2011-12 GAC BASKETBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK (PDF)
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas-Monticello’s LA Farmer (pictured left) and Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Sumiya Darden (pictured right) have been named the Great American Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players of the Week for their performances during the fifth week of the 2011-12 season.
Farmer and Darden become the final GAC basketball players of the week for the 2011 calendar year. The next award period will cover all games played from December 12-January 1.
MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Arkansas-Monticello senior guard LA Farmer has been named the GAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after leading the Boll Weevils in scoring and assists throughout a 3-0 week to improve the team’s overall record to 9-2. The Carrollton, Ga. native racked up a weekly total of 76 points for an average of 25.3 per game and field goal percentage of 56.9 (29-of-51). In addition to his offensive numbers, Farmer also totaled 18 assists, 17 rebounds and four steals throughout the week. The conference’s second highest scorer started the week with 25 points, six rebounds and five assists in an 83-62 win over Delta State. He followed that later in the week with 28 points, five rebounds and five assists in an 87-72 win over Philander Smith. Finally, Farmer eclipsed the 20-point mark for the eighth time this season with 23 points, six rebounds and eight assists in a 116-45 blowout win over Champion Baptist.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Southwestern Oklahoma State senior center Sumiya Darden has been named the GAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after averaging 20 points and seven rebounds per game, while shooting just over 70 percent from the field in a 2-0 week for the Bulldogs (5-1). The Fresno, Calif. native started the week with 12 points and three rebounds in an 80-73 win over Central Oklahoma. Her best performance came in a 109-83 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State this past Saturday, making 13-of-17 shots and 2-of-3 from the foul line for a total of 28 points. She added 11 rebounds to her final totals for her second double-double of the season.
NOTABLE NOMINEES
M – Marin Zelalija, JR, G, SW Oklahoma State (16 points, 4 three-pointers in a 75-67 win over Central Oklahoma)
M – Chase Spruiell, SR, F, Southern Arkansas (17 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists in a 69-65 win over Northeastern St.)
M – Johnie Davis, SR, G, Arkansas Tech (29 points, 5 three-pointers, 5 steals in a 54-53 win over Central Oklahoma)
M – Emmanuel Engulu, SR, G/F, Ouachita Baptist (15 points, 9 rebounds in an 82-64 loss to North Alabama)
W – Taylor Clark, SR, F, Arkansas-Monticello (14 points, 13 rebounds in a 61-55 win over Christian Brothers)
W – Lindsay McCown, JR, F, East Central (22 points, 12 rebounds in an 88-59 win over Mid-American Christian)
W – Natalia Santos, SR, F, Arkansas Tech (18 points, 8 rebounds in an 80-52 win over St. Edward’s)
W – A’Laeshia Adams, SR, G, Ouachita Baptist (15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists in a 65-60 win over Delta State)