Monday, December 21, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Two solid performances for Western Washington basketball performers gave the Vikings a sweep of the GNAC’s final Player of the Week selections before the holiday break.

Kyle Impero was selected as the GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he led the Vikings to wins in both of their contests last week, including a 101-64 conference victory on Tuesday over Simon Fraser. Impero averaged 22 points per game and shot 77 percent from the floor (17-22) combined in the contests, paced by a 23-point performance on 9 of 10 from the field against the Clan. In the Vikings’ 97-58 win over Quest on Friday, Impero added 21 points and seven rebounds.

Impero enters the holiday break ranked fifth in the GNAC in scoring (16.9 points per game) and sixth in rebounds (6.8 rebounds per game).

Aleisha Hathaway was named the GNAC Women’s Basketball of the Week after leading WWU in scoring in two games at the Las Vegas South Point Holiday Hoops Classic. After scoring 10 points with five steals in a 65-45 win over Midwestern State (Texas) on Friday, Hathaway came alive for a career-high 24 points in the Vikings’ 72-62 loss to Quincy. In the contest, she made 8 of 12 from the field and 3 of 5 from three-point range. Hathaway was one of two Vikings named to the All-Tournament Team.

Hathaway enters the holiday break averaging 8.1 points per game. She leads the GNAC with an average of 2.5 steals per game and is fifth in the league with 4.4 assists per game.

With no games scheduled for GNAC teams over the coming week, the next GNAC Player of the Week selections will take place on Mon., Jan. 4.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 16
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Kyle Impero (Western Washington, 6-4, 175, Sr., Everson, Wash. – Whatcom CC) Impero averaged 22 points in two games and shot 77 percent from the floor (17-22) as the Vikings scored a GNAC win over Simon Fraser on Tuesday and a non-conference win over Quest on Friday. He scored 23 points and shot 9 of 10 from the field against Simon Fraser and added 21 points and seven rebounds against Quest. Impero enters the holiday break ranked fifth in the GNAC in scoring (16.9 points per game) and sixth in rebounding (6.8 rebounds per game). Also Nominated: Brandon Kenilworth (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Aleisha Hathaway (Western Washington, G, 5-9, Jr., Spokane, Wash. – Shadle Park): Hathaway averaged 17 points per game in two games as the Vikings split their contests at the Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas.After opening with 10 points and five steals in a win over Midwestern State (Texas), she added a career-high 24 points on 8 of 12 from the field in a loss to Quincy, making 8 of 12 from the field and 3 of 5 from three-point range. Hathaway enters the break leading the GNAC in steals (2.5 per game). Also Nominated: Christina Davis (Alaska Anchorage), Monica Grimsrud (Montana State Billings), Jordan Wilson (Alaska).