By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Penner makes GNAC first team

Kennedy Catholic graduate Mitch Penner has been named to the Greater Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball first team after a stellar senior season.

Penner was named as the GNAC Player of the Week three times this winter, averaging 18.0 points over the season with an average of 5.6 rebounds per game. He shot 51 percent from the field this year including 44 percent from 3-point range.

Penner scored 27 points for Seattle Pacific University in his final home game on Feb. 27.

Gandy, McPhee both honored

Mount Rainier graduates Kiana Gandy and Jordan McPhee both made GNAC women's basketball honorable mention for their efforts for their respective college teams.

Gandy is a junior forward who averaged 11.3 points and 4.0 rebounds for Western Washington University, while McPhee is a sophomore who averaged 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds for Seattle Pacific University.

Gandy tossed in a career high 23 points in Western's regular season finale -- a 99-54 victory at Alaska Fairbanks on Feb. 27.

Three in Pac-12 women's tourney

Three area graduates played in the Pac-12 women's basketball tournament held recently in Seattle's KeyArena.

Seattle Christian graduate Lexi Petersen played for the University of Oregon, Seattle Christian graduate Katie Collier for the University of Washington and Mount Rainier graduate Brittany McPhee for Stanford University.

Petersen poured in 23 points for the Ducks in their 74-68 loss to Arizona March 3 along with three blocks, three assists and two steals.

Petersen averaged 13.1 points and 3.4 rebounds this season.

Collier helped the Huskies to a 73-65 victory over McPhee's favored Stanford team March 4, scoring 13 points and hauling down five rebounds.

Collier had eight points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal in a 57-55 loss to Oregon State the next day. She opened the tournament with five points, three rebounds and one block in a 67-51 victory over Colorado on March 3.

McPhee scored four points with two rebounds and one assist in the seeded Stanford team's only game of the tournament -- the loss to the Huskies.

McPhee averaged 6.7 points overall and 7.8 in Pac-12 conference play to go with a season rebounding average of 3.2.

If you have news about area graduates or soon to be graduates involved in or signing up for college or professional sports please e-mail us at sports@robinsonnews.com.