MSUB's Dyauni Boyce (30) scored 56 points and added 25 rebounds in the Yellowjackets' three games against nationally-ranked opponents in Las Vegas last week (Shi Robison Photography).
PORTLAND, Ore. – The final Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards of the 2024 calendar year went to a pair of big performances on the hardwood in last week’s slate of games.
MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kye Dickson – Northwest Nazarene University
First-career player of the week.
Dickson was superb in leading the Nighthawks to a pair of NCAA west region road victories last week, as NNU beat Cal State LA 76-66 on Tuesday and topped Biola 80-68 on Friday to close out its non-conference slate. Dickson scored 59 points while adding 17 rebounds in the two wins, making 21 of 31 shots (67.7%) including 7 of 11 threes (63.6%). Against the Golden Eagles, Dickson started his big week by making 8 of 13 field goals and 8 of 10 free throws on his way to 28 points, while adding eight boards, six assists and a steal. He followed that with a season-high 31 points against Biola and narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds while adding a pair of assists. Dickson’s 13 made field goals against Biola were the second most by any GNAC player in a game this season. The transfer from North Carolina Central is off to a great start in his Nighthawk career, leading the GNAC with 17.7 points per game, ranking third in the league with 7.0 rebounds per game and ranking fifth in the league in 3-point field-goal percentage (42.4%).
NNU Head Coach Jon Hawkins: “Kye has allowed us to really call him up in everything he does. For him to see the success this past week is a testament to his humble coachability and the belief his teammates have in him. He can do things on both ends of the court, and his belief in himself was a joy to witness.”
Also Nominated: Tyler Burraston, Alaska Anchorage; Jalai O’Keith, Alaska Fairbanks; Maverick Sanders, Central Washington; Kael Robinson, Montana State Billings; Jaden Nielsen-Skinner, Saint Martin’s; Trace Evans, Seattle Pacific; Mario Williams Jr., Western Oregon; Grant Kepley, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dyauni Boyce – Montana State University Billings
Third-career player of the week, first this season.
Boyce helped the Yellowjackets to a 2-1 record amid the toughest week of opponents that any GNAC team has faced thus far in the 2024-25 season. After a narrow, 72-69 defeat to No. 23 Cal Poly Pomona last Tuesday, Boyce led the No. 3 Yellowjackets to a 57-52 win over No. 16 UT Tyler on Thursday and a 71-58 triumph over No. 7 Lubbock Christian on Friday. The fifth-year senior from Winifred, Mont., scored 56 points while adding 25 rebounds, 10 assists and six steals against three nationally ranked opponents. Boyce kicked off the big week by matching her season high with 25 points, draining six threes while adding seven rebounds, three assists and three steals against the Broncos. She followed with her second double-double of the year, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the win over UT Tyler. Boyce capped the week with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in leading her team past Lubbock Christian – the first win over a top-10 team by a GNAC team this season. Boyce ranks eighth in the GNAC with a team-leading 14.2 points per game and is ninth in the conference with 6.2 rebounds per game. Boyce’s 1,276 career points are second-most among active GNAC players, and she climbed to No. 14 in MSUB history in career scoring last week.
MSUB Head Coach Kevin Woodin: “Dyauni played very well in our three games on our recent Las Vegas road trip against three quality opponents. Her offensive versatility and ability to score on twos, threes and free throws has been a major key to our team’s success all season. Dyauni continues to improve on her rebounding and assist numbers too. She has an amazing work ethic on both ends of the court and her leadership is so important to our team. Dyauni is the type of student-athlete you want to surround yourself with, and I am very fortunate to have her at MSUB.”
Also Nominated: Emilia Long, Alaska Anchorage; Sunny Huerta, Central Washington; Kate Clark, Northwest Nazarene; Jada Travis, Saint Martin’s; Layne Kearns, Seattle Pacific; Enid Vaifanua, Western Oregon; Mason Oberg, Western Washington.