Basketball to start next season. women’s soccer begins in 2011//

YAKIMA — Central Washington personnel applauded the GNAC’s announcement Tuesday that conference tournaments will be held for men’s and women’s basketball and women’s soccer, but also expressed concern that changes might be necessary for the events to survive.

At issue is the present format which stipulates that games be played at the site of the highest seed, as opposed to having some or all games at a predetermined location. And in a conference featuring schools in Billings, Mont. as well as Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska, travel costs in an age of continuing budget constraints loom large.

“It’s a concern,” Central athletic director Jack Bishop said. “We had a number of different proposals, and this is ultimately what we came up with. Personally, I’ve wanted a tournament since I’ve been here (in July of 2000). So what I would say is this is a great way to start it, then we’ll evaluate it after the first year and hopefully we’ll always have a tournament.”

While men’s and women’s basketball will begin conference tournament play next season, scheduling conflicts have pushed the inaugural event for women’s soccer, which competes in the fall, to 2011.

The GNAC had been one of only two NCAA Division II conferences without a postseason basketball tournament — the other being the PacWest Conference — to determine its automatic playoff berth. Eight of the GNAC’s nine teams will qualify.

“I think it’s very good for the conference,” CWU coach Greg Sparling said. “I’m a fan of the tournament and I think it’s long overdue. As coaches, talked about having it a predetermined site because in this economy the last thing you want is to get hooked for a lot of money when it’s over.”

Bishop said the financial element isn’t much of a concern for Central’s men, who have finished among the conference’s top four teams of late and would thereby host at least a first-round game. The women’s squad has struggled, however.

“My preference would be to have a site where the men and women would both play so fans could watch if their school had both teams playing,” Bishop said. “But I think this is a good start, and hopefully we’ll find a way to tweak it in the future.”

Said conference commissioner Richard Hannan in a news release, “This is something the athletic directors and our management council have examined for years. Due to travel challenges and because of our geographical setting we have been unable to move forward.

“The management council felt it was time to explore this format and the opportunities it presents.”

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Ellensburg High School standout Deaira Gordon has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Central Washington.

Gordon, a 5-foot-11 forward, joined Daisy Burke from Spokane’s Lewis and Clark High in having signed with the Wildcats, CWU coach Jeff Whitney announced Wednesday.

At Ellensburg, Gordon helped the Bulldogs to four Class 2A state tournament trophies. Last March she was a first-team all-state selection after leading Ellensburg to a fourth-place finish in the SunDome, having averaged 16.9 points a game as a senior.

Over her four-year career, Gordon totaled 1,221 points and was a three-time All-CWAC selection.

The 5-7 Burke was a four-year letter winner at Lewis and Clark.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Central Washington has announced that Nneka Payne, a 5-foot-6 point guard, has transferred to the university from Sacramento State and will play for the Wildcats’ women’s basketball team next season.

Payne, who prepped at Auburn and Auburn Riverside, played two seasons at Sacramento State. She averaged 4 points a game as a freshman and 5.9 points in eight games last season before leaving the team in December.

As a senior at Auburn High School, Payne averaged 15 points.

“Nneka’s transfer to Central fills a key spot that we as a program need to be successful in the coming years,” CWU coach Jeff Whitney said in a university release.

Central was 7-19 last year, including 4-12 in the GNAC.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Former Ellensburg High standout Sarah McNamee, playing at Montana State Billings, shared GNAC newcomer of the year honors with Alaska Anchorage’s Kelsie Gourdin as part of the all-GNAC women’s basketball team that was announced Tuesday.

Central Washington sophomore Sophie Russell was named honorable mention.

Russell led the Wildcats in scoring with a 13.9 per-game average, and their third-leading rebounder (4.5 per game). She started all 26 games, and led the GNAC in minutes played (34.2).

In other honors, Seattle Pacific’s Daesha Henderson was named player of the year, Northwest Nazarene’s Heather Adams was freshman of the year, and Julie van Beek was coach of the year.

