Monday, November 22, 2021

PORTLAND, Ore. – Saint Martin’s Claire Dingus and Alaska’s Shadeed Shabazz put together impressive scoring displays to lead their teams to 2-0 weeks and earn GNAC Player of the Week accolades.

Dingus was named the GNAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after the junior forward averaged 26.5 points and nine rebounds per game in two wins at the Western Oregon Tournament. She made the difference in Friday’s 68-63 win over Sonoma State, finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. She had 23 of her points in the second half as the Saints came back from a 20-point half halftime deficit for the victory.

Dingus followed the Friday effort up with 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists in Saturday’s 55-54 win over Chico State. For the Week, Dingus shot 62.1 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and 83.1 percent from the free-throw line.

Shabazz was named the GNAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after averaging 26.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals per game for the Nanooks at the Ron Logsdon Challenge. On Friday, the senior guard finished with 13 points in Friday’s 85-79 win over host Sonoma State while also contributing five rebounds, four steals and two assists.

On Saturday, Shabazz carried Alaska with 40 points, 10 rebounds and five steals in a 98-89 overtime win over Cal State East Bay. He scored 27 points in the second half and 10 in overtime to lead the charge. It was Shabazz’s fifth 40-plus scoring performance in an Alaska uniform. He shot 51.6 percent from the field, 60 percent from three-point range and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line in the two wins.

Alaska Anchorage junior setter Ellen Floyd and Western Washington sophomore outside hitter Calley Heilborn picked up the final volleyball weekly awards of the season. Floyd was named the Offensive Player of the Week after she averaged 11.83 assists, 2.83 digs and 0.67 aces per set in two wins that kept the Seawolves in the postseason puzzle. Floyd finished with 32 assists, eight digs, four kills, four aces and a block in Thursday’s three-set win over Western Oregon. She added 39 assists, nine digs, two blocks and two kills in Saturday’s sweep of Saint Martin’s.

Heilborn was named the Defensive Player of the Week after she finished with 25 digs, 11 kills, three aces and two blocks in Saturday’s four-set win over Simon Fraser. The performance helped the Vikings enter the NCAA postseason on a 16-match win streak.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 13
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE
Ellen Floyd (Alaska Anchorage, S, 5-10, Jr., Pensacola, Fla. – Pensacola Catholic): Floyd averaged 11.83 assists, 2.83 digs, one kill and 0.67 aces per set to lead the Seawolves to two wins in a quest to clinch an NCAA Championships berth. Floyd finished with 32 assists, eight digs, four kills, four aces and a block in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Western Oregon. She closed the regular season with 39 assists, nine digs, two kills and two blocks in Saturday’s three-set sweep of Saint Martin’s. Also Nominated: Sophie Schilling (Alaska), Tia Allen (Saint Martin’s), Brooke Dexter (Simon Fraser), Gabby Gunterman (Western Washington).

VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE
Calley Heilborn (Western Washington, OH, 6-1, So., Auburn, Wash. – Auburn Riverside): Heilborn turned in a solid performance in Saturday’s four-set win over Simon Fraser, finishing with a double-double of 25 digs and 11 kills to go with three aces and two blocks. She helped the Vikings enter the NCAA postseason on a 16-match win streak. Also Nominated: Dani Dodge (Alaska), Akor Maywin (Alaska Anchorage), Tayler Markland (Northwest Nazarene), Kylie Alos (Saint Martin’s), Bianca Te (Simon Fraser).

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Shadeed Shabazz (Alaska, G, 6-1, Sr., Seattle, Wash. – Iowa Western Coll.): Shabazz led Alaska to a 2-0 week at the Ron Logsdon Challenge. On Friday, Shabazz finished 13 points, five rebounds and four steals in an 85-79 win over host Sonoma State. On Saturday, Shabazz blistered Cal State East Bay for 40 points, 10 rebounds and five steals in the 98-89 overtime win over the Pioneers. He scored 27 points in the second half and 10 in the extra period to carry the Nanooks. Also Nominated: Gabe Murphy (Northwest Nazarene), Brett Reed (Saint Martin’s), Divant’e Moffitt (Seattle Pacific), Jordan Lyons (Simon Fraser), Cameron Cranston (Western Oregon), Jalen Green (Western Washington).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Claire Dingus (Saint Martin’s, F, 6-0, Jr., Spokane Valley, Wash. – University): Dingus averaged 26.5 points and nine rebounds per game as the Saints to a pair of wins at the Western Oregon Tournament. Dingus came alive for 32 points, 10 points and five steals on 11 of 17 from the field in Friday’s 68-63 come-from-behind victory over Sonoma State. She had 23 points in the second half as the Saints came back from a 39-19 halftime deficit. Dingus finished with 21 points and eight rebounds in Saturday’s 55-54 win over Chico State. For the week, Dingus shot 62.1 percent from the field, 50 percent from three-point range and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line. Also Nominated: Pearle Green (Alaska), Nicole Pinkney (Alaska Anchorage), Erin Jenkins (Northwest Nazarene), Meadow Aragon (Western Oregon), Emma Duff (Western Washington).