COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Peninsula’s Tuisaula is North Region MVP; Long Defensive POY and Crumb Coach of the Year
Published 1:30 am Thursday, March 9, 2023
PASCO — Peninsula College’s record setters swept the North Region individual awards when the 2023 NWAC women’s basketball All-Region teams were announced this week.
Pirates freshman center Ituau Tuisaula earned the North Region Most Valuable Player award in voting conducted by league coaches.
Tuisaula averaged 10.5 points, 9 rebounds, one assist and one block while appearing in 22 of the Pirates’ 24 contests, starting 21 games.
Her offensive rebounding totals have stood out all season long as Tuisaula is second in the entire NWAC with 4.7 offensive boards per game. She also set the all-time Peninsula College record for rebounds in a game, hauling in 24 boards in a 77-40 win over Everett on Feb. 1.
The previous record, 23, was set by current Pirates assistant coach Gabi Fenumiai on Dec. 20, 2013.
Port Angeles product Millie Long was a repeat selection as the North Region’s Defensive Player of the Year in her sophomore season. She also was picked to the North Region First Team.
Long now holds the Peninsula College steals record for a season and for her career.
She posted per-game averages of 18 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.68 steals and 3.5 assists per game during the regular season.
Pirates coach Alison Crumb also was a repeat winner of the Coach of the Year award after guiding Peninsula to a repeat North Region title and a 20-4 overall record.
Freshman guard Chasity Selden earned a second-team nod, despite playing in just more than half of the Peninsula schedule.
In 13 games, Selden provided scoring punch off the bench for the Pirates, averaging 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.46 steals per contest.
Sophomore guard Tati Kamae also earned a spot on the North Region All-Defensive team.
Kamae is averaging 9.1 points, 6 rebounds, 2.42 steals and 2 assists per game.
Earlier this season, Kamae set a record for most steals in a game with 14 in a 63-41 win over Pierce on Dec. 18.
Peninsula opens the NWAC Tournament today at noon against Linn-Benton (21-6) at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.
NORTH REGION
Most Valuable Player
Ituau Tuisaula, So, Peninsula
Coaches of the Year
Alison Crumb, Peninsula
First Team
Aloha Akaka, So, Shoreline
Kailyn Allison, So, Skagit Valley
Taylor Eldredge, Fr, Shoreline
Sav Huerta, So, Bellevue
Emilia Long, So, Peninsula
Second Team
Gwen Aasland, So, Bellevue
Brianna Byrnes, So, Bellevue
Sarah Cook, Fr, Skagit Valley
Chasity Selden, So, Peninsula
Livia Tjoelker, So, Skagit Valley
Freshman of the Year
Taylor Eldredge, Shoreline
Defensive Player of the Year
Emilia Long, So, Peninsula
All-Defensive Team
Aloha Akaka, So, Shoreline
Kailyn Allison, So, Skagit Valley
Tati Kamae, So, Peninsula
Missy Valdez, So, Olympic
Helena Van Ess, So, Bellevue
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