WOMEN’S ALL-GNAC TEAMS

Player of the Year: Daesha Henderson, Seattle Pacific.

Newcomer of the Year: (tie) Kelsie Gourdin, Alaska Anchorage and Sarah McNamee, Montana State Billings.

Freshman of the Year: Heather Adams, Northwest Nazarene

Coach of the Year: Julie van Beek, Seattle Pacific.

First Team

Lindsay Brady, Sr., Northwest Nazarene; Amanda Dunbar, Jr., Western Washington; Daesha Henderson, Sr., Seattle Pacific; Nicci Miller, Sr., Alaska Anchorage; Jessica Summers, Sr., Western Washington; Katie Torland, Sr., Western Oregon.

Second Team

Willow Cabe, Sr., Western Washington; Tamar Gruwell, Sr., Alaska Anchorage; Megan Hoisington, Sr., Seattle Pacific; Kayla Ryan, Jr., Montana State Billings; Dara Zack, Jr., Saint Martin’s.

Honorable Mention

Kelsie Gourdin, Jr., Alaska Anchorage; Kristin Hein, Sr., Northwest Nazarene; Hanna Johansson, So., Alaska Anchorage; Janee Olds, Sr., Northwest Nazarene; Sophie Russell, So., Central Washington.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Sophie Russell scored 20 points to lead Central Washington past Montana State Billings 64-60 on Saturday night in the final game of the season for both teams in Nicholson Pavilion.

Sara Bergner added 17 points for the Wildcats, who finished 4-12 in GNAC play and 7-19 overall. Billings finished 4-12 and 11-16.

Shaina Afoa added 12 points for Central, which forced 27 turnovers and overcame a 28-24 halftime deficit.

CWU trailed 46-36 with 13:07 to play but went ahead to stay on a 3-pointer by Russell, who scored 13 of her points in the second half.

MSU BILLINGS — Rachel Hansen 5-8 0-0 14, Mandy Jacobs 4-7 0-0 10, Ryan 3-9 1-4 7, Sarah McNamee 7-21 2-4 16, Kalli Stanhope 3-11 2-2 11, Lott 0-1 0-0 0, Reed 1-3 0-0 2, Porter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-60 5-10 60.
CENTRAL WASHINGTON — Sophie Russell 6-15 4-4 20, Sara Bergner 5-9 5-6 17, Shaina Afoa 4-5 4-4 12, Duerr 2-9 2-2 6, Fernandez 0-3 2-2 2, Betteridge 1-4 0-0 2, Jacobs 2-6 0-0 4, Albrecht 0-4 1-2 1. Totals 20-55 18-20 64.
Halftime — MSUB 28, CWU 24. 3-point goals — MSUB 9-22 (Hansen 4-5, Jacobs 2-3, Ryan 0-1, McNamee 0-7, Stanhope 3-6); CWU 6-17 (Russell 4-9, Bergner 2-4, Duerr 0-1, Fernandez 0-1, Betteridge 0-2). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — MSUB 48 (Ryan 18); CWU 26 (Afoa 7). Assists — MSUB 18 (McNamee 6); CWU 13 (Bergner 3, Afoa 3). Turnovers — MSUB 27, CWU 13. Total fouls — MSUB 15, CWU 11.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Jamey Gelhar and Dara Zack combined for 58 points as Saint Martin’s beat Central Washington 76-64 in GNAC women’s basketball Thursday night in Nicholson Pavilion.

Sara Bergner scored 21 points for the Wildcats, who have lost eight straight. At 3-12 in conference play and 6-19 overall, CWU will end its season with a 5:15 p.m. Saturday home game against MSU Billings.

Gelhar, who hit 4 of 4 shots from 3-point range and 11 of 14 from the foul line, finished with 25 points. Zack had 23 points and 12 rebounds.

The Saints (5-10, 11-15) led 34-31 at halftime but shot 52 percent (12 for 23) during the second half.

