CLACKAMAS, Ore. – In the midst of another stellar campaign, senior Samantha Bowman was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the year the league office announced Wednesday, marking the second straight Wildcat to garner such honors.
 
Asher Cai following a tremendous season was named freshman of the year which marks the first freshman of the year award since 2016, Cai was also the only freshman to be named on any GNAC All-Conference team this year.
 
Bowman and Valerie "Sunshine" Huerta each garnered All-Conference First Team honors while Cai and Tori Maeda each made the All-Conference Honorable Mention list.
 
Bowman finished the regular season leading the GNAC in scoring and rebounding, averaging 21.6 points per game and 14.8 rebounds per game. Nationally in division two, Bowman is tied for sixth in the country in points scored per game and tied for first in rebounds per game. Bowman broke the GNAC single-game record in rebounds with 31 against Whitman on December 17^th.
 
The Zillah native finished the regular season first in the GNAC and seventh nationally in points scored with 582. Bowman grabbed 400 rebounds thus far ranking first in the GNAC and nationally, with 96 of those rebounds being offensively and 304 being defensively good for first on both sides of the rebounding statistic in the GNAC and first nationally in defensive rebounds per game and 25^th nationally in offensive rebounds per game.
 
Bowman has also tallied up 99 assists (third in the GNAC), 43 steals (seventh in the GNAC), and 43 blocks (third in the GNAC) this season. Bowman's 235 made field goals also leads the GNAC this season and puts her at fourth in the nation. Bowman has racked up 23 double doubles which is good enough for second in the nation, and her one triple double ties her for first in the nation.
 
"I'm very happy for Sam being named the GNAC Player of the Year," head coach Randi Richardson-Thornley said. "It is so well deserved and her consistent performances all season long with team's game planning specifically for her is remarkable. She is one of a kind and has forever elevated the expectation of her position within our program and I think the conference. She's been phenomenal all year long, has not only established herself as the top player in our league, but also as one of the top players in the country, and our team's performance is a reflection of that. We are so extremely happy for her and proud that she is a Wildcat!"
 
Huerta in her sophomore season made huge strides to fill the gaps created by graduating seniors last year to assert herself as a leader of the team on both ends of the court. Huerta has notched 18.5 points per game which is good enough for third in the GNAC and 31^st in the country.
 
The Whittier, Calif. native has become a sharpshooter from the three-point line ranking first in three-point percentage in the GNAC (47.7), second in the GNAC in total three-pointers made (61), and fourth in three-pointers per game (2.3). Huertas three-point percentage is good for third nationally. Huerta has also become consistent free-throw shooter, leading the GNAC in free-throw percentage (87.7).
 
Huerta has also notched 68 total rebounds, 25 steals, three blocks, and 91 assists. Huertas 91 assists slide her in at 5^th in the GNAC. Huerta broke the GNAC single-game record in points scored with 46 against Walla Walla on December 21^st.
 
"From the moment we signed Sunny, we knew her talent was special, and it goes along with a humility and competitiveness that is so special," Richardson-Thornley said. "She is nowhere near her ceiling which is exciting, and her growth mindset and work ethic is going to back her continued growth and development within our program and conference. She has stepped up in such a big way this year for us in filling some big roles that graduated last year and has handled that pressure tremendously. Sunny is a special player, a joy to coach, and I do truly believe she is one of the best guards and players in this league. This first team selection shows that our competitors and colleagues feel the same way. I could not be happier for Sunny and I'm so proud she's a Wildcat!"
 
Cai has been everything and more you could ask for from a freshman. Cai made a huge splash in the opening weekend of her collegiate career putting up 40 points, including a 24-point game against Stanislaus State. Cai has recorded six 20 plus point games and found her defensive stride towards the back half of the season nabbing 10 plus rebounds three times with two of those games becoming double doubles.
 
The Colfax native has set herself up as one of the top freshmen of division two women's basketball in the country. Cai finished eighth in the GNAC in points per game with 14.1. Cai has shown her lack of fear to shoot the ball ranking first in the GNAC in three-pointers made (67) and tied for first in the GNAC in three-pointers per game (2.5). Cai's 221 three-point attempts ranks ninth nationally.
 
Cai has finished the regular season with 382 points, 148 rebounds, 61 assists, 27 steals, and nine blocks. Cai has started all 27 games for the Wildcats, and is shooting 38.9 percent from the field, 30.3 percent from three-point attempts, and 72.2 percent from the free-throw line to cap off one of the best regular season performances by a freshman in Wildcat history.
 
"It's been so fun to see Asher learn, grow, and come into her own this year," Richardson-Thornley said. "We knew and talked about her potential capabilities coming in this year as a freshman, but it's a whole other thing to have the work ethic, toughness, and humility needed to compete and perform at a high level without the backing of experience as a freshman. She has wanted and embraced the pressure that has come with her role this year and I think she is very deserving of this recognition. I'm happy for Asher and proud that she is a Wildcat!"
 
Maeda has transformed into one of the core leaders on this Wildcat team this season being a major factor on both sides of the floor. Maeda has only reached double-figures four times this past season, but when called upon or needed most, she's ready to drain a basket and leave it all on the floor for her team.
 
Maeda has had three 10-assist games, and 12 games of recording at least five assists. Maeda currently ranks second in the GNAC in total assists (139) as well as assists per game (5.1). Maeda also currently ranks sixth in assist to turnover ratio (1.9) in the GNAC. Those numbers are also good for 17^th nationally in assists and 15^th nationally in assists per game.
 
Maeda is averaging five points per game, has grabbed 104 rebounds, 139 assists, 22 steals, and three blocks. Maeda is shooting 33.9 percent from the floor, 39 percent from three-point range, and 86.1 percent from the free-throw line. Maeda notched a season high 14 points against Seattle Pacific on January 26^th.
 
"It's been amazing to see Tori's growth and development as a point guard and leader in our program over the past four years," Richardson-Thornley said. "I don't know if there is a position that I have higher expectations for, and Tori has handled that pressure tremendously. Our teams offensive success this year has a lot to do with her decisions and playmaking ability. She's a competitor who is committed to winning above all else and her contributions to our team go far beyond a stat sheet. It's really nice that our competitors and colleagues see the same things we do in voting Tori to All-Conference Honorable Mention. I'm so happy for her and proud that she is a Wildcat!"
 
The Wildcats will take the next step of their season as they take on the Simon Fraser Red Leafs (10-12, 8-10 GNAC) in the opening round of the GNAC Tournament. The game is scheduled for Thursday March 2^nd with a 5:15 p.m. tip-off from the WECU Court at Carver Gym on the campus of Western Washington University in Bellingham. The winner of the game will move on to face the second seeded Montana State Billings Yellowjackets on Friday.