Academy of Art’s Alisha Wilson rebounded, blocked and stole her way to another PacWest award, while Azusa Pacific’s Paige Uyehara filled up stat sheets in helping her team go 3-0 last week. Red-hot Concordia won big road games to make it nine straight and earn Team of the Week honors.

2022-23 Results/Schedule
2022-23 Standings
2022-23 Statistics

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Azusa Pacific’s Paige Uyehara, G, 5-7, Jr., San Jose, Calif.                                                 
PacWest Preseason Player of the Year Paige Uyehara quarterbacked the Cougars to a sweep of the Hawai`i schools to remain tied for the top spot in the conference. In the process, the junior eclipsed the 1,000 point mark, now sitting with 1,003 in her fourth season in a Cougar uniform. On the islands the point guard totaled 50 points, had ten assists and four steals. She hit two game-winning free throws with no time on the clock to edge past Hawai`i Hilo, 64-62. The 2022 First Team All-PacWest selection is averaging five assists per game this year, tops in the conference by over an assist per game. She is shooting .833 from the free throw line (fourth in the PacWest) and is averaging 13.3 points per game.
 
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Academy of Art’s Alisha Wilson, F/C, Soph., 6-1, Pomona, Calif.                                     
After claiming the PacWest Player of the Week last week, ART U’s Alisha Wilson steps over to the other side to grab the Defender of the Week. Against co-conference leader Concordia, Wilson pulled 18 rebounds and knocked down a career-high 28 points, totaling more than half of the Urban Knights’ scoring in the 59-48 loss. She also had three blocked shots and three steals against the Golden Eagles. Against Point Loma, notched her 11^th double-double of the season with 17 rebounds and 11 points, and also had two more steals. For the week, the track and field All-American averaged 19.5 points a game, 17.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. On the season, the sophomore leads the PacWest with a whopping 13.4 rebounds a game, nearly four more per contest than the next person on the list. She leads the conference in field goal percentage (.545), is fourth in blocked shots (1.2) and fifth in steals (2.2).

CONCORDIA KEEPS PACE ON THE ROAD: The PacWest Team of the Week is the CONCORDIA GOLDEN EAGLES. Coach Christine Collins-Kiernan’s squad hit the road with a seven-game winning streak and returned to Irvine with nine straight wins. Concordia opened the northern California swing with a 59-46 victory over Academy of Art on Thursday, paced by Jasmine Rachal’s 14 points, four assists and three steals and a tight defense. Looming Saturday was an equally red-hot Dominican team, who had won nine consecutive games. Something had to give, and in a game that was tight to the final buzzer, the Golden Eagles prevailed, 64-59. Rachal had 16 points, Erika Maggard had 16 as well with five rebounds and four assists. CUI is now 14-4 overall and 11-1 in the PacWest, tied with Azusa Pacific on the top rung.

IT's STILL TIGHT AT THE TOP: Concordia’s big win over Dominican on Saturday gave them a little space in the conference standings over the Penguins, but the top three teams (through Sunday, Jan. 22) are still separated by just 1.5 games. Concordia (11-1) and Azusa Pacific (11-1) share the top rung with Dominican (10-3) just a smidge behind. Biola won two games last week to move into the fourth spot (8-3), with Hawaii Pacific next (6-3). Point Loma holds down the sixth position (7-6), but Hawaii Hilo (4-7) and Academy of Art (4-8) are still lurking, hopeful to grab that last tournament spot. The top six at the end of the regular season qualify for the Pacific West Conference Championships, set for March 2-4 at Chaminade University in Honolulu.

ACTION CONTINUES HOT AS JANUARY CLOSES: There are games every day this week again, beginning with Tuesday contests. The Hawai`i teams are now in northern/central California for games, but there is also a big rivalry clash on Wednesday when Azusa Pacific (11-1) hosts Biola (8-3). In another key top tier match-up, Dominican (10-3) hosts Hawaii Pacific (6-3) on Sunday.

PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: Biola’s Jordan Rabe pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds in the Eagles’ 65-53 win over Chaminade. Jessa Thurman had a double-double with 12 of each in the same game…Azusa Pacific’s wild win over Hawai`i Hilo (64-62) included the aforementioned Paige Uyehara’s free throws with no time left on the clock, but the game also had UHH’s Mandi Kawaha knocking down a pair of free shots with four seconds left. Kawaha finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. APU’s Molly Whitmore had 20 points and seven boards…Two nights later against Hawai`i Pacific, Whitmore added 15 points and seven rebounds in the 72-57 victory. Kelly Heimburger had five blocked shots for the Cougars. Keona Loftis had 16 points to pace the Sharks and Abby Spurgin had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds…Fresno Pacific claimed a non-conference win over Lincoln (77-46), led by Sara Lundqvist’s 17 points and Jenna Kurz’s 13 rebounds…Laila Walker had 11 points and 10 boards in Biola’s 61-44 win over the Vulcans…Dominican held off a tough Point Loma squad on Thursday, 78-69. The Penguins’ balanced numbers included Alaiyah San Juan’s 18 points, Keyonee Neal’s 18 counters and 10 caroms, and Brittney Cedeno’s 16 points, five assists and four steals. Allie Carreon had 23 points to lead the Sea Lions…Neal, just a freshman, had 21 points in the loss to Concordia…Haylee Saurette had 15 points, 12 rebounds and four steals two nights later in PLNU’s 59-46 win over ART U…Hawai`i Hilo held Holy Names to a season low 34 points in Sunday’s win (65-34). UHH’s Bree Olson had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Kawaha had 19 points for the Vulcans.