SAINT MARTIN’S — Dara Zack 7-12 9-11 23, Krissy Bassett 4-9 0-0 10, Hawkins 2-7 0-0 4, Roni Jo Mielie 4-13 1-2 11, Jamie Gelhar 5-8 11-14 25, Schang 0-1 0-0 0, Lawson 0-2 0-0 0, Busch 1-1 0-0 3, Lashua 0-0 0-0 0, Teade 0-0 0-0 0, Baker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-53 21-27 76.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON — Sophie Russell 3-10 6-8 12, Sara Bergner 7-13 4-6 21, Shaina Afoa 4-6 2-2 10, Duerr 0-4 0-0 0, Jacobs 2-6 0-0 5, Betteridge 3-6 0-0 6, Fernandez 1-4 1-2 4, WalkingChild 0-2 0-0 0, Albrecht 3-9 0-1 6. Totals 23-60 13-19 64.

Halftime — SMU 34, CWU 31. 3-point goals — SMU 9-19 (Bassett 2-4, Mielke 2-8, Gelhar 4-4, Schang 0-1, Lawson 0-1, Busch 1-1); CWU 5-22 (Russell 0-4, Bergner 3-6, Duerr 0-2, Jacobs 1-4, Betteridge 0-2, Fernandez 1-4). Fouled out — Duerr. Rebounds — SMU 33 (Zack 12); CWU 41 (Russell 8, Bergner 7, Albrecht 7). Assists — SMU 13 (Mielke 5); CWU 13 (Bergner 4). Turnovers — SMU 15, CWU 19. Total fouls — SMU 16, CWU 22.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Jon Clift, Noble’D Shelton and Sara Bergner of Central Washington were included on the GNAC’s academic all-conference team which was released Wednesday.

Clift, a senior from Spokane, has compiled a 3.20 grade point average in accounting. Shelton, a senior from Auburn, has a 3.29 GPA in business administration and Bergner, a senior from Bellingham, has a 3.25 GPA in business administration.

Also named to the women’s team was West Valley High graduate Katie Hawkins, a junior at Saint Martin’s. The English major has a 3.69 GPA.

SEATTLE — Seattle Pacific University outscored Central Washington 23-5 over the final 9:17 to subdue the stubborn Wildcats, winning 74-48 in a GNAC women’s basketall game Saturday night at Brougham Pavilion.

The 19th-ranked Falcons improved to 13-1 in league and 22-3 overall. Central (3-11, 6-18) lost its eighth straight.

Sophie Russell and Brooke Fernandez were the only Central players to reach double figures, scoring 16 and 10 points, respectively. The Wildcats shot just 29.8 percent.

Seattle Pacific had four double-digit scorers, led by Daesha Henderson’s 30 points. Megan Hoisington (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Melissa Reich (12 points, 12 rebounds) had double-doubles for the winners.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON — Russell 4-12 6-8 16, Fernandez 4-7 0-0 10, Duerr 3-8 0-0 7, Bergner 2-6 2-2 6, Jacobs 2-8 0-0 5, WalkingChild 1-3 0-0 2, Betteridge 1-4 0-0 2, Albrecht 0-4 0-3 0, Afoa 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 17-57 8-13 48.

SEATTLE PACIFIC — Henderson 9-16 6-8 30, Hoisington 7-15 1-3 15, Reich 6-10 0-5 12, Rohrbach 3-5 5-6 11, Harazin 1-8 2-2 4, Sims 1-6 0-0 2, Maloney 0-5 0-0 0, Murray 0-0 0-0 0, Thralls 0-2 0-0 0, Teng 0-0 0-0 0, Gorman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-67 14-24 74.

