Tuesday, December 26, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – It has been quiet for GNAC basketball teams over the last week, but a pair of pre-Christmas scoring efforts for Western Washington’s Anna Schwecke and Alaska Anchorage’s DJ Ursery has earned the duo selections as GNAC Players of the Week.

Schwecke was named the GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after she earned all-tourney team selection at the Viking Hoops Classic. She averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Vikings went 1-1 in the tournament at Carver Gym. Schwecke was one of five WWU players to score in double figures in last Monday’s 90-59 win over Texas A&M-International, finishing with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds with three assists, three steals and four blocks. In last Tuesday’s 78-62 loss to West Texas A&M, Schwecke led the Vikings with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Ursery earned GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors after he helped lead Alaska Anchorage to a split of its Oregon road trip with a 59-55 win at Concordia last Tuesday. Ursery finished with a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds, shot 10 of 12 from the field and finished with three assists, two steals and a block.

With the holiday break in the rear-view mirror, conference teams are looking forward to the re-start to GNAC play. There will be five men’s conference games this week beginning on Thursday. The women will play seven league contests this week, also beginning on Thursday.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 17
MEN’S BASKETBALL
DJ Ursery (Alaska Anchorage, G, 6-4, Sr., Los Angeles, Calif. – Univ. of the Pacific): Ursery led the Seawolves to a 59-55 GNAC win over Concordia on Dec. 19 with a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds. He connected on 10 of 12 from the field to go along with three assists, two steals and a block. Ten of his points came in the second half, allowing Alaska Anchorage to erase a seven-point halftime deficit. Also Nominated: Bryan Michaels (Concordia), Kendall Denham (Montana State Billings), EJ Boyce (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Anna Schwecke (Western Washington, F, 6-1, So., Evergreen, Colo. – Univ. of Colorado-Colorado Springs): Schwecke was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Viking Holiday Hoops Classic after averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds per game, shooting 65 percent from the field, in Western Washington’s two games. She was one of five WWU players to score in double figures in Monday’s 90-59 win over Texas A&M-International, finishing with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds with three assists, three steals and four blocks. Schwecke led the Vikings with 12 points and eight rebounds in Tuesday’s 78-62 loss to undefeated West Texas A&M. Also Nominated: Danielle Hartzog (Concordia), Jeanann Lemelin (Montana State Billings), Lexi Tubbs (Northwest Nazarene), Saniah Simpson-Patu (Saint Martin’s), Jordan McPhee (Seattle Pacific).