Monday, February 17, 2014
PORTLAND, Ore. - David Downs of Seattle Pacific and Megan Hingston of Northwest Nazarene have been selected as GNAC Red Lion Players of the Week for men's and women's basketball for the Week of Feb. 10-16.
They are among eight GNAC athletes to earn the weekly award, including two each for men's track-and-field, women's track-and-field and baseball.
Men’s Basketball: David Downs, Seattle Pacific (G, 6-2, Sr., Kirkland, WA – Bellevue Christian) scored 64 points, including 36 in a 91-88 win over No. 24 Western Washington and 28 in a 89-79 victory over Simon Fraser, as the Falcons extended their win streak to 11 games. Downs, who had 10 assists and just one turnover, made 19 of 34 field goal attempts, including 10 of 17 three-pointers. He also made 16 of 19 foul shots. Seven of his assists came against the Vikings as he moved into third place on SPU’s all-time playmaker list with 538.
Honorable Mention – Stefan Tica, Alaska Fairbanks (F, 6-7, Sr., Belgrade, Serbia - Panola); Travis Thompson, Alaska Anchorage (G, 6-1, Jr., Anchorage, AK – Dimond); Richard Woodworth, Western Washington (G, 6-3, 195, Sr., Bellevue, WA - Newport); Andy Avgi, Western Oregon (F, 6-6, So., Woodburn, OR); Jonathan Mesghna, MSU Billings (F, 6-6, Sr., Frankfurt, Germany – U. of Maine); Mario Donaldson, Northwest Nazarene (G, 6-3, Sr., Rockton, IL).
Women’s Basketball: Megan Hingston, Northwest Nazarene (G, 5-9, Sr., Keizer, OR – McNary) scored 20 points in the Crusaders’ first-ever win at Seattle Pacific Saturday, and also logged four rebounds and an assist in the critical victory to help keep NNU’s hopes for a GNAC tournament berth alive. The instrumental performance came two nights after a 14-point 7-rebound effort against conference-leading MSUB. Hingston currently leads the Crusaders in scoring average (16.0) and rebounding (7.7), and ranks fifth in the GNAC in both categories.
Honorable Mention – Sarah Hill, Western Washington (F, 6-3, Sr., Richmond, VA – Lloyd C. Bird/Maryland-Baltimore County); Megan Wiedeman, Saint Martin’s (F, 6-0, So., Sammamish, WA – Skyline); Jenna Buchanan, Alaska Anchorage (G, 5-8, So., Galena, AK – Galena); Quinn Peoples, Montana State Billings (F, 5-11, Jr., Butte, MT – Butte Central Catholic).
Baseball: Player - Kasey Bielec, Central Washington (3B, 5-11, Jr., Port Orchard, WA – North Mason) went 6-for-13 with two home runs, four RBI and 12 total bases as the Wildcats captured 3-of-4 games on the road from the Academy of Art. Bielec led the GNAC with five runs scored, and also drew two walks while striking out just twice in 16 plate appearances. The junior started all four games at third base, recording 13 assists and one put out in 15 total chances on the weekend. Pitcher - Aaron Vaughn, Northwest Nazarene (RHP, 5-11, Sr., Tucson, AZ – Pusch Ridge Christian Academy) struck out 10 batters through seven innings in his lone start of the week, while allowing six hits and just one walk. Vaughn earned the win in the Crusaders’ 7-3 triumph over CSU Dominguez Hills, which marked the team’s first victory of the season and the first in the NCAA DII career of head coach Rocke Musgraves. Vaughn was credited with a complete game as the game was the second in a 9-inning/7-inning doubleheader, and only two of the three runs he allowed were earned.
Honorable Mention – Tyler Marsh, Northwest Nazarene (INF, 5-9, So., Boise, ID – Capital); Alex Bielaski, Saint Martin’s (OF/1B, 6-0, Sr., Bellevue, WA – Bellevue); Tim Rausch, Western Oregon (OF, 5-10, Jr., Polson, MT – Polson); Spenser Watkins, Western Oregon (RHP, 6-1, Sr., Scottsdale, AZ – Horizon/Glendale CC); Stuart Fewel, Central Washington (RHP, 6-5, Sr., Portland, OR – Wilson/Oregon State/Lower Columbia).
Men’s Track & Field: Track – Micah Chelimo, Alaska Anchorage (Sr., Kapkoi, Kenya) set a GNAC record in the 5,000 meters Friday at the Husky Classic in Seattle finishing 10th in a time of 13:47.73. Chelimo, who was the lone non-Division I athlete in the Top 10, broke his own GNAC record of 13:51.19 he set last season. He is the only sub 14 minute 5K runner in GNAC history. Field – Vladislav Moldavanov, Simon Fraser (Fr., Pitt Meadows, BC) finished third in the Husky Classic in the triple jump leaping 47-7 ¾. That’s the third longest mark in GNAC history.
Honorable Mention – Frank Catelli, Western Washington (So., Sequim, WA); Daniel Kelloway, Simon Fraser (Fr., Mount Pearl, NFLD); Kyle McLaughlin, Northwest Nazarene (So., Meridian, ID).
Women’s Track & Field: Track – Joyce Kipchumba, Alaska Anchorage (Jr., Kapsowar, Kenya) posted provisional national qualifying marks in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meters. On Friday, she finished 16th in the 5,000 at the Husky Classic in Seattle. Her time of 16:49.59 ranks sixth in GNAC history. Then on Sunday she ran the second fastest 3K in GNAC history in finishing third at the UW Open in a time of 9:33.60. Field – Tanya Bjornsson, Western Washington (Sr., Ferndale, WA) finished second in the long jump at the UW Husky Classic with a provisional national qualifying leap of 18-8 ½. Bjornsson, who has a career-best of 18-9 ¼, is only one of four athletes in GNAC history to jump that far.
Honorable Mention – Connie Morgan, Central Washington (Sr., Hoquiam, WA); Vessie Umu, Northwest Nazarene (Jr., Colorado Springs, CO – Widefield).