By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Josiah Frank (Jr., G, Turlock, CA/John H. Pitman HS) of Willamette University has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week after averaging 28.0 points per game as the Bearcats defeated Linfield College 83-60 on Friday, Jan. 5 and downed Pacific Lutheran University 85-82 on Saturday, Jan. 6. The Bearcats improved to 8-4 on the season with their sixth consecutive win, while advancing to 3-1 in the NWC.

Frank scored 21 points in the home win against Linfield before contributing a career-high 3 5 points in the road victory at Pacific Lutheran. He was 20 of 30 (66.7%) on field goals during the week (66.7%), including 6 of 7 on 3-pointers. He was a perfect 10 for 10 at the free throw line. He also earned 9 rebounds (4.5 avg.), 3 steals (1.5 avg.), and 2 assists (1.0 avg.) during the week.

Against the Lutes, he was 4 for 4 at the free throw line in the final 10 seconds to secure the three-point win. He scored 18 of his 35 points in the second half.

Frank leads Willamette and is third in the NWC in scoring with 16.8 points per game. In his career, Frank has scored 632 points while connecting on 76 of 195 three-pointers (39.0%) and sinking 124 of 156 free throws (79.5%).

As a team, the Bearcats are averaging 92.5 points per game, which tops the NWC and is good for third in NCAA Division III. Willamette will be back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Pacific University. Game time in Forest Grove, Oregon, is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST.