BIRMINGHAM –Officials with the Gulf South Conference Wednesday recognized a pair of North Alabama basketball players as the league’s men’s and women’s players of the week. Thomas Fraise and Amber Rutherford each received the conference honor, giving the Lions the sweep for the week.

Fraise, a 6-6, 300-pound center from New Orleans, La., gives the UNA men’s team the award for the third straight week after Casey Holt took home the honors the first two weeks of the season. He led the Lions to a 2-1 week versus GSC West Division foes, averaging 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds in 27.3 minutes.  He also shot 54.3 percent from the floor and 80.0 percent (eight-of-10) from three-point range.

The junior started the week scoring 17 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists in a 91-78 home win over Delta State.  Next, Fraise recorded his second double-double of the season behind 19 points and 12 rebounds in a 77-63 road triumph over Southern Arkansas.  He capped the week, turning in an 18-point effort thanks to a 5-for-6 effort from three-point range, while also grabbing six boards in an 88-85 loss at Harding.

Rutherford wins the award for the first time this season and fourth time in her career. The 5-11 junior from Hatton made her presence known in all of the Lions’ games this week, scoring 60 points on 19-of-32 shooting during that span.

In a region win over SIAC foe Lane, she hit 11-of-14 from the field to score 25 in a 66-53 win. In a loss to West Division rival Arkansas Tech, she poured in 24 points with seven rebounds.