2011-12 GAC BASKETBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK (PDF)
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Tech’s Will Paul (pictured left) and Henderson State’s Sheay Longstaff (pictured right) have been named the Great American Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players of the Week for their performances in the fourth week of the 2011-12 season.
MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Arkansas Tech junior center Will Paul has been named the GAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after averaging 20 points per game in a 1-1 week for the Wonder Boys. The Corpus Christi, Texas native scored 20 points in each of his team’s outings over the past week. Paul started the week by making 8-of-14 shots from the field in a 64-61 win over Christian Brothers on the road and ended the week by making 9-of-15 shots in a 79-68 loss to Central Oklahoma on the road. He made two three-pointers and collected five rebounds in the win over CBU, while adding seven more rebounds in the loss to UCO. Paul becomes the second Wonder Boy to earn player of the week honors this season.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Henderson State junior guard Sheay Longstaff has been named the GAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week after leading the Lady Reddies to a 3-0 week. The Topeka, Kan. native racked up a total of 43 points, 39 coming from three-pointers, in wins over Texas A&M-International (89-75), Philander Smith (83-54) and Texas-Permian Basin (80-59). Her best performance came in the win over Philander Smith, sinking 8-of-15 shots from the field, including 6-of-11 from three-point range for a total of 22 points. Longstaff scored 12 points in the win over UTPB and nine points in the win over TAMU-International. All of her points against UTPB and TAMU-International were made from behind the three-point arc. She becomes the first HSU player to receive player of the week honors from the GAC.
NOTABLE NOMINEES
M – Kori Forge, JR, G, Arkansas-Monticello (15 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 46.2 FG pct. in a 1-1 week for the Boll Weevils)
M – Bradley Spencer, JR, G, Harding (15 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 62.5 FG pct. in a 2-0 week for the Bisons)
M – Chase Spruiell, SR, G, Southern Arkansas (18 ppg, 6 rpg, 65.0 FG pct. in a 2-0 week for the Muleriders)
W – Lily Abreu, JR, G, Arkansas Tech (15 points, 6 steals in an 82-51 win over Christian Brothers)
W – Arielle Sanders, FR, F, Harding (12 points, 10 rebounds in an 80-30 win over Central Baptist)