Halftime—Seattle Pacific 32, Central Washington 24. 3-Point goals—Central Washington 6-19 (Fernandez 2-4, Russell 2-4, Duerr 1-4, Jacobs 1-4, Betteridge 0-1, WalkingChild 0-1, Bergner 0-1), Seattle Pacific 6-20 (Henderson 6-9, Hoisington 0-1, Harazin 0-4, Sims 0-2, Maloney 0-4). Fouled out—Afoa. Rebounds—Central Washington 37 (Afoa 7, Russell 7), Seattle Pacific 53 (Reich 12). Assists—Central Washington 8 (Jacobs 3), Seattle Pacific 22 (Harazin 6). Total fouls—Central Washington 19, Seattle Pacific 12.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Jessica Summers had 20 points and a career-high 19 rebounds as Western Washington rolled past Central Washington 70-48 in a GNAC women’s basketball game Thursday night.

Western, ranked third in the NCAA Division II West Region poll and 21st nationally, improved to 12-2 in the GNAC and 21-4 overall. Central (3-10, 6-17) lost its sixth straight.

Megan Pinske added a career-best 19 points for the Vikings.

Sophie Russell led the Wildcats with 17 points, and Sara Bergner added 13.

Central missed 16 of its first 18 shots in the game’s first 14 minutes as Western raced to a 28-8 lead. Down 37-21 at halftime, Central scored the first five points of the second half, but the Vikings responded with a 10-1 run and Central never got closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON — Russell 5-14 6-8 17, Bergner 4-9 4-4 13, Duerr 2-4 1-2 6, Betteridge 1-6 3-4 5, Jacobs 1-8 2-2 4, Albrecht 1-5 0-1 2, Afoa 0-1 1-2 1, WalkingChild 0-0 0-0 0, Fernandez 0-4 0-0 0, Calhoun 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-51 17-23 48.

WESTERN WASHINGTON — Summers 8-15 4-4 20, Pinske 8-14 2-4 19, Cabe 3-11 5-6 11, Hefflin 2-3 4-6 8, Dunbar 2-7 1-2 5, Ramstead 2-3 0-0 4, Fenimore 1-3 0-0 3, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Robinson 0-3 0-0 0, Waltrip 0-1 0-0 0, Stewart 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-60 16-22 70.

Halftime—Western Washington 37, Central Washington 21. 3-Point goals—Central Washington 3-19 (Bergner 1-4, Duerr 1-2, Russell 1-5, Fernandez 0-3, Jacobs 0-3, Betteridge 0-2), Western Washington, 2-10 (Pinske 1-3, Fenimore 1-2, Dunbar 0-3, Waltrip 0-1, Cabe 0-1). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Central Washington 28 (Albrecht 7), Western Washington, 48 (Summers 19). Assists—Central Washington 6 (Jacobs 2), Western Washington, 12 (Fenimore 4). Total fouls—Central Washington 21, Western Washington 19. A—565.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Brittany Roggenkamp and Lindsay Brady scored 12 points each to lead a balanced Northwest Nazarene offense as the Crusaders beat Central Washington 89-57 in GNAC women’s basketball Thursday night in Nicholson Pavilion.

The loss, Central’s fifth straight, dropped the Wildcats to 3-9 in conference play and 6-16 overall. NNU improved to 6-5 and 16-6.

Sara Bergner led CWU with 15 points while Sophie Russell and Stacy Albrecht added 10 each.

Central continues GNAC play next Thursday night at Western Washington.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE — Brittany Roggenkamp 3-9 5-5 12, Kristin Hein 4-9 2-2 11, Williams 1-8 2-2 4, Adams 3-5 0-0 9, Lindsay Brady 5-11 1-1 12, Bazzi 2-4 0-0 4, Smith 2-2 0-0 5, Schulte to Buhne 4-8 1-1 9, Johnson 1-2 0-0 2, Janee Olds 3-7 4-5 11, Oliver 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-66 15-16 79.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON — Sophie Russell 4-8 1-2 10, Sara Bergner 5-12 2-2 15, Afoa 0-2 4-6 4, Duerr 3-10 1-4 9, Fernandez 1-2 0-0 3, Betteridge 0-1 0-0 0, Jacobs 3-6 0-1 7, WalkingChild 0-1 0-0 0, Stacy Albrecht 5-8 0-1 10. Totals 21-50 8-16 58.
Halftime — NNU 39, CWU 22. 3-point goals — NNU 8-18 (Roggenkamp 1-2, Hein 1-1, Adams 3-5, Brady 1-2, Bazzi 0-1, Smith 1-1, Schulte to Buhne 0-1, Olds 1-4, Oliver 0-1); CWU 8-16 (Russell 1-4, Bergner 3-3, Duerr 2-7, Fernandez 1-1, Jacobs 1-1). Fouled out — Johnson. Rebounds — NNU 36 (Hein 10); CWU 37 (Albrecht 10). Assists — NNU 14 (Williams 4); CWU 12 (Russell 3, Bergner 3). Turnovers — NNU 14, CWU 26.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Tamar Gruwell scored 21 points, and three other players reached double figures as 17th-ranked Alaska Anchorage to a 76-52 victory over Central Washington in a GNAC women’s basketball game Saturday night.

