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This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Nov. 5

This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Nov. 5

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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.

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, who will select the candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Women’s Final Four®.

STAT LEADERS BACK
The following are the returning statistical leaders in the WAC from the 2012-13 season.
    
Two of the top 10 scorers are back in Seattle U’s Kacie Sowell (16.4) and Sylvia Shephard (13.6), who ranked fifth and ninth, respectively, in the league a year ago. Sowell and Idaho’s Ali Forde are the two of the top 10 rebounders returning, ranking second (9.9) and 10th (7.3), respectively, last season.

Four of the top 10 assist leaders return, led by Shephard, who last year ranked fourth in the WAC with 3.71 assists per game. Also returning are Seattle U’s Ashley Ward (5th, 3.65), Danesia Williamson of New Mexico State (7th, 3.39) and Idaho’s Connie Ballestero (8th, 3.27).
 
Two of the top 10 steals leaders – Seattle U’s Shephard (1st, 3.26) and Sowell (T-7th, 2.00) – return, while Idaho’s Forde (2nd, 1.85) and Alyssa Charlston (7th, 0.97) are the returning top blockers.

In addition, several newcomers to the WAC ranked in the top 10 in various statistical categories in their respective conferences last year. Tierra Williams of Chicago State ranked third in the Great West in steals (1.7) and sixth in scoring (9.3), while teammate Layne Murphy ranked fifth in blocks (1.3), tied for seventh in steals (1.4) and ninth in rebounding (5.7). The Cougars’ Chanel Wilson-Stewart ranked sixth in blocked shots (0.8), while teammate Paris Williams was 10th in scoring (8.4).

Grand Canyon’s Judy Jones ranked second in the Pacific West Conference in rebounding (10.4), tied for second in steals (2.8) and fifth in scoring (16.2), while her teammate Asha McDonnell ranked eighth in blocks (1.2).

Kansas City’s Eilise O’Connor ranked second in The Summit League in scoring (16.9), fourth in assists (3.9) and ninth in steals (1.6). Meanwhile, teammate Hailey Houser was ninth in blocks (0.8).

KaeLynn Boyd of Texas-Pan American ranked second in the Great West in assists (3.5) and fifth in steals (1.5), while teammate Jasmine Thompson was 10th in rebounding (4.9).

Utah Valley’s Tina Doughty ranked fourth in the Great West in scoring (10.4), while teammate Whitney Jenkins was fourth in steals (1.6) and ninth in assists (2.0).
 
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.

KEY NON-CONFERENCE MATCHUPS
This season, WAC teams have as many as 27 games against teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament or the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) last season. The complete list is below.

Games vs. NCAA Teams
Nov. 8 – Idaho at Gonzaga (Preseason WNIT)
Nov. 10 – Texas-Pan American at Texas Tech
Nov. 18 – New Mexico State at Cal Poly
Nov. 30 – *Idaho vs. California (Nugget Classic)
Dec. 6 – Idaho at Montana (Lady Griz Classic)
Dec. 7 – Bakersfield at Cal Poly
Dec. 15 – Bakersfield at California
Dec. 22 – Texas-Pan American at Wichita State (Wichita State Winter Classic)
Dec. 29 – Texas-Pan American at Oklahoma State

Games vs. WNIT Teams
Nov. 16 – Chicago State at Miami (Ohio)
Nov. 19 – Seattle U at Washington
Nov. 20 – Toledo at Kansas City
Nov. 23 – IUPUI at Chicago State
Nov. 26 – Idaho at San Diego
Nov. 26 – Kansas City at Missouri
Nov. 29 – Sam Houston State at Kansas City (Plaza Lights Classic)
Nov. 30 – Texas-Pan American vs. Northern Iowa (UTSA Classic)
Nov. 30 – Eastern Illinois at Kansas City (Plaza Lights Classic)
Dec. 7 – *Idaho vs. Appalachian State (Lady Griz Classic)
Dec. 8 – Seattle U at San Diego
Dec. 11 – Utah Valley at Utah
Dec. 14 – *Grand Canyon vs. East Carolina (Warhawk Classic)
Dec. 15 – Texas Southern at Kansas City
Dec. 20 – Idaho State at Utah Valley
Dec. 21 – Wyoming at Idaho
Dec. 23 – Hawai‘i at Grand Canyon
Dec. 28 – Seattle U at UC Santa Barbara

*possible match-up in tournament

LETTERWINNER/STARTER CAPSULE
Six of the nine WAC schools – Bakersfield, Chicago State, Grand Canyon, Idaho, Kansas City and Seattle U – return at least three starters this season. Meanwhile, New Mexico State and Utah Valley each return two starters, while Texas-Pan American returns just one starter from a year ago.

