(MSU Billings release)
PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of double-doubles including a career-high 18 rebounds last week has earned Montana State University Billings women’s basketball senior Alisha Breen the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week award announced the conference office Monday.
This is Breen’s fourth GNAC Player of the Week honor this season, and the sixth of her career. She tied Nicole Lynch of Humboldt State and Taylor Peacocke of Western Washington for second-most GNAC Player of the Week honors in conference history. The record is eight by Alaska Anchorage’s Rebecca Kielpinski. “Alisha played very well and consistently this past week, and I was especially impressed with her versatility and rebounding,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “Her work ethic, passion, and leadership were all key components to our success last week.”
Against Northwest Nazarene University on Thursday, Breen hauled in a personal-best 18 rebounds while adding 16 points, three blocks, and three steals in 39 minutes. The GNAC Preseason Player of the Year followed that with a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double on Saturday to help the Yellowjackets to a key 86-84 win over Central Washington University.
Overall on the week Breen had 36 points, 31 rebounds, five blocks, three steals, and two assists, while playing 76 of 80 minutes. She went 16-for-19 from the foul line, and is currently No. 2 in the NCAA Division II in made free throws with 104 through 18 games this year. She moved to No. 2 in GNAC history in made free throws, with 447 in her career. She is 26 free throws away from breaking the GNAC career record of 472 (Erin Chambers, 2011-15).
GNAC Women’s Basketball Career Free Throw Leaders (1/15/18)
Rank Name School Free Throws Seasons
1 Erin Chambers Simon Fraser 472 2011-15
2 Alisha Breen MSU Billings 447 2013-15, 17-18
3 Rose Shaw Central Washington 434 1998-2002
4 Rebecca Kielpinski Alaska Anchorage 432 2005-09
5 Jenn McGillivray Western Washington 429 2000-04
6 Nicole Bozek Alaska 426 2007-12
7 Taylor Peacocke Western Washington 405 2013-17
8 Taylor Simmons Northwest Nazarene 387 2012-16
9 Cody Burgess Alaska 377 2002-05
10 Katie Benson Seattle Pacific 374 2010-14
Breen leads the GNAC with 20.4 points per game, and is second in the league with 9.2 boards per game. Her eight double-doubles this year are second most in the conference, and she now has 15 in her career.
With her 36 points last week, Breen moved to No. 10 in GNAC history and No. 5 in MSUB history with 1,578 points in her career.
The Yellowjackets (12-6, 5-3 GNAC) return to conference play this week with road games at Western Oregon University on Thursday and Concordia University on Saturday. Tipoff against the Wolves in Monmouth, Ore., is set for 6:15 p.m. Mountain time, and tipoff against the Cavaliers in Portland is also at 6:15 p.m. Mountain time.
