Monday, January 25, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – It was a great week for Seattle Pacific’s basketball teams as the Falcons have swept the GNAC Basketball Player of the Week awards.

Redshirt freshman forward Kelton Samore was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after he led the Falcons to a pair of wins at Saint Martin’s. Back at home, junior guard Rachel Berg was named the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after she led SPU to a split against Lewis-Clark State.

Samore averaged 19 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as he played a key role off the bench in both road wins at Saint Martin’s. He opened the week with a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes in Wednesday’s 91-81 victory. He connected on 10 of 12 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line. Samora came back to add 13 points and five rebounds in Thursday’s 70-62 win, making 5 of 11 from the field. For the week, Samora made 65.2 percent of his shots from the field and was 6 of 6 from the free throw line.

Samore and the SPU men begin a string of seven straight home games this week, hosting Lewis-Clark State on Wednesday and Thursday.

Berg led the Falcons’ women with averages of 13.5 points and four rebounds per game in their split against Lewis-Clark State. She led SPU with 14 points and five rebounds in Friday’s 68-67 loss, connecting on 5 of 10 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range. Berg then added totals of 13 points and three rebounds in Saturday’s 72-63 victory. She made 5 of 7 from the field and again went 3 of 4 from long range. For the week, Berg shot 58.8 percent from the field and 6 of 8 from the three-point line.

Seattle Pacific will wrap up a seven-game homestand this week, hosting College of Idaho on Friday and Saturday.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 3
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Kelton Samore (Seattle Pacific, F, 6-9, R-Fr., Portland, Ore. – American Univ.): Samore averaged 19 points and 7.5 rebounds per game off the bench in a road sweep of Saint Martin’s. On Wednesday, Samore notched a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes in a 91-81 victory, going 10 of 12 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line. Samore came back to score 13 points and pull down five rebounds in Thursday’s 70-62 win, connecting on 5 of 11 from the field. For the week, Samore shot 65.2 percent from the field, 2 of 4 from three-point range and a perfect 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Also Nominated: James Nelson (Northwest Nazarene), Marky Adams (Saint Martin’s).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Rachel Berg (Seattle Pacific, G, 5-9, Jr., Bellevue, Wash. – Bellevue Christian): Berg averaged 13.5 points and four rebounds per game as the Falcons split a pair of home games with Lewis-Clark State. On Friday, Berg paced SPU with 14 points and five rebounds in the close 68-67 loss, connecting on 5 of 10 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range. Berg came back on Saturday with a 13-point, three-rebound performance in the 72-63 win. She shot 5 for 7 from the field and 3 for 4 from long range. For the week, Berg shot 58.8 percent from the field and 75 percent from three-point range.