Brittany Duerr hit five 3-pointers en route to 16 points, and Sophie Russell had 15 points to lead the Wildcats, who lost their fourth straight to fall to 3-8 in league and 6-15 overall.

Anchorage improved to 8-2 in the GNAC and 18-3 overall.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON — Brittany Duerr 5-10 1-2 16, Sophie Russell 5-12 3-5 15, Afoa 2-5 1-2 5, Bergner 2-7 1-1 5, Albrecht 2-6 0-0 4, Fernandez 1-6 2-2 4, Calhoun 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 18-47 8-12 52.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE — Tamar Gruwell 8-13 0-0 21, Nicci Miller 2-7 6-6 11, Leah Stepovich 3-7 2-2 11, Hanna Johansson 4-6 2-2 10, McBride 3-5 2-2 8, Gourdin 0-4 4-4 4, Larsen 1-2 2-2 4, Aden 1-10 0-0 3, Nenbee 1-2 0-0 2, Collins 1-1 0-0 2, Wohlers 0-0 0-1 0, Herrin 0-3 0-0 0, Horn 0-0 0-0 0, Martin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-61 18-19 76.

Halftime—Alaska Anchorage 35, Central Washington 25. 3-Point goals—Central Washington 8-21 (Duerr 5-7, Russell 2-6, Calhoun 1-1, Fernandez 0-4, Bergner 0-3), Alaska Anchorage 10-28 (Gruwell 5-10, Stepovich 3-7, Miller 1-2, Aden 1-6, Larsen 0-1, Herrin 0-1, Martin 0-1). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Central Washington 29 (Afoa 8), Alaska Anchorage 38 (Miller 8). Assists—Central Washington 12 (Duerr 6), Alaska Anchorage 20 (McBride 5). Total fouls—Central Washington 18, Alaska Anchorage 18.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Shaina Afoa had 11 points and 12 rebounds for Central Washington, but the Wildcats fell to Alaska Fairbanks 72-62 on Thursday night to snap a 19-game Nanooks losing streak.

Fairbanks, which had also lost its last 25 GNAC games, improved to 1-9 in the conference and 2-19 overall. Central, which had only eight available players and used seven, fell to 3-7 and 6-14.

Full statistics were not available at press time.

Tickets for Saturday’s Davis-Eisenhower boys basketball game will go on sale at both schools on Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Big Nine passes, Yakima School District season tickets and Student ASB cards will not be accepted for admission in the 7 p.m. district-tournament game.

Tickets will be $6 for adults and $4 for students.

If the contest is not sold out, all remaining tickets will be available for public sale prior to the contest beginning at 5:30 p.m.

A previous story incorrectly listed the starting time for the presale at 8 a.m. Friday.

For additional information, call the Davis High School Athletics office at 573-2529 or the Eisenhower Athletics office at 573-2611.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Central men fall to 10th in poll

Central Washington, which defeated top-ranked Seattle Pacific at home last week before losing at unranked Western Oregon, fell to 10th in this week’s NCAA Division II West Region men’s basketball poll.

