IDAHO’S BARR NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Idaho junior guard Stacey Barr has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 18-24. This is her first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.
The Melbourne, Australia, native led Idaho to a 68-63 win over UC Irvine Saturday with her first double-double of the season. Barr matched her season high with 21 points and led all players with a career-best 16 rebounds. Barr made nine free throws in the victory, a new career mark.
Other nominees included: Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland averaged 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists as the Roadrunners went 1-1 on the week ... Paris Williams of Chicago State averaged 19.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals over two games ... Grand Canyon’s Kaitlyn Petersen averaged 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists as the Antelopes went 3-0 on the week ... Calli White of Kansas City finished with 18 points on six three-pointers and three assists in a loss to Toledo ... New Mexico State’s Elena Holguin averaged 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists as the Aggies went 1-1 on the week ... Taelor Ross of Seattle U averaged 12.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks as the Redhawks went 1-2 on the week ... Texas-Pan American’s KaeLynn Boyd averaged 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists as the Broncs went 1-1 on the week.
WAC STAT LEADERS
Grand Canyon leads the WAC in scoring defense (47.2), scoring margin (27.2), field goal percentage (45.0), three-point field goal percentage defense (20.0), rebounding defense (34.2), rebounding margin (7.5), steals (15.0) and turnover margin (9.0). Texas-Pan American leads the league in field goal percentage defense (29.2), rebounding (47.2), blocks (3.75) and offensive rebounds (19.75). Utah Valley is tops in free throw percentage (77.1), three-point field goal percentage (39.2) and assist-turnover ratio (1.1), while Idaho is tops in defensive rebounds (33.3) and three-pointers per game (9.75). New Mexico State leads the WAC in scoring (76.6), while Seattle U leads the league in assists (16.0).
Individually, Utah Valley’s Katie Kuklok leads the WAC in scoring (22.0), three-point field goal percentage (53.5) and three-pointers per game (4.6), while Bakersfield’s Batabe Zempare is tops in rebounding (13.3) and defensive rebounds (8.75). Johnna Brown of Grand Canyon is tops in field goal percentage (59.5), while teammate Kaitlyn Petersen leads the league in assists (5.0). Kuklok and August Touchard of Grand Canyon both have perfect free throw shooting percentages, while Grand Canyon’s Deanna Daniels averages a WAC-best 3.75 steals per game. Brittany Bush of Texas-Pan American leads the WAC in blocks (1.75), while Idaho’s Connie Ballestero is tops in assist/turnover ratio (2.57). Seattle U’s Kacie Sowell is tops in offensive rebounds (4.6), while teammate Ashley Ward leads the league minutes per game (37.2).
SEATTLE U’S SHEPHARD NABS 200TH CAREER STEAL
Seattle U senior guard Sylvia Shephard nabbed her 200th career steal on Nov. 24 vs. Portland. The WAC’s active leader in steals, she ranks tied for 20th nationally in active career leaders and this season ranks 56th nationally with an average of 2.8 per game.
UVU SETS FIELD GOAL RECORD AGAINST WALLA WALLA
Utah Valley shot a program-best 66.7 percent (46-of-69) from the field in its rout of Walla Walla on Nov. 9. The 114-point output was the third-highest total in program history and the 86-point margin of victory is the second-highest.
UTAH VALLEY’S DOUGHTY SETS FREE THROW RECORD AGAINST NEVADA
Utah Valley’s Tina Doughty went 16-of-18 from the free throw line in the team’s season opener against Nevada on Nov. 8, setting the program single-game record for free throws made. She also tied the mark for free throws attempted.
THREE WAC PLAYERS NAMED SENIOR CLASS CANDIDATES
Three WAC student-athletes – Alyssa Charlston of Idaho, Eilise O’Connor of Kansas City and Kacie Sowell of Seattle U – are among the 30 candidates for the 2013-14 Senior CLASS Award® in women’s basketball. All three student-athletes were named to the Preseason All-WAC first team by both the coaches and the media, while Sowell was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans. The winner will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Women’s Final Four®.
ORLEANS ARENA IN LAS VEGAS TO HOST 2014 WAC TOURNAMENT
The 2014 WAC Basketball Tournament returns to the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for the fourth year in a row. This year’s tournament includes all eight eligible teams and will be held Wednesday-Saturday, March 12-15.
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS
Two of the first team All-WAC players from last year return for the 2013-14 season in Idaho’s Alyssa Charlston and reigning WAC Player of the Year Kacie Sowell of Seattle U. Other WAC honorees that return are Seattle U’s Sylvia Shephard, the reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Year, who was named second team All-WAC and to the All-Defensive Team. Idaho’s Stacey Barr, a third team All-WAC selection, and Christina Salvatore, an All-Freshman honoree, round out the group.
Tierra Williams of Chicago State earned the Great West Sixth Woman Award and was named second team All-Great West, while teammates Paris Williams (honorable mention) and Layne Murphy (all-newcomer) were also honored.
Grand Canyon’s Judy Jones was named PacWest Player and Newcomer of the Year and was a first team all-conference pick.
Eilise O’Connor of Kansas City was named first team All-Summit, while KaeLynn Boyd of Texas-Pan American was named to the Great West All-Newcomer Team. Tina Doughty of Utah Valley was named second team All-Great West and to the all-newcomer team.