MIAA Men's Basketball Player of the Week

For the week of play ending Jan. 13

Nick Certa, F
Truman State University

Certa, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound senior from Godfrey, Ill., averaged 19.5 points and helped the Bulldogs snap a five-game skid and win back-to-back games for the first time this season last week.

In a 60-48 road win at Fort Hays State Wednesday (Jan. 9), Certa hit back-to-back three-point goals to stave off a Tigers rally -- FHSU had cut the deficit to five before he hit those shots. Certa finished with 15 points.

He scored 24 points in the Bulldogs' 73-65 home win Saturday (Jan. 12) over Missouri Western. Certa scored 13 points in the second half, making all six free throw tries -- including four in the final minute after the Griffons had closed to within two points.

Certa was 13-of-24 (54.2 percent) from the field, including 5-of-10 from three-point range, and 8-of-8 at the foul line for the week.

He is a graduate of Alton (Ill.)-Marquette Catholic High School.

Others nominated: Cory Abercrombie, C, PSU; Vincent Ateba, F, MSSU; Jim Grabowski, F, SBU; Lonnel Johnson, G, MWSU; DeAndre Townsend, G, ESU; Kevin Wollbrinck, F, UCM.

Previous winners: 11/19 -- Reggie Bunch, F, MWSU; 11/26 -- Hunter Henry, F, NWMSU; 12/3 -- Jim Grabowski, F, SBU; 12/10 -- DeAndre Townsend, G, ESU; 12/17 -- Banks Estridge, G, TSU; 12/31 -- Cory Abercrombie, C, PSU; 1/7 -- D'Ante Harris, G, SBU.

MIAA Women's Basketball Players of the Week

For the week of play ending Jan. 13

Briana Buchanan, G, Pittsburg State University
& Erika Souza, G, Southwest Baptist University

Buchanan, a 5-foot-8 junior from Manhattan, Kan., set career scoring bests in each of her two games last week as the Gorillas went 1-1 vs. ranked MIAA foes.

She scored 13 of her 21 points in the first half of PSU's 54-44 win at No. 23 Missouri Southern Wednesday (Jan. 9). Her first-half efforts helped the Gorillas rally from a 10-2 deficit, and she also added 10 rebounds vs. the Lions.

In the 92-62 loss at No. 16 Emporia State Saturday (Jan. 12), Buchanan scored 23 points with eight boards. She had 18 in the first half -- including three three-point goals.

Buchanan is a graduate of Jucntion City (Kan.) High School, and transferred to PSU from Barton County (Kan.) Community College.

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Souza, a 5-6 senior from Sáo Paulo, Brazil, set a school single-game scoring mark as she helped the Lady Bearcats to two wins last week.

Her record effort of 38 points came in SBU's 90-70 road win over Central Missouri Wednesday. Souza scored 11 of the Lady 'Cats' first 15 points as they grabbed an early 18-8 lead on the Jennies.

She was 12-of-19 from the field, including 6-of-11 from three-point range as she passed Amber Wheeler's 37-point mark in the 2004 MIAA Tournament vs. Emporia State.

Souza scored 14 points with seven assists in an 81-67 home win over Fort Hays State Saturday. For the week, she averaged 26.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals.

She is a graduate of Colegio Planeta, as transferred to SBU from Crowder (Mo.) College.

Others Nominated: Yanique Javois, F, MWSU; Jojuana Jones, C, UCM; Georgia Mueller, F, TSU; Mandi Schumacher, C, NWMSU; Michelle Stueve, F, ESU; Brianna Willhite, F, FHSU; India Wood, G, MSSU.

Previous Winners: 11/19 -- Cassondra Boston, G, ESU; 11/26 -- Michelle Stueve, F, ESU; 12/3 -- Yanique Javois, F, MWSU; 12/10 -- Yanique Javois, F, MWSU; 12/17 -- Allie Renberg, F, ESU; 12/31 -- Michelle Stueve, F, ESU; 1/7 -- Georgia Mueller, F, TSU.

MIAA Men's Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

For action from the start of the season through Jan. 13

TRACK:
Michael Pierce
Southwest Baptist University

Pierce, a 5-foot-10, 130-pound junior from Gladstone, Mo., placed second in the mile at the Kansas State All-Comers Meet Dec. 8.

He clocked in at 4 minutes, 13.74 seconds, a provisional qualifying mark for the NCAA Division II national meet. It was 0.96 seconds behind the winner (Robert Duncan running unattached), and was the top collegiate finisher.

Pierce is a graduate of Kansas City (Mo.)-Oak Park High School.

Others Nominated: Khai Berry, NWMSU; Skyler Delmott, ESU; Jordan Stroup, FHSU.

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FIELD:
Damon Birk
Emporia State University

Birk, a 6-foot-4 senior from Gridley, Kan., claimed the title in the shot put at the Kansas State All-Comers Meet Dec. 8.

His winning throw of 53 feet, 10.50 inches was nearly 8 inches ahead of 2003 World Outdoor Decathlon Champion Tom Pappas' runner-up mark. It also is a provisional qualifying mark for NCAA Division II national meet.

He is a graduate of LeRoy (Kan.)-Southern Coffey County High School.

Others Nominated: David Funk, NWMSU; Ben McKim, NWMSU.

MIAA Women's Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

For action from the start of the season through Jan. 13

TRACK:
Jaclyn Sill
Emporia State University

Sill, a 5-foot-6 senior from Andover, Kan., won the 400-meter run at the Iowa State Cyclone Holiday Preview Dec. 7.

She won the event with a clocking of 58.12 seconds -- 0.39 seconds faster than Truman's Amber Clayton.

Sill is a graduate of Andover High School.

Others Nominated: Bridget Kleine, NWMSU; Kelsey Martin, FHSU.

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FIELD:
Jessica Selby-Tallman
Missouri Southern State University

Selby-Tallman, a 5-foot-8 senior from Galena, Mo., logged two qualifying marks for nationals -- including an automatic spot in the shot put, at the Arkansas Invitational Friday (Jan. 11).

She placed second in the shot with a distance of 48 feet, 10.25 inches -- nearly 2 feet beyond the mark needed to assure a bid to the NCAA Division II Championships. Only Texas Christian's Stormy Harrison (50-3.25) finished better in the event.

Selby-Tallman also placed third in the weight throw with a provisional qualifying measurement of 54-4.

Selby-Tallman, the runner-up in the 2007 NCAA-II indoor shot put, is a graduate of Reeds Spring (Mo.) High School.

Others Nominated: Emily Churchman, NWMSU; Ashley Sakumura, FHSU.

-- MIAA --