The Wildcats, 6-3 in GNAC play and 12-7 overall, were without head coach Greg Sparling and top reserve Humberto Perez in the loss at Western Oregon. Sparling drove home early Saturday because of a family emergency and Perez missed the game to take care of personal issues.

To reach the playoffs, Central must be ranked among the region’s top eight in the final poll.

The Wildcats, with seven regular-season games remaining, visit Alaska Fairbanks tonight and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday.

NCAA Division II West Region poll — 1, Western Washington; 2, Seattle Pacific; 3, Cal State San Bernardino; 4, Cal Poly Pomona; 5, Humboldt State; 6, Dixie State; 7, BYU-Hawaii; 8, Alaska Anchorage; 9, Hawaii Pacific; 10, Central Washington.

Locals on CWU all-decade teams

ELLENSBURG — Sunnyside Christian’s Lance Den Boer, East Valley’s Elyse Maras and Goldendale’s Lindsay Weiss have been included on Central Washington’s all-decade teams for men’s and women’s basketball.

The 12-person teams were selected by men’s coach Greg Sparling and women’s coach Jeff Whitney.

Den Boer, a three-year Central standout from 2004-07 after transferring from Washington State, scored 1,592 points to ranked fifth on the school’s career scoring list. His average of 19.9 per game ranks third.

Maras, formerly Elyse Mengarelli, starred at Central from 2006-08 after one season at Montana State and one at Yakima Valley Community College. She is currently the athletic director at Highland High School.

Weiss spent two years at the Community Colleges of Spokane before playing at CWU from 2002-04.

Men’s all-decade team — Lance Den Boer (2004-078), Justin Thompson (2000-02), Chris Bannish (2004-06), Jake Beitinger (2007-09), Kyle Boast (2001-05), Brandon Foote (2007-09), Scott Freymond (2001-04), Nate Jackson (2006-08), Tyler Mitchell (2000-04), Colton Monti (2005-09), Matt Penoncello (2007-09) and Johnny Spevak (2005-09).

Women’s all-decade team — Elyse Maras (2006-08), Lindsay Weiss (2002-04), Loni Ainslie (2001-05), Jamie Corwin (2004-06), Hanna Hull (2004-08), Angela Jensen (2001-04), Meggen Kautzky (1999-2003), Dawnita LiaBraaten (2000-02), Karissa Martin (2001-03), Rose Shaw (1998-02), Alayna Vincent (2001-05) and Laura Wright (2003-07).

MONMOUTH, Ore. — Katie Torland made four 3-pointers, connected on 8 of 13 shots and finished with 29 points to lead Western Oregon to a 69-58 win over Central Washington in GNAC play Saturday afternoon.

Senior Shaina Afoa made 7 of 10 field-goal attempts and scored a season-high 16 points and Sophie Russell led with 17 points for Central, which fell to 3-6 in conference and 6-13 overall.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON — Sophie Russell 6-14 4-5 17; Shaina Afoa 7-10 2-2 16; Sara Bergner 3-6 4-6 10; Betteridge 3-7 1-2 7; Jacobs 1-7 2-2 4; Albrecht 1-5 0-0 2; Duerr 0-4 2-3 2; WalkingChild 0-4 0-0 0; Calhoun 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-57 15-20 58.

WESTERN OREGON — Katie Torland 8-13 9-12 29; Sara Zahler 5-10 4-5 16; Clifford 2-9 3-4 7; Corder 1-3 3-4 6; Bellando 2-4 0-0 4; Shearer 1-4 2-2 4; Wilson 1-3 0-0 2; White 0-8 1-2 1; Whitsett 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-55 22-29 69.

Halftime: Western Oregon 30, CWU 24. 3-point goals: CWU 1-8 (Russell 1-3), WO 7-24 (Torland 4-7; Zahler 2-5; Corder 1-2). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: CWU 40 (Bergner 7), WO 38 (Zahler 9). Assists: CWU 6 (Jacobs 2), WO 7 (Clifford 2; Corder 2; Zahler 2). Total fouls: CWU 21, WO 20.