Team LR LL SR SL
Bakersfield 8 4 3 2
Chicago State 4 6 3 2
Grand Canyon 7 7 3 2
Idaho 8 2 5 0
Kansas City 8 3 4 1
New Mexico State 5 6 2 3
Seattle U 9 3 3 2
Texas-Pan American 6 8 1 4
Utah Valley 5 8 2 3


TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
Although Bakersfield played the 2012-13 schedule as a Division I Independent, the Roadrunners played eight games against current WAC opponents a year ago, going 5-3 ... Tyonna Outland is on pace to score her 1,000th career point this season as she begins the season with 824 career points ... Outland was named CollegeSportsMadness.com Independent Player of the Week four times last season ... Janae Coffee set the Bakersfield Division I school records for most blocks in a season (52) and most blocks in a game with eight against Texas-Pan American on Jan. 8, 2013 ... Bakersfield set a school Division I record last season with nine straight wins from Jan. 5-Feb. 16 before losing at New Mexico State Feb. 23 ... At 6-4, Coffee is the tallest player in the 13-year history of the program, while Alyssa Shannon, at 5-2, is the shortest player in program history ... Outland was the only player to start all 29 games last season, as the Roadrunners used 12 different starting lineups in 29 games.

CHICAGO STATE COUGARS (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
The Cougars return three starters and five total letterwinners from last year’s team that went 4-26 on the year ... The 2013-14 Chicago State roster doesn’t feature a single senior ... Tierra Williams was named Great West Conference Sixth Woman of the Year and second team All-GWC last season after finishing GWC play third in free throw percentage (77.3), fifth in three-point percentage (36.4) and seventh in scoring (11.9) ... Paris Williams was named to the All-GWC honorable mention team last season. In GWC play, she led the conference in free throw percentage (80.8). On Jan. 22 she was named GWC Player of the Week ... Layne Murphy was named to the All-GWC Newcomer Team last year after starting 25 games and finishing with 155 points and 157 rebounds ... Head coach Angela Jackson is the Chicago State career wins leader with 120 ... Her career is highlighted by the Cougars’ 2011 GWC Championship and a run to the Women’s Basketball Invitational Final Four the same year.

GRAND CANYON ANTELOPES (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
Under head coach Trent May, Grand Canyon made the NCAA Division II postseason in four of the last five seasons, including a Sweet 16 berth in 2011 ... Judy Jones was named to the 2012-13 Daktronics All-America third team and was the Pacific West Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year ... Jones averaged 16.2 points and 10.3 rebounds last season and led the club with 88 steals ... Senior center Asha McDonnell led the Antelopes last season in field goal percentage (.565) and blocked shots (36) ... Grand Canyon will have one of its most veteran teams, as eight of 14 players are seniors ... Grand Canyon is in its first season at the NCAA Division I level, but six of its players have played at this level before ... Division I transfers include Justine Johnson (Weber State), Erica Paskell (UT Arlington), Courtney Hayes (Louisiana Tech), Kaitlyn Petersen (Cal State Northridge/Gonzaga), Jasmine Grayson (Cal State Fullerton) and Jones (UTSA).

IDAHO VANDALS  (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
Idaho won the 2013 WAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed, knocking off No. 2 Utah State and top-seeded Seattle U along the way to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament, where it fell to top-seeded UConn in Connecticut ... The Vandals finished 17-16 overall last season and 11-7 to finish third in the WAC regular-season standings ... Idaho was 10th in the NCAA last season in three-point field goals per game with an average of 8.1 per game ... The Vandals led the conference in rebounding in 2012-13, averaging 41.8 rebounds per game ... Idaho lost only three players to graduation, returning top contributors Alyssa Charlston, Addie Schivo and 2013 WAC Tournament MVP Stacey Barr ... As a freshman last season, Christina Salvatore was second in the WAC with 2.6 three-pointers per game, while Barr was sixth with 1.8 ... Ali Forde, who also plays volleyball at Idaho, ranked second in the WAC last year with 1.8 blocked shots per game.

