Western Washington first baseman Emily Benson (So., West Richland, WA/Kamiakin) made the most of the extra games last week.

Making up three rained out games from earlier in the season, the Vikings' softball team played seven games, with Benson taking full advantage of the extra at-bats. The sophomore was selected the Softball Player of the Week after hitting for a .609 average (14 for 23) with five home runs, 16 runs batted in, 11 runs scored and a 1.261 slugging percentage. Benson leads the GNAC with 12 home runs and 40 RBI, becoming Western Washington's single-season home run record holder.

The Vikings' Katie Reichert (Sr., Longview, WA/Kelso) was named the Women's Field Athlete of the Week after hitting a NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships automatic qualifying mark in the javelin. Competing at the Doris Heritage Distance Classic in Seattle, Wash., Reichert's throw of 50.16 meters (165' 6") took first place in the event and ranks third in all of Division II this season.

Rounding out the three Western Washington selections is Audrey Orem (Jr., Bellingham, WA), who received the Women's Golf Player of the Week award. Orem put together one of her best performances of the season at the Otter Invitational in Seaside, Calif., tying for ninth individually out of 96 competitors. She shot 10-over par 154 with matching round scores of 77, finishing just four strokes back of the individual champion.

Copy courtesey of Iain Dexter of GNAC Sports Information