuyler Berry (Seattle Pacific), Brooke Walling (Western Washington).