Wednesday, December 7, 2022

THIS WEEK'S GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Samantha Bowman
Central Washington
C • 6-3 • Sr. • Zillah, Wash.
Bowman was named the GNAC Player of the Week for the second time of the season after leading Central Washington to a pair of wins while averaging 21 points, 16 rebounds, 2,5 assists and 2.5 steals per game to open the GNAC schedule. She put up 25 points, 17 rebounds, three steals and an assist in Thursday’s 69-56 win over Western Oregon. Bowman followed that up with another double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds to go with four assists and two steals in Saturday’s 74-54 win over Saint Martin’s.

Also Nominated: Paola Perez-Mendoza (Alaska), Vishe’ Rabb (Alaska Anchorage), Cariann Kunkel (Montana State Billings), Clare Eubanks (Northwest Nazarene), Anjel Galbraith (Saint Martin’s), Jessica Wisotzki (Simon Fraser), Cali McClave (Western Oregon), Avery Dykstra (Western Washington)

AROUND THE GNAC

ALASKA
• Alaska opened the conference schedule with a pair of losses at home, falling 67-61 to Montana State Billings on Monday and 65-60 to Seattle Pacific on Thursday.

• Junior forward Emma Wass highlighted the week for the Nanooks on Thursday with a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three blocks against the Yellowjackets.

• The Nanooks were led by sophomore guard Sam Tolliver and junior forward Caitlin Pusich, who both averaged 9.5 points per game. Tollliver put up 11 points to go with three assists and two steals on Monday. She followed that up on Thursday with eight points, two assists and two steals on Thursday. Pusich finished with eight points on Monday to go along with two boards and followed that up with an 11-point performance on Thursday.

• Alaska will host Multnomah on Friday and Saturday for a pair of non-conference games.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE
• Alaska Anchorage split the opening week of conference play at home with a 68-61 loss to Montana State Billings on Thursday before bouncing back with a 62-54 win over Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

• Senior guard Vishe’ Rabb was the leader for the Seawolves, averaging 12 points and seven rebounds per game. Rabb opened the week on Thursday with 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists over just 14 minutes. She then came back with 14 points and eight rebounds in the win over Seattle Pacific. Across the week, Rabb went a perfect 6 for 6 from the free throw line.

• Sophomore guard Jazzpher Evans was another top performer for UAA last week, averaging 10 points per game while shooting 60% from the field. Evans put together a solid game against SPU where she put up 11 points while going 3 for four from the field, 1 for 1 from three-point range and 4 for 6 from the charity stripe while also adding four assists.

• The Seawolves have been deadly from downtown this season. They lead the  GNAC and rank sixth in Division II with an average of 30.6 three-point attempts per game while also ranking second in the conference and 11th in the division with an average of 9.9 three-pointers made per game.

• Alaska Anchorage will host William Jewell for back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
• Central Washington opened the GNAC slate with a pair of wins, 69-56 over Western Oregon on Thursday and 74-54 over Saint Martin’s on Saturday.

• The Wildcats are led by the powerhouse trio of senior center Samantha Bowman, freshman shooting guard Asher Cai and sophomore point guard Valerie Huerta. All three players rank in the top seven of GNAC point scorers. Huerta also ranks 27th in Division II with an average of 19.4 points per game.

• Bowman led the team last week with a pair of double-doubles and an average of 21 points and 16 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 54% from the field and 87% from the three-point line. She leads the GNAC and Division II in rebounds (109) and defensive rebounds per game (10.9). Her performances last week earned Bowman her second GNAC Player of the Week award of the season.

• Cai ranks third for CWU and ranks seventh in the conference in scoring with 16.8 points per game. She leads all GNAC freshmen in scoring, steals, and 3-pointers made. Cai averaged 19.5 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal per game last week.

• Huerta averaged 14.5 points and four rebounds, three assists and two steals per game over the week. She ranks second in scoring in the GNAC with 19.4 points per game.

• Central Washington will play a pair of non-conference games against Lincoln (Calif.) on Friday and Northwest (Wash.) on Saturday.           

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings swept its Alaska trip to start the conference schedule with a 67-61 win over Alaska on Monday and a 68-61 win over nationally-ranked Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

• Senior forward Cariann Kunkel led the way for the Yellowjackets with an average of 15 points and 4.5 rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals per game. She also finished the week going 12 for 13 from the free-throw line. Kunkel paced MSUB with 21 points on Monday and followed that up with a nine-point night on Saturday.

• The Yellowjackets sit at the top of the conference standings with an 8-1 overall record. They lead the GNAC in rebounding defense, allowing 30.7 per game, and rank second in the conference in scoring defense, scoring margin, free throw percentage and rebounding margin.

• Montana State Billings will be back in non-conference action this week hosting Rocky Mountain on Thursday and Montana State Northern on Saturday.    

