West, Williams Selected as Men’s Basketball POW

AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Games: January 29-February 1, 2020

EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Nate West, Sr., G, LeTourneau

LeTourneau senior guard Nate West (Houston, Texas) averaged 32.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 2.0 steals per game as the YellowJackets won two games against East Texas Baptist and moved into a three-way tie for first place in the ASC East. He became the first in ASC history to top 2,000 points in a career. West recorded 33 points, ten boards, nine assists, and three steals in a 92-85 home win over the Tigers. He followed with 31 points, ten rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in an 81-71 victory in Marshall. It is West’s sixth Player of the Week of the season and 14th of his career.

WEST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Mike Williams Jr., Sr., F, McMurry

McMurry senior forward Mike Williams Jr. (Houston, Texas) averaged 23.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from the field and 91.3 percent (21-of-23) at the line, as the War Hawks split at home. He scored 21 points, including the game-tying free throw with a second left in regulation, with seven rebounds in a 111-109 overtime victory against Mary Hardin-Baylor. Williams then scored 26 points with 13 boards and three blocks while shooting 18-of-19 at the free-throw line in a loss to Concordia, Texas. It is the second Player of the Week award in his career.

OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES 

EAST DIVISION

Louisiana College junior guard Kae’ ron Baker (Navasota, Texas) averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists as the Wildcats split with Belhaven. He scored 20 points with five assists in an 87-84 loss on the road Wednesday, then followed with 26 points, nine boards and four assists in an 85-66 win at home on Saturday.

Ozarks senior guard Cordy Winston (Sherwood, Ark.) scored 17 points with three steals UT Dallas Saturday. Winston made all five of his free throw attempts and hit two from long range.

Belhaven senior forward Brosnan Cooks (Elba, Ala.) posted 24.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 50 percent (17-of-34) as the Blazers split with Louisiana College. He scored 29 points with nine boards and seven assists in an 87-84 home win. Cooks scored 19 points with four rebounds in a loss at LC.

UT Dallas junior forward Kelden Pruitt (Heath, Texas) led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points Saturday afternoon as the Comets earned a 64-60 road win over Ozarks, helping UTD head coach Terry Butterfield to his 500th career victory. Pruitt was 5-for-13 from the field and added nine rebounds and four assists as the Comets moved into a three-way tie for first place in the ASC East Division with three weeks left in the regular season.

WEST DIVISION

Hardin-Simmons sophomore forward Steven Quinn (Dallas, Texas) averaged 18.0 points, and 9.5 rebounds as the Cowboys split a pair of games. He had a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds against Concordia Texas and came back with a team-best 23 points and nine rebounds in a 106-103 overtime win over Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Concordia Texas freshman guard Luis Gonzalez (Carolina, P.R.) averaged 20.0 points, and 3.5 steals per game as the Tornados extended their win streak to five games. At Hardin-Simmons, Gonzalez scored a game-high 26 points, and four steals, including going 12-of-16 at the free-throw line as CTX closed out the game on a 15-2 run to secure the 81-64 victory. On Saturday, he scored 15 points on seven shots as the Tornados held off McMurry in an 80-71 win.

Mary Hardin-Baylor junior guard Sam Moore (Gonzales, Texas) averaged 30.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game over two overtime losses last week. He shot 47 percent (16-of-34) from the field and was 22-of-22 at the free-throw line. He was just shy of a triple-double with 36 points, nine boards and nine assists in a two-point loss at McMurry. Moore recorded 24 points and three steals in a three-point loss at Hardin-Simmons.

ASC Announces Fall Distinguished Scholar-Athletes

All-Time Distinguished Scholar-Athletes

RICHARDSON, Texas – Six student-athletes from five different member universities headline the 2019 Fall American Southwest Conference Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams, the league office announced on Thursday. 

The Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipients include Michael Harris of Ozarks in men’s cross country, Alexis Segura of LeTourneau in women’s cross country, Brian Baca of East Texas Baptist in football, Mason Anderson of UT Dallas in men’s soccer, Kendell Groom of Hardin-Simmons in women’s soccer and Caroline Shecterle of UTD in volleyball. 

Overall, named were 65 student-athletes to the American Southwest Conference 2019 Fall Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams. 

The Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams recognize student-athletes who achieve a high level of academic achievement (a 3.20 grade-point average or better) while competing as a starter or important reserve on their team. From that list – limited to one nominee per school in each ASC championship sport – the sports information directors from the 12 ASC member institutions and two affiliate members select a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in each sport. 

Michael Harris (Elkins, Ark.) earns the men’s cross country Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row. Harris won the University of the Ozarks Invitational with a record course time and finished third at the ASC Championships to highlight the 2019 season. He placed 39th at the NCAA III South Regional and ran one of the programs best 8K times (26:10.4) at the NCAA III Pre-National race. Harris was named All-ASC First Team in 2019 following his performance at the ASC Championships with his career academic achievements include USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, ASC Academic All-Conference, President’s List and Dean’s List. Additional athletic honors include All-Region, ASC Newcomer of the Year and ASC Runner of the Week. Also a standout track athlete, Harris is a two-time All-Conference performer and was the ASC’s Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year in that sport. He has a 3.60 GPA in Health Sciences. 

Alexis Segura (Austin, Texas) also earned Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year in women’s cross country for the second consecutive season. Also, the ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a junior in track, she is on the 2019 fall women’s soccer Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team. Segura was a CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-America as a junior in cross country/track & field and CoSIDA Academic All-District selection in soccer as a senior. Segura was an All-South/Southeast Region pick in cross country, First Team All-ASC in cross country, and Second Team all-conference in soccer. Segura was the runner-up at ASC Championships in cross country. She has a 4.00 in Business Administration in graduate school. 

Brian Baca (Pittsburg, Texas) is the third recipient from ETBU to earn Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year in football. He was a two-time All-ASC First Team selection and four-time ASC Player of the Week. Baca has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team and is a three-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection. He was named to the ASC football Outstanding Sportsmen Team in 2017 and the D3football.com Team of the Week. Baca led the ASC in passing yards per game (228.6) and total offense (234.8). He is the Tigers’ all-time leader in passing touchdowns (64) and holds two ETBU single-game records for passing yards (659) and passing touchdowns (7). Baca has also been the FCA Campus President, helped with Operation Christmas Child, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member, FCA regional speaker, volunteer at Marshall Junior High mentoring students, FCA Huddle leader at FCA Sports Camp at Texas A&M for four years, a volunteer at local equestrian center to help soldiers with PTSD, volunteers for FCA Weekend of Champions working with junior high athletes and volunteers at Isaiah 51 Farms helping recovering addicts. Baca has a 4.00 GPA in History in graduate school. 

Mason Anderson (Frisco, Texas) is the third Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year from UT Dallas in men’s soccer. He became the first-ever two-time All-American in Comet men’s soccer history, claiming Third Team honors from the United Soccer Coaches for the second consecutive season. Anderson picked up first-team All-ASC honors this fall for the third straight year and was tabbed the league’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He led one of the top defenses in the ASC this past fall, boasting a league-best 0.76 team goals-against average along with with an ASC-high 11 shutouts this season. Anderson also tallied five goals this fall for the Comets, adding one assist for 11 points. He took 20 shots, 11 on the frame, with one game-winner. The Comets posted a 17-4-2 overall record in 2019, setting a program record for wins in a season, and claimed both the ASC’s regular-season and championship title in 2019. Anderson has a 3.40 GPA in Biology. 

Kendell Groom (Frisco, Texas) is the eighth consecutive HSU student-athlete and 10th overall to win the award in women’s soccer. She was named a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American and a CoSIDA All-America while also being named an All-American on the field by the USC and D3soccer.com. She was the ASC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Region, and she led the Cowgirls to their 17th straight ASC title. Groom has a 3.87 GPA in Exercise Science/Pre-Physical Therapy. 

