IRVINE, Calif. -- For the second week in a row, the PacWest had a winning record against NCAA Division II teams in non-conference play, including Concordia and Fresno Pacific each reaching three-game winning streaks.
Concordia is on top of the PacWest standings so far with a 3-0 record after becoming the third PacWest team to defeat Cal Poly Pomona so far this season. This is the Eagles’ first 3-0 start to a season since joining the PacWest.
Fresno Pacific earned two wins this week against San Francisco State and Cal State Monterey Bay.
Rachel Berry had two near triple-double performances in the two wins with eight points, 10 rebounds and six assists on Friday before posting 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists on Saturday.
Azusa Pacific leads the conference in overall wins with a 4-1 record after earning wins over Cal State LA and Seattle Pacific this week. The Cougars came back from being down by seven points in the final three minutes against the Falcons for their second overtime victory already this year.
Kelly Heimburger and
Kayla Shaw each hit crucial 3-pointers in the final minutes of both of the Cougars wins this week.
Point Loma improved to 3-1 on the season with a win over Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Haylee Saurette had a team-high 18 points in that win. This week, the Sea Lions have two important home contests against Simon Fraser and Northwest Nazarene, and Concordia will also be in San Diego for that tournament. Dominican will also have a rematch against Humboldt State after beating the Lumberjacks 72-70 earlier this season.
Weekly awards for the week of Nov. 15-21
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Michaela VanderKlugt, Concordia
C, Gr., 6-1 -- Concord, Calif.
VanderKlugt has helped lead Concordia to a 3-0 start to lead the PacWest standings after two weeks as the Eagles have defeated three CCAA foes. This week, Concordia defeated Cal Poly Pomona, which was picked second in the CCAA preseason poll. In the win, VanderKlugt made a game-high 31 points and added 14 rebounds for her 31st career double-double. She made 13 of 20 shots, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. VanderKlugt also tallied five offensive rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. She surpassed Dominican’s Sandra Ikeora for the third most career rebounds in the PacWest with 921 and also has 1686 career points. This is VanderKlugt’s 12th career PacWest weekly award, which is tied for the most in conference history with three other players.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Joy Krupa, Academy of Art
G, Gr., 5-9 -- Montclair, Calif.
Krupa has recorded at least one block and one steal in her first four games in an Academy of Art uniform as she has helped the team to a 2-2 start to the season. Krupa had two double-doubles this week with 14 points and 12 rebounds against Simon Fraser and then 15 points and 10 rebounds against Cal State East Bay. She also had a total of eight steals and seven blocks in three games this week to go along with 17 defensive rebounds. Krupa opened the week helping the Urban Knights to an overtime win over Simon Fraser in which they allowed just 56 points. Krupa played 42 minutes in that win and recorded four blocks with one steal. It was her second-consecutive four-block performance to start the season. Against the Pioneers, Krupa tallied four steals and a block. The next day, she had three steals and two blocks against Stanislaus State. She is the PacWest leader in blocks so far this season with 11 to go along with her 12 steals, which only four behind the PacWest leader.