Hoops honors for pair of Lions

Levi Seekins earns national Player of the Week honors after Vanguard men score two upsets. Kelly Schmidt gets second award of the season.A pair of Vanguard University basketball players have been honored for their play last week, one nationally.

Levi Seekins was chosen as the NAIA Player of the Week in men’s basketball for the week ending Jan. 29. Seekins was also named the Golden State Athletic Conference’s Player of the Week, making him eligible for the national award.

In addition, Kelly Schmidt received conference Player of the Week honors in women’s basketball for the second time this season.

Seekins helped the Lions upset a pair of ranked conference opponents. The senior tied his career-high with 28 points in an 81-80 win against No. 2 Azusa Pacific, tying the score with a buzzer-beating basket in regulation and hitting the game-winning three-pointer in overtime. He then scored 17 points in a 60-53 victory over No. 12 San Diego Christian.

In the two games, Seekins averaged 22.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Lions (14-8, 8-4 in conference), who are now tied for second in conference.

It was the first conference and national awards for Seekins in his college career.

Schmidt averaged 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Vanguard women -- ranked No. 1 in NAIA Division I -- in a pair of victories. The junior led the Lions with 18 points and nine rebounds in an 88-76 victory over Azusa Pacific. Four days later, she had 22 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals in a 94-39 rout of San Diego Christian.

The forward has earned conference player of the week honors six times in her career with the Lions.

The Vanguard women are now 19-0, with a perfect 12-0 mark in the Golden State Athletic Conference.20060204iu5a22nc(LA)Levi Seekins 20060204iu5a1rnc(LA)Kelly Schmidt