Jan. 14, 2015
Contact: Nathan Webber
(503)305-8756/[email protected]
4 GNAC Teams in West Region Poll, Chambers is Nation’s Top Scorer
PORTLAND, Ore. – Four GNAC teams are ranked in the
Division II Sports Information Directors of America West
Region Top 10 released Monday.
Alaska Anchorage and Seattle Pacific held the top two
spots for the fourth week in a row while Alaska and
Western Washington re-enter the Top 10.
Even though this is the first time since Dec. 1 that more
than three teams are ranked in the poll, the GNAC has
held the West Regions top spot for eight weeks.
The Seawolves took over the No. 1 slot after holding it
for nearly the entire month of December. The Falcons,
who spent three weeks as the West Regions top team,
fell to second. Both UAA and SPU have only lost once
this season.
Alaska, which is on a six-game win streak since dropping
its first two conference games, re-enters the poll at No.
9 after a six week hiatus.
The Nanooks have 12 wins for the first time since the
2007-08 season and are on pace to have their best
season in their GNAC history.
Western Washington, which has outscored its
opponents by an average of 21.4 points in the last five
games, snags the 10th spot in the poll.
Simon Fraser fell out of the West Region poll for the
first time this season, but is in the “receiving votes”
category.
With 44 points scored last week, Simon Fraser’s Erin
Chambers takes over as the nation’s leading scorer.
Putting up 23.8 points per game, the senior forward has
recorded 309 points so far, a feat only 11 other players
have accomplished this year.
With at least 13 games left to play, the SFU senior is on
pace to shatter the GNAC’s all-time scoring record set
last season by MSUB’s Bobbi Knudsen. She also has a
chance to be the first women’s, and fifth overall, GNAC
basketball player to record 2,000 points in a career.
Chambers currently ranks in the top 10 in the
conference in scoring, assists, free throw percentage
and three-pointers made.
Standings and Schedule
GNAC
Team
#5 Alaska Anchorage
#12 Seattle Pacific
Alaska
Simon Fraser
Western Washington
Central Washington
Northwest Nazarene
MSU Billings
Saint Martin’s
Western Oregon
Overall
W
5
4
4
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
W
L
15 1
12 1
12 4
7 6
9 5
8 6
4 11
9 6
4 9
4 9
L
1
1
2
2
2
3
4
4
4
4
UPCOMING GAMES
THURSDAY, JAN. 15
Central Washington at Montana State Billings, 5:15 p.m.
Northwest Nazarene at Seattle Pacific, 5:15 p.m.
Saint Martin’s at Simon Fraser, 7 p.m.
Western Oregon at Western Washington, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, JAN. 17
Northwest Nazarene at Montana State Billings, 5:15 p.m.
Western Oregon at Simon Fraser, 7 p.m.
Saint Martin’s at Western Washington, 7 p.m.
Alaska at Alaska Anchorage, 7 p.m.
Central Washington at Seattle Pacific, 7:30 p.m.
Around the GNAC
Simon Fraser head coach Bruce Langford has a chance this
week to become the Clan’s all-time wins leader. With 363
victories, Langford needs two wins to surpass his
predecessor, Allison McNeill. The Clan host Saint Martin’s
and Western Oregon this week.
Three teams in the GNAC have only recorded one loss at
home this season – Alaska Anchorage, Seattle Pacific and
Central Washington. The Seawolves and the Falcons are
also both undefeated in road games.
Alaska and Central Washington have already won more
conference games this year than all of last season. Both
have also already surpassed their total season wins from
2013-14.
Alaska’s Benissa Bulaya and Western Washington’s Taylor
Peacocke were selected as Co-Players of the Week.