RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Southeastern Oklahoma State’s Urald King and Whitney Coffey have been named the first-ever Great American Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players of the Week for their performances in the first week of the 2011-12 season.

MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Southeastern Oklahoma State junior forward Urald King has been named GAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his efforts in Savage Storm’s season-opening games in the Tarleton State Classic this past weekend. The West Monroe, La. native averaged a double-double of 15 points and 12.5 rebounds per game in a 61-50 loss to No. 8 Tarleton State and a 73-67 loss to Eastern New Mexico. Against Tarleton, King totaled 11 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes, and later added 19 points and 14 rebounds in a 39-minute effort in the loss to ENMU. King finished the week shooting 50 percent from the field (13-of-26).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Southeastern Oklahoma State senior forward Whitney Coffey has been named the GAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after leading the Savage Storm in their season-opening games in the St. Edward’s Classic this past weekend. The Princeton, Texas native started the week with 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots in a 85-74 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville. The next day, she collected 20 points and five steals in an 85-76 loss to Missouri-St. Louis. For the week, Coffey shot 50 percent from the field (14-of-28) and 67 percent from the free-throw line (6-of-9).

NOTABLE NOMINEES
M – Randolph Howell, SR, F, East Central (12.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg in a 1-1 week for the Tigers)
W – Jessica Weatherford, JR, F, Arkansas Tech (14 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks, 4 steals in a 115-59 win over Central Bapt.)
W – Sierra Rollins, SR, G, Harding (15 points, 12 rebounds in a 68-50 win over Missouri Southern)