Monday, December 20, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – The further along the season goes, the more dynamic Central Washington junior center Samantha Bowman seems to get on the basketball court.

Bowman was named the GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the third time this season after posting a monster double-double and tying the GNAC single-game record for rebounds in the Wildcats’ 75-63 overtime win at Concordia Irvine on Saturday. Bowman finished with 23 points and 29 rebounds. The 29 boards tied the single-game record set by Bria Thames of Saint Martin’s in 2020. The performance is the best this season across all NCAA divisions and is tied for the 16th-best in Division II history.

Of the 29 rebounds, 11 came on the offensive glass as Bowman also finished with three assists and two steals while shooting 10 of 22 from the field. Seven of those rebounds came in overtime. Bowman leads the GNAC in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 19.1 points and 16.6 rebounds per game. She leads Division II in rebounds per game and ranks second in the category across all NCAA divisions.

On the men’s side, Western Washington junior guard Daniel Hornbuckle was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he led the Vikings to a 1-1 week at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic, averaging 17 points, seven rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Hornbuckle scored 12 points and had eight rebounds in Friday’s 60-58 win over Lindenwood. He made 4 of 6 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range.

In Saturday’s 84-74 hard-fought loss to No. 1 Lubbock Christian, Hornbuckle led the Vikings with 22 points and six rebounds, making 7 of 13 from the field and 5 of 8 from three-point range. For the week, Hornbuckle shot 57.9 percent from the field and 67.7 percent from outside (8 for 12). For the season, Hornbuckle ranks ninth in the GNAC with 15.1 points per game.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 17
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Daniel Hornbuckle (Western Washington, G, 6-0, Jr., Fairbanks, Alaska – Portland CC): Hornbuckle averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and 1.5 assists per game as the Vikings went 1-1 at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic. Hornbuckle opened the tournament by scoring 12 points in Friday’s 60-58 victory over Lindenwood, shooting 4 of 6 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range. He also had eight rebounds and two assists. In Saturday’s hard-fought 84-74 loss to No. 1 Lubbock Christian, Hornbuckle led WWU with 22 points and six rebounds, connecting on 7 of 13 from the field, 5 of 8 from three-point range and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. In the two games, Hornbuckle made 57.9 percent of his shots and 66.7 percent from outside the arc. Also Nominated: Damen Thacker (Montana State Billings), Brett Reed (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Samantha Bowman (Central Washington, C, 6-3, Jr., Zillah, Wash. – Zillah): Bowman had a record-setting night to lead the Wildcats in their 75-63 overtime win at Concordia Irvine on Saturday. Bowman finished with a double-double of 23 points and 29 rebounds, connecting on 10 of 22 from the field. The 29 rebounds tied the GNAC single-game record set by Bria Thames of Saint Martin’s in 2020. It is the highest single-game total this season in all NCAA divisions and is tied for the 16th best single-game total in Division II history. Also Nominated: Teagan Thurman (Northwest Nazarene), Claire Dingus (Saint Martin’s), Claudia Hart (Simon Fraser), Emma Duff (Western Washington).