UAA's Walker, MSUB's Hansen Earn GNAC Sportsmanship Awards

Walker	Hansen

Alaska Anchorage men's basketball player Brandon Walker and Montana State Billings women's basketball player Rachel Hansen have been selected the winners of the seventh annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference NCAA Sportsmanship award.

Walker and Hansen are now finalists for the 2010 NCAA Division II National Sportsmanship award, which honors one male and one female athlete (or team) from each of the three NCAA divisions who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

Those awards will be announced later this summer.

Walker, a junior from Hayward, Calif., has been a two-year starter for Alaska Anchorage. This past season he led the Seawolves in scoring (15.4) and ranked second in assists with 64 in earning first team all-league honors. He also averaged 5.3 rebounds per game.

In his sophomore season, Walker averaged 11.4 points per game and 5.7 rebounds. In two seasons, he has scored 747 points and also has 310 rebounds and 101 assists.

“Brandon has been the consummate student-athlete in his two years,” UAA coach Rusty Osborne said. “Brandon just plays the game and does not argue with officials. He is a model citizen on and off the court and represents UAA with class, character and dignity wherever he goes.”

Walker received the 2009-10 Bob Zundel Memorial Trophy which goes annually to the UAA men's basketball player who displays the best sportsmanship and integrity.

“Brandon has been a great role model for both his teammates and young fans alike,” Osborne said. “He has done an especially good job working with young people during camps and clinics and he has participated in UAA's annual ‘Reading with the Seawolves' Day.”

Hansen, who was a part-time starter for Montana State Billings last winter, spearheaded the “Threes for Susan” fundraiser that helped raise money to pay for medical costs incurred by local resident Susan Costello in her battle with breast cancer.

Hansen sought out donations from local business and MSUB fans for every three-pointer made during MSUB's non-conference schedule. A total of $3500 was raised in the fundraiser that coincided with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association “Think Pink” program.

In addition to the fundraiser, Hansen, a fifth-year senior from Lola, Mont., has consistently demonstrated sportsmanship and ethical behavior in her daily participation in intercollegiate athletics while at the same time maintaining a 3.47 GPA and twice earning GNAC Academic all-conference honors.

Hansen, who majored in biology and served on MSUB's Student Athletic Advisory Committee for three years, was MSUB's co-captain last winter.