BIRMINGHAM — Officials with the Gulf South Conference have named a pair of North Alabama basketball players as the men’s and women’s East Division Players of the Week. Kenny Johnson and Amber Rutherford took home the conference honor in the final weekly session of 2007.

Johnson wins the award for the first time in his career and becomes the third different UNA honoree this season. The senior led the Lions to a pair of important road wins last week, averaging 21.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 38.0 minutes of action. He also shot 56.5 percent from the floor and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc.

Johnson started the week, netting a game-high 25 points and adding team-best seven boards in an 83-66 victory at Clayton State. Next, the Plaquemine, La.

Native then led UNA to an important 79-62 in-region road win over Lynn by scoring 18 points, dishing out a game-high six assists and pulling down five rebounds.

Rutherford takes home the GSC honor for the second time this season and fifth time in her career. The reigning GSC East Player of the Year averaged a double-double (27.5 points; 10.0 rebounds) in the Lions’ 1-1 week versus GSC West Division foes.

The junior sprinted out of the gates, scoring 39 points and pulling down 14 rebounds in an 84-81 loss at Harding. She was red hot from the field, going 13-for-16, while also hitting 13-of-13 from the foul line. The Hatton, Ala.

Native capped the week, leading UNA to a 63-52 triumph at Ouachita Baptist, netting 16 points and grabbing six boards in 31 minutes.