Caroline Shecterle (Pearland, Texas) is the third Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year from UTD. She was tabbed first-team All-ASC East for the third consecutive season after leading the Comets to a divisional crown and the ASC Championship title this past fall. A three-time All-ASC performer, she was also named the ASC East Setter of the Year this season, averaging 6.35 assists per set in UTD’s 6-2 offense. An honorable mention All-Region selection by the AVCA, Shecterle was a four-time ASC East Offensive Player of the Week selection this past fall for the Comets. UTD posted a 24-5 overall record this past fall, claiming their fifth consecutive ASC East crown with a 13-1 league mark. Shecterle has a 3.97 GPA in Supply Chain Management.

ASC Fall 2019 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams
(Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year*; Two-time Distinguished Scholar-Athlete of the Year²)

Men’s Cross Country

Name	University	Cl.	Major	GPA	Hometown
Michael Harris* 2	Ozarks	Sr.	Health Science	3.60	Elkins, Ark.
Hunter Magno-Hester	Belhaven	Sr.	Business	3.85	Brighton, Tenn.
Sam Stewart	Concordia Texas	Jr.	Business Administration	4.00	Galveston, Texas
Mack Broussard	East Texas Baptist	Jr.	Business	3.50	Hankamer, Texas
Nathan McEndree	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Ministry	4.00	Keller, Texas
Will Hilscher	LeTourneau	So.	Mechanical Engineering	4.00	Round Rock, Texas
Damien Doyle	Louisiana College	Jr.	Criminal Justice	3.34	Shreveport, La.
Logan Garner	Mary Hardin-Baylor	So.	International Business	4.00	Pflugerville, Texas
John Zuinga Jr.	McMurry	So.	Criminology	3.54	Port Aransas, Texas
William Serrano	Sul Ross State	Jr.	Mathematics	3.60	Pecos, Texas
Andres Uriegas	UT Dallas	Jr.	Computer Science	3.40	Round Rock, Texas

Women’s Cross Country

Name	University	Cl.	Major	GPA	Hometown
Alexis Segura* 2	LeTourneau	Gr.	Business Administration	4.00	Austin, Texas
Bayli Luke	Concordia Texas	Jr.	Biology	4.00	Houston, Texas
Rachel Morrison	East Texas Baptist	So.	Sports Management	3.95	Nederland, Texas
Sydney Tencate	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Criminal Justice	3.64	Moran, Texas
Haleigh Lachney	Louisiana College	Sr.	Convergence Media: Productions	3.98	Simpson, La.
Ana Hernandez	Mary Hardin-Baylor	So.	Health Sciences	3.90	Robstown, Texas
Tiffany Cox	McMurry	Jr.	Psychology	3.83	Abilene, Texas
Mariajose Cervantes	Sul Ross State	So.	Animal Science-Pre Vet	3.96	Laredo, Texas
Gina Fossati	UT Dallas	Sr.	Computer Science	3.71	Friendswood, Texas

Football

Name	University	Cl.	Major	GPA	Hometown
Brian Baca *	East Texas Baptist	Gr.	History	4.00	Pittsburg, Texas
Bo Robertson	Belhaven	So.	Biology	3.81	Houlka, Miss.
Juan Martinez	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Criminal Justice	3.87	Donna, Texas
Brady Wade	Howard Payne	Jr.	Kinesiology	3.88	Little Elm, Texas
Wade Simmons	Louisiana College	Jr.	Mathematics	4.00	Baton Rouge, La.
Steven Sellers	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jr.	Management	4.00	Murphy, Texas
Juan Ramirez	McMurry	Jr.	Sociology	4.00	Roma, Texas
T.J. Vela	Southwestern	Sr.	Business	4.00	Odem, Texas
Keyton Castro	Sul Ross State	So.	Criminal Justice	3.77	Three Rivers, Texas
Manny Longoria	Texas Lutheran	Sr.	Education (Mathematics)	3.73	Geronimo, Texas

