GRAND CANYON’S JOHNSON NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grand Canyon senior guard Justine Johnson has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 9-15. This is her first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.
The Mesa, Ariz., native led the Antelopes to a 3-0 record last week, including the tournament title at the Warhawk Classic. Johnson, who entered the week averaging 1.6 points per game this season, averaged 16.0 points over three games and was named MVP of the tournament. She opened the week with eight points in Grand Canyon’s 20-point road win over Nevada. In the first game of the Warhawk Classic, she finished with a career-high 21 points against host Louisiana-Monroe. Johnson closed out the week with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in the championship game victory over previously unbeaten East Carolina. She shot 50 percent from three-point range for the week and was a perfect 12-for-12 at the free throw line, including a 10-for-10 performance in the 86-76 win over ECU.
Other nominees included: Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland averaged 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists as the Roadrunners went 1-1 last week ... Alyssa Charlston of Idaho Johnson averaged 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists as the Vandals went 1-1 on the week ... Kansas City’s Kim Nezianya finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds in a win over Texas Southern ... Kacie Sowell of Seattle U finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocks in a win over Montana State ... Texas-Pan American’s Brittany Bush tallied 13 points, 10 rebounds and two steals in a loss at TCU ... Katie Kuklok of Utah Valley averaged 25.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals in a pair of losses last week.
WAC STAT LEADERS
Texas-Pan American leads the WAC in scoring defense (57.6), field goal percentage defense (33.5), three-point field goal percentage defense (24.8), rebounding (43.7), blocks (3.67) and turnover margin (6.11). Grand Canyon leads the league in scoring margin (13.2), rebounding defense (35.8) and rebounding margin (3.5). Idaho is tops in assist-turnover ratio (1.26) and defensive rebounds (29.3), while Kansas City leads the conference in scoring (74.4) and free throw percentage (78.4). Seattle U leads the league in field goal percentage (43.2) and assists (17.5), while Bakersfield is tops in offensive rebounds (17.33). Chicago State leads the WAC in steals (11.0), New Mexico State is tops in three-pointers per game (8.44), while Utah Valley leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (39.7).
Individually, Utah Valley’s Katie Kuklok leads the WAC in scoring (20.9), free throw percentage (92.5), three-point field goal percentage (51.2) and three-pointers per game (3.9), while Bakersfield’s Batabe Zempare is tops in rebounding (12.0), offensive rebounds (4.7) and defensive rebounds (7.3). Idaho’s Connie Ballestero is tops in assists (4.75) and assist/turnover ratio (2.19), while Seattle U’s Taelor Ross leads the league in field goal percentage (58.8). Chicago State’s Paris Williams leads the WAC in steals (3.3), while Brittany Bush of Texas-Pan American is tops in blocks (2.2) and Kansas City’s Eilise O’Connor leads the league minutes per game (37.0).
TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN OFF TO BEST START IN FIVE YEARS
At 5-4, Texas-Pan American is off to its best start since 2008-09, when it was also 5-4. The Broncs also had 5-4 starts in 2003-04, 1995-96 and 1984-85. The only better starts in program history came in 2007-08 and 1991-92, when UTPA was 6-3. If the Broncs win their next game, they will tie for the best start in program history. If they win their next two games, they will have the record to themselves.
UTAH VALLEY’S KUKLOK, DOUGHTY BOTH SET FREE THROW RECORD THIS SEASON
Utah Valley’s Katie Kuklok scored a season-best 34 points at Utah on Dec. 11, tying the program’s single-game mark for free throws made after going 16-of-17 from the charity stripe. Teammate Tina Doughty went 16-of-18 from the free throw line in the season opener against Nevada on Nov. 8. Doughty also tied the mark for free throws attempted.
IDAHO’S CHARLSTON MOVES INTO NINTH PLACE ON VANDAL CAREER SCORING LIST
With a career-high 32 points at Eastern Washington on Dec. 14, Idaho’s Alyssa Charlston moved into ninth place on Idaho’s all-time scoring list. The senior has 1,263 points in 107 career games.
KANSAS CITY’S NEZIANYA MOVES INTO THIRD PLACE ON CAREER REBOUNDING LIST
When she pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds in an overtime victory over Texas Southern on Dec. 15, Kansas City’s Kim Nezianya moved into third place all-time in the Kangaroo record books with 715 career boards. She also tied the school record for rebounds in a half with 11 in the second half.
TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN POSTS BIGGEST COMEBACK IN PROGRAM HISTORY
On Dec. 3, Texas-Pan American was down 25 points (42-17) with 2:56 remaining in the first half at Houston Baptist. The Broncs pulled off the biggest comeback in program history when they defeated the Huskies 76-74. UTPA came back to win from the third-largest deficit in NCAA history, while tied for the fourth-largest overall comeback, the second largest regulation comeback and the third largest road comeback in NCAA history. It was also the largest comeback in five years.
SEATTLE U SCORES 100 POINTS VS. DIVISION I OPPONENT FOR FIRST TIME
Seattle U recorded the program’s first ever 100-point game vs. a Division I opponent in a 105-100 loss to Oregon on Dec. 4. The lead changed 16 times in the contest. The previous high scoring output for the Redhawks was 92 vs. Sacramento State on Dec. 17, 2010.
REDHAWKS’ WARD SCORES 1,000TH POINT
With her layup at the 9:55 mark in the first half of the Redhawks’ win over Cornell on Nov. 30, senior Ashley Ward tallied her 1,000th career point. The guard now has 1,046 points on her career and joins fellow Seattle U senior Kacie Sowell in the 1,000-point club.
KANSAS CITY’S O’CONNOR JOINS SPECIAL CLUB
Kansas City senior guard Eilise O’Connor is the first player in school history to score more than 1,200 points, grab more than 400 rebounds, dish out more than 350 assists and collect more than 150 steals. The WAC’s active leading scorer, O’Connor has 1,324 points, 440 rebounds, 393 assists and 164 steals.
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 with 209, she ranks tied for 21st nationally in active career leaders and this season ranks 107th nationally with an average of 2.3 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.
ORLEANS ARENA IN LAS VEGAS TO HOST 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.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR WAC TOURNAMENT
All-session tickets for the 2014 WAC Tournament, which will consist of 14 games in eight sessions, are on sale now through WAC institutions and through the Orleans Arena Box Office. Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets from their institution’s ticket office to avoid service fees associated with ticket sales through the Orleans Arena site. Single-session tickets, which allow access to the two games in each session, will not be available for purchase until March 12 and can only be purchased through the Orleans Arena Box Office.
TWO WAC PLAYERS NAMED ALLSTATE GOOD WORKS TEAM CANDIDATES
Eilise O’Connor of Kansas City and Kacie Sowell of Seattle U are among the 52 Division I nominees for the 2014 Allstate WBCA Good Works Teams®. The award recognizes basketball student-athletes who have made significant contributions to the greater good of their communities through volunteerism and civic service. A voting panel will select the 10-member team comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA Division I level and five student-athletes from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA from the nominees. The final roster of award recipients will be unveiled in February.
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®.
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 28 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)
Nov. 30 – Grand Canyon vs. UCLA (Gulf Coast Showcase)
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 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