Tuesday, December 20, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – Central Washington sophomore Valerie Huerta closed out the non-conference schedule for the Wildcats with a bang, posting a record performance that earned GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors.

In Monday’s 92-44 win over Walla Walla, Huerta set the GNAC single-game record with 46 points, breaking the previous record of 45 set by Leada Bankey of Western Oregon against Central Washington on Feb. 21, 2008. Huerta also made 18 field goals on 29 attempts, surpassing the previous record of 16 made set by Bankey in that CWU game and equaled by Simon Fraser’s Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe against Northwest Nazarene on Feb. 18, 2012. Huerta went 4 of 7 from three-point range and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line in the record effort.

In Friday’s 79-52 win over Whitman, Huerta finished with 24 points in 32 minutes of action, making 7 of 19 from the field, 3 of 7 from three-point range and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line.

For the week, Huerta averaged an astonishing 35 points per game, making 52.1% from the field, 57.1% from three-point range and 92.9% from the free-throw line.

Western Washington junior guard D’Angelo Minnis was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he averaged 18.3 points per game in four games, shooting 64.3% from the field, 68.4% from three-point range and a perfect 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. The week opened with 23 points on 9 of 10 from the field and 5 of 5 from three-point range in last Monday’s 135-87 win over Langara.

At the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic, Minnis scored 12 points in Saturday’s 76-66 loss to Texas Permian Basin before leading the way with 25 points in Sunday’s 105-98 overtime loss to Emmanuel (Ga.). He connected on 7 of 12 from the field and 5 of 7 from three-point range. Minnis closed the tournament with 13 points in Monday’s 70-69 win over Hawaii Pacific, making 5 of 7 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range. Minnis was among four GNAC players named to the All-Tournament Team.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 18
MEN’S BASKETBALL
D’Angelo Minnis (Western Washington, G, 5-10, Jr., Kent, Wash. – Kentwood): In a four-game run, Minnis averaged 18.3 points per game to lead the Vikings to a 2-2 week. In the four games, Minnis shot 64.3% from the field 68.4% from three-point range. Minnis led WWU with 23 points in last Monday’s 135-87 win over Langara, making 9 of 10 from the field and 5 of 5 from long range. Minnis scored 12 points in Saturday’s 76-66 loss to Texas Permian Basin at the Hoops In Hawaii Holiday Classic and connected for 25 points in Sunday’s 105-98 overtime loss to Emmanuel (Ga.), making 5 of 7 from three-point range. On Monday, Minnis scored 13 points on 5 of 7 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range in Monday’s 70-69 win over Hawaii Pacific. Also Nominated: Jaycson Bereal, Jr. (Alaska), Matt Poquette (Central Washington), Carrington Wiggins (Montana State Billings), Gabriel Murphy (Northwest Nazarene), Kyle Greeley (Saint Martin’s), Georges Lefebvre (Simon Fraser), Qiant Myers (Western Oregon).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Valerie Huerta (Central Washington, G, 5-4, So., Whittier, Calif. – Saint Paul): Huerta averaged 35 points per game, shooting 52.1% from the field, 57.1% from three-point range and 92.9% from the free-throw line in two wins. In Monday’s 92-44 win over Walla Walla, Huerta set the GNAC single-game scoring record with 46 points on 18 of 29 from the field, 4 of 7 from outside and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line. She broke the previous record of 45 points set by Leada Bankey of Western Oregon in 2008. Huerta opened the week with a 24-point performance in Saturday’s 79-52 win over Whitman, connecting on 7 of 19 from the field with five assists. Also Nominated: Elaina Mack (Alaska Anchorage), Kortney Nelson (Montana State Billings), Clare Eubanks (Northwest Nazarene), Mason Oberg (Western Washington).