Men’s Soccer

Name	University	Cl.	Major	GPA	Hometown
Mason Anderson *	UT Dallas	Sr.	Biology	3.40	Frisco, Texas
Nathan Ratzlaff	Belhaven	Sr.	Business	3.85	Youngsville, La.
Edgar Guerrero	Concordia Texas	So.	Accounting	3.81	Alvarado, Texas
Justin Groves	East Texas Baptist	Jr.	Kinesiology	3.79	Lindale, Texas
Preston Hillis	Hardin-Simmons	Gr.	MBA	4.00	Irving, Texas
Thomas Carte	Howard Payne	Jr.	Management	3.35	League City, Texas
Eric Smith	LeTourneau	Jr.	Civil Engineering	3.99	Tucson, Ariz.
Seth Collins	Louisiana College	Jr.	Exercise Science	3.36	Boerne, Texas
Tyler Childs	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jr.	Biology (Pre-Med)	4.00	Boerne, Texas
Javi Mejia	McMurry	Sr.	Art	3.82	Azle, Texas
Logan Valestin	Ozarks	Jr.	Biology	3.61	Bryant, Ark.
Jose Luis Originales	Sul Ross State	So.	Criminal Justice	3.80	El Paso, Texas

Women’s Soccer

Name	University	Cl.	Major	GPA	Hometown
Kendell Groom *	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Exercise Sci./Pre-PT	3.87	Frisco, Texas
Kacy Chopin	Belhaven	Sr.	Exercise Science	3.98	Denham Springs, La.
Kayla Carlove	Concordia Texas	Sr.	Kinesiology	4.00	Carrollton, Texas
Ashleigh Rondon	East Texas Baptist	Jr.	Kinesiology	3.58	Carrollton, Texas
Delaney Castor	Howard Payne	So.	History	3.86	Irving, Texas
Alexis Segura	LeTourneau	Gr.	Business Administration	4.00	Austin, Texas
Ashlyn Folse	Louisiana College	Sr.	Nursing	3.72	Thibodaux, La.
Samantha Lehnen	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Accounting	3.92	Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Sky Reynolds	McMurry	Jr.	Nursing	3.37	Midlothian, Texas
Joey Long	Ozarks	Jr.	Biology	3.30	Cabot, Ark.
Aleysha Carrillo	Sul Ross State	So.	Kinesiology & Human Perf.	3.39	San Antonio, Texas
Megan Theros	UT Dallas	Sr.	Psychology	3.29	Batavia, Ill.

Volleyball

Name	University	Cl.	Major	GPA	Hometown
Caroline Shecterle *	UT Dallas	Sr.	Supply Chain Management	3.97	Pearland, Texas
Sydney McEachern	Belhaven	Jr.	Public Relations	3.25	Keller, Texas
Tristyn Massey	Concordia Texas	Sr.	Elementary Education	3.62	Amarillo, Texas
Bailey Byas	East Texas Baptist	Sr.	Business	3.88	Pearland, Texas
Karlie Knapek	Hardin-Simmons	Jr.	Exercise Science	4.00	Hutto, Texas
Christian Wilson	Howard Payne	Jr.	Elementary Education	3.74	Dickinson, Texas
Kianna Crow	LeTourneau	So.	Accounting	3.93	Spring, Texas
Paris Babino	Louisiana College	Jr.	Health & Physical Education	3.51	Lafayette, La.
Sarah Paolini	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Nursing	3.91	Kalispell, Mont.
Jordyn Burnell	McMurry	Sr.	Business Accounting	3.48	Sinton, Texas
Annika Canaba	Sul Ross State	So.	Kinesiology & Human Perf.	3.79	Alpine, Texas