BAKERSFIELD’S OUTLAND NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bakersfield junior guard Tyonna Outland has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 20-26. This is her third WAC Player of the Week honor of the season.
The Compton, Calif., native led Bakersfield to a 2-0 record last week with road wins at Chicago State and Kansas City. Outland opened the week with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal against the Cougars. She followed it up with 27 points, four rebounds, four steals and two blocks in an 87-80 win over the Kangaroos. For the week, Outland averaged 22.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks, and shot 57.7 percent from the field, 75 percent from three-point range and 92.3 percent from the free throw line. With the 45 points last week, the junior moved into fifth place on the Bakersfield career scoring chart with 1,183 points.
Other nominees included: Chicago State’s Layne Murphy averaged 14.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks last week ... Kaitlyn Petersen of Grand Canyon averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals on the week ... Kansas City’s Eilise O’Connor averaged 27.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists as the Kangaroos went 1-1 on the week ... Ali Forde of Idaho finished with eight points, 15 rebounds, four steals, three assists and three blocks in a win over Grand Canyon ... New Mexico State’s Danesia Williamson finished with 30 points, four rebounds and three assists in the Aggies’ only game last week ... Wilma Afungo of Seattle U finished with a career-high 14 points on 100 percent shooting to go along with five rebounds in a win over Grand Canyon ... Texas-Pan American’s Jasmine Thompson tallied 14 points, eight rebounds, one block and one steal in a win over New Mexico State ... Rhaiah Spooner-Knight of Utah Valley averaged 16.0 points and 7.5 rebounds as the Wolverines went 1-1 last week.
WAC STAT LEADERS
Idaho leads the WAC in scoring margin (11.1), field goal percentage defense (35.5), rebounding (44.0), blocks (4.1), assist-turnover ratio (1.21) and defensive rebounds (31.19). Seattle U is tops in field goal percentage (45.2), rebounding defense (36.8), rebounding margin (3.7) and assists (17.4), while Kansas City leads the league in scoring (73.9), free throw percentage (76.8) and three-point field goal percentage defense (26.7). Bakersfield leads the conference in offensive rebounds (15.9), while Chicago State is tops in steals (9.3) and Grand Canyon leads the WAC in scoring defense (60.5). New Mexico State is tops in three-pointers per game (8.65), while Texas-Pan American leads the WAC in turnover margin (4.79) and Utah Valley is tops in three-point field goal percentage (35.8).
Individually, Kansas City’s Eilise O’Connor leads the WAC in scoring (21.5), free throw percentage (85.8) and minutes per game (38.2), while Bakersfield’s Batabe Zempare is tops in rebounding (10.9), offensive rebounds (4.2) and defensive rebounds (6.7). Idaho’s Ali Forde leads the league in field goal percentage (61.1) and blocks (2.0), while teammates Connie Ballestero and Christina Salvatore are tops in assist/turnover ratio (2.41) and three-pointers per game (2.43), respectively. Seattle U’s Sylvia Shephard leads the WAC in assists (4.7), while Chicago State’s Paris Williams is tops steals (2.56) and Texas-Pan American’s Shawnte’ Goff leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (39.8).
In WAC games only, Idaho leads the conference in scoring (82.6), scoring defense (57.1), scoring margin (25.4), field goal percentage defense (31.3), three-point field goal percentage (38.2), rebounding (46.7), blocks (6.14), assist-turnover ratio (1.39) and defensive rebounds (35.57). Idaho and Seattle U are tied for the lead in assists (17.29), while the Redhawks also lead the WAC in field goal percentage (49.4), rebounding defense (31.3), rebounding margin (11.0) and steals (8.0). New Mexico State is tops in three-point field goal percentage defense (25.5), offensive rebounds (14.0) and three-pointers per game (10.0). Grand Canyon is tops in free throw percentage (80.9), while Texas-Pan American leads the WAC in turnover margin (5.0).
Individually in WAC games, O’Connor leads the conference in scoring (24.7) and minutes played (39.0), while teammate Kim Nezianya is tops in rebounding (12.3), offensive rebounds (3.9) and defensive rebounds (8.4). Seattle U’s Wilma Afungo leads the WAC in field goal percentage (80.8), while Shephard is tops in assists (5.1). Grand Canyon’s Johnna Brown leads the WAC in free throw percentage (100.0), while Goff is tops in steals (1.83). Utah Valley’s Whitney Jenkins leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (47.1), while Abby Scott of New Mexico State is tops in three-pointers per game (3.8). Forde leads the conference in blocked shots (3.14), while UTPA’s T’Ondria Nolen is tops in assist/turnover ratio (3.43).
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR WAC TOURNAMENT
All-session tickets for the 2014 WAC Tournament, which consists 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 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 ARE ALLSTATE GOOD WORKS 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®.
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS (10-8, 4-2 WAC)
The Roadrunners defeated Chicago State 90-59 last Thursday and beat Kansas City 87-80 on Saturday ... Against the Cougars, Tyonna Outland led all players with 18 points, while Batabe Zempare added 15 