Dec. 30, 2008

Naperville, Ill. - South Dakota's Jesse Becker and Chicago State's Jasmin Dixon were dubbed the Great West Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Players of the Week for the week ending Dec. 28, the league office announced Tuesday.

Becker earns weekly honors after leading the Coyotes to a perfect 2-0 record last week while helping USD collect their first win as a Division I program over a Division I foe. Becker averaged 25.5 points per game to increase his scoring average for the year from 13.2 to 15.3. The senior tallied 24 points, including converting a game-winning three-point play with seven seconds left to lift USD to a 73-69 win over Southwest Minnesota St. The Plymouth, Minn., native followed that performance by scoring 27 points, including a career-high seven three-pointers in USD's 74-66 victory at New Orleans. Despite being slowed by an injury early in the year, Becker is second on the squad in scoring (15.3) and leads the team in assists (39), three-pointers (34) and three-point percentage (40.5).

Others nominated: Nick Weiermiller (UTPA), David Holston (Chicago State)

Previous winners: Dec. 21 - David Holston (Chicago State), Dec. 14 - Ryan Toolson (Utah Valley), Dec. 7 - Baron Sauls (Houston Baptist), Nov. 30 - Ryan Toolson (Utah Valley), Nov. 23 - John Cantrell (Chicago State), Nov. 16 - Ryan Toolson (Utah Valley)

Dixon collects her first weekly honor after leading Chicago State to a 78-66 victory over Drake last week. Dixon tallied 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line in the win over the 2008 postseason WNIT qualifier. The 5-foot-9 guard also recorded five rebounds while dishing out five assists while scoring at least 20 points in a game for the fifth time this season.

Others nominated: Danye Guinn (North Dakota), Aleeya Grigsby (UTPA)

Previous winners: Dec. 21 - Kierah Kimbrough (North Dakota), Dec. 14 - Robyn Fairbanks (Utah Valley), Dec.7 - Julie McMurray (Utah Valley), Nov. 30 - Alyssa Waldon (Chicago State), Nov. 23 - Danye Guinn (North Dakota)/Robyn Fairbanks (Utah Valley), Nov. 16 - Bridget Yoerger (South Dakota)

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