Wednesday, December 22, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – Putting together strong finishes to the non-conference schedule, Central Washington players have swept the GNAC Basketball Player of the Week awards for the week of December 20-26.

For the third week in a row, the Wildcats earned the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week award with senior guard Kizzah Maltezo earning the honor for her efforts in Monday’s 70-62 win at Cal State LA. Maltezo led all players with 25 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. One of three CWU players to score in double figures in the win, Maltezo connected to shoot 10 of 23 from the field and 3 of 13 from three-point range.

Senior guard Xavier Smith was named the conference Men’s Basketball of the Week after he led all scorers in the Wildcats’ 107-88 win over Bushnell on Monday. Smith scored 26 points on 9 of 17 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line to go with seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. He contributed to a night that saw CWU shoot 54.3 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Typically announced on Mondays, the GNAC Players of the Week for December 20-26 were announced early with the only games of the week being played on December 20. Conference teams return to play on Thursday, December 30.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 18
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Xavier Smith (Central Washington, G, 6-4, Sr., Seattle, Wash. – O’Dea): Smith led all scorers in the Wildcats’ 107-88 win over Bushnell on Monday, finishing with 26 points on 9 of 17 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. Smith also had seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 32 minutes, contributing to a night that saw the Wildcats make 54.3 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Kizzah Maltezo (Central Washington, G, 5-5, Sr., Honokaa, Hawaii – Concordia (Ore.) Univ.): Maltezo paced Central Washington in its 70-62 win over Cal State LA, helping the Wildcats sweep their California road trip. Maltezo finished with a game-high 25 points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals, shooting 10 of 23 from the field and 3 of 13 from three-point range. She led three CWU players that finished scoring in double figures.