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene was one of three teams to start the GNAC season with a pair of victories at home with a 77-64 win over Saint Martin’s on Thursday and a 67-58 win over Western Oregon on Saturday.

• The Nighthawks were paced by junior forward Clare Eubanks, who averaged 14 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per game through the two wins. On Thursday, Eubanks put up 16 points while shooting 50% from the field and adding four rebounds. On Saturday, she led the team with 12 points and added four rebounds, three assists and two steals while going a perfect 4 for 4 from the three-point line.

• The Nighthawks lead the GNAC and rank ninth in Division II with an average of 13.6 steals per game and also rank 10th in the division with 24.88 turnovers forced per game. Junior guard Emma Clark leads the conference and ranks 17th in Division II with 23 steals.

• Northwest Nazarene will play one game next week, traveling to Orem, Utah to face Utah Valley on Saturday.

SAINT MARTIN’S
• Saint Martin’s dropped both games of its conference-opening road trip, falling 77-64 at Northwest Nazarene on Thursday and 74-54 at Central Washington on Saturday.

• Junior guard Anjel Galbraith was the top offensive threat for the Saints, averaging 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, five assists and two steals per game. She posted her best night of the week on Thursday with 19 points against Northwest Nazarene to go along with five boards, six assists, and a steal. Galbraith ranks second in the GNAC with 2.4 steals per game and 10th with an average of 14.6 points per game.

• As a team, the Saints lead the conference in three-point defense, allowing only 24.3% from beyond the arc.

• Saint Martin’s will host Evergreen State on Saturday before taking an extended break from competition until New Year’s Eve.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
• Seattle Pacific maintained its .500 record by splitting the opening week of GNAC play. The Falcons took a 65-60 win over Alaska on Thursday before falling to Alaska Anchorage 63-54 on Saturday.

• Senior forward Natalie Hoff led the charge for SPU with an average of 14 points and six rebounds per game while shooting 10 for 22 from the field, 2 for 3 from three-point range and 6 for 7 from the charity stripe. Her week was highlighted by a 16-point performance in Thursday’s win where she also racked up six boards, three assists and three blocks.

• Senior guard/forward Ashley Alter paces SPU with an average of 18 points per game while shooting 49.1% from the field.

• Seattle Pacific will host Lincoln (Calif.) on Thursday before making the trip to California to play Dominican on Monday.

SIMON FRASER
• Simon Fraser dropped its GNAC season-opener 69-60 to Western Washington at home on Saturday.

• The Red Leafs were led by the Wisotzki sisters who both put up double-digit points against the Vikings. Junior guard/forward Jessica Wisotzki led the way in points, connecting for 20 to go along with three rebounds and two steals. Sophomore guard Sophia Wisotzki wasn’t far behind her sister with 17 points and matched her with three rebounds while also adding four assists and three steals.

• Jessica Wisotzki has proved to be a lethal offensive threat in the early stages of the season leading the GNAC and Division II with 25 points per game and a 70.8 three-point percentage.

• As a team, the Red Leafs lead the conference and rank fourth in the division with a 41.2 three-point percentage.

• Simon Fraser will not return to the court for competition until Dec. 29 when it will host Alaska.

WESTERN OREGON
• Western Oregon dropped both of its matches last week, falling 69-56 at Central Washington on Thursday and 67-58 at Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

• Despite the final scores, junior guard Cali McClave had a solid week for the Wolves, averaging 23 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. McClave posted 18 points to go with three boards, three steals and a block on Thursday against the Wildcats. She followed that up with a double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday while shooting 46% from three-point range.

• The Wolves are one of the best rebounding teams in Division II. They rank eighth in rebounding with 45.67 rebounds 10th with 31 defensive rebounds per game.

• Western Oregon will travel to travel to Salem, Oregon on Friday to face Corban before coming home for its first home game of the season against Willamette on Saturday.

WESTERN WASHINGTON
• Western Washington extended its win streak to five games with a 73-64 win at Point Loma on Tuesday and  69-60 win at Simon Fraser to open conference play on Saturday.

• Senior guard Avery Dykstra paced the Vikings last week, averaging 15.5 points per game while going 13 for 14 from the free-throw line. She opened the week with 19 points, three rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal on Tuesday. She then put up 12 points, two rebounds, two blocks, one assist,and one steal against SFU.

• Junior forward Brooke Walling ranks top 10 in the conference in seven statistical categories including rebounding (2nd), field goal percentage (3rd), assists (9th), blocked shots (1st), assist/turnover ratio (6th), offensive rebounds (T-5th) and defensive rebounds (2nd). Her 13 blocks also ranks 17th in Division II.

• Western Washington will not return to the court for competition until the 2022 Hoops in Hawaii Classic on Dec. 16.