KANSAS CITY KANGAROOS (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
Kansas City finished 9-21 overall and 4-12 in its final season in The Summit League in head coach Marsha Frese’s first season at the helm ... The Kangaroos return four starters and nine letterwinners from last year’s team and welcome four freshmen to the 2013-14 squad ... Eilise O’Connor returns following a junior year where she was named first team All-Summit League and to the Air Force Classic All-Tournament Team, scored her 1,000th point, was named Summit League Player of the Week three times, moved into ninth place on the Kansas City career scoring list, and set program records for free throws made in a game (17), season (180) and career (363) ... Kim Nezianya returns for her fifth season after playing just seven games as a junior before suffering a season-ending knee injury ... Nezianya averaged 15.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals, while being named Summit League Player of the Week on Nov. 26 ... Lexis Hardiek is coming off a season where she finished third in The Summit League in three-point percentage (40.2).

NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
New Mexico State finished 15-16 overall last season and 7-11 in WAC play ... A young team, the 2013-14 Aggies welcome eight newcomers and have no seniors on the roster ... NM State returns two players – Sasha Weber and Danesia Williamson – who started 20 or more games last season ... The Aggies lose the services of departed senior Stefanie Gilbreath, who was named WAC Newcomer of the Year in 2013 ... Head coach Mark Trakh enters his third year at the helm of the NM State program and has three former players on his staff – Aggies Erica Sanchez and Kelsie Rozendaal, and Aarika Hughes, who played for him at USC ... Coming off a strong freshman campaign in which she was second on the team in assists (59) and averaged 8.5 points, Weber will be looked to for another stellar offensive performance ... In 2012-13, Trakh and the Aggies more than doubled their win total from the previous year ... New Mexico State opens the season at cross-border rival UTEP.

SEATTLE U REDHAWKS (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
The Redhawks return their top three scorers from a year ago, led by WAC Player of the Year Kacie Sowell, who averaged 16.4 points and 9.9 rebounds last season ... Sowell surpassed both the 1,000 career point mark, just the 12th player in program history to do so, as well as the 500 career rebound mark last season ... In addition to Sowell, Joan Bonvicini was named WAC Coach of the Year and Sylvia Shephard was named WAC Defensive Player of the Year ... Sowell was also first team All-WAC, Shephard was second team All-WAC, and Shephard and Daidra Brown were named to the WAC All-Defensive Team ... Sowell finished the season ranked seventh in the nation in field goal percentage (55.6) and tied for 23rd in double-doubles (17), while Shephard finished tied for 11th in steals per game (3.26) ... As a team, the Redhawks ranked fourth nationally in steals per game (12.8) ... The team made the first WNIT appearance in program history last season, facing Saint Mary’s in the first round.

TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN BRONCS (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
Larry Tidwell, who spent the previous six years as the head coach at Lamar, enters his first season at the helm of the Broncs ... Texas-Pan American welcomes 12 new student-athletes to the roster while returning one senior, one junior and four sophomores ... Last year as a freshman, KaeLynn Boyd averaged 10.5 points and 5.1 assists in conference play to earn All-Great West Conference Newcomer Team honors ... Jasmine Thompson earned Great West Conference Player of the Week honors on Dec. 10, 2012, after averaging 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting .696 from the field ... The Broncs will be without the services of four-time All-GWC honoree Bianca Torre, who ended her career as the all-time leader in points (1,439), assists (393), steals (226), free throws made (277) and field goals attempted (1,250) ... UTPA is in a conference with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years.

UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES  (0-0, 0-0 WAC)
Utah Valley was recognized by the WBCA as having the top GPA in the country during the 2012-13 season. It was the second time in the last four years the Wolverines earned the honor ... The Wolverines finished 15-15 overall last season with a 7-1 Great West Conference mark to pick up their first regular-season conference title ... Utah Valley will have a new look in 2013-14, as it returns just four letterwinners from last year’s squad and brings in eight newcomers ... Entering her 19th season at the helm, head coach Cathy Nixon’s tenure at Utah Valley is the longest of any coach in the WAC ... Nixon picked up her 300th career win at Northern Arizona on Dec. 15, 2012 ... Whitney Jenkins, who ranks sixth all time at Utah Valley in steals (1.2), is one of only two seniors on the roster. The other is fellow guard Kyra Prause, returning to action after a redshirt year ... Of its returners, guard Tina Doughty is UVU’s most proven scorer, ranking second on the team in scoring (10.4).