RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the league’s Players of the Week for the first week of the 2014-15 basketball season. East Central's Henry Pwono picked up the men's honor and Harding's Arielle Saunders garnered the women's award.
GAC MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Henry Pwono, F, Sr., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
At the Great American Conference/Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Challenge, Pwono averaged 20.5 points and 11 rebounds. He scored 33 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the victory against Wayne State College. He converted on 14-of-18 from the floor, including an 11-of-14 performance against the Wildcats.
GAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Arielle Saunders, Harding, F, Sr., Valley Springs, Arkansas
Saunders helped the No. 15 Lady Bisons open 2-0 as she averaged 16.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in wins against Christian Brothers and Cameron. After scoring 13 points and grabbing 14 rebounds against Christian Brothers, she came within two assists of a triple-double in a 115-84 win against Cameron. Harding set the school scoring record in that victory.
NOTABLE MEN’S NOMINEES
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Martell Collins, Jr., F, Southwestern Oklahoma State (Averaged 22.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG; shot 53.8 percent from the 3-point arc)
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Darius Harris, Sr., F, Southeastern Oklahoma State (Recorded double-doubles vs Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State)
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Sharif Hudson, Sr., G, Arkansas-Monticello (Totaled 28 points, five rebounds and six steals vs Champion Baptist)
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Blake McNair, Jr., G, Harding (Hit 8-of-11 on 3-pointers including 6-of-7 against Christian Brothers)
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LB Willis, So., G, Southern Nazarene (Scored 18 points with five rebounds, five assists and five steals in opening victory)
NOTABLE WOMEN’S NOMINEES
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Aminata Fall, Sr., C, Southern Nazarene (Scored 24 points with 16 rebounds and nine blocks against York College)
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Taylor Fischer, Sr., G, East Central (Tallied 16 points and six rebounds in season-opening victory against Rogers State)
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Jordan Goforth, Jr., F, Arkansas-Monticello (Totaled 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in season-opener vs Lindenwood)
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Chanel Miller, Sr., F, Southern Arkansas (Averaged 12.0 points and shot 61.5 percent at the TexAnn Tip Off Classic)
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Emily Williams, Sr., G, Southeastern Oklahoma State (Led Savage Storm to two wins by averaging 16.0 PPG and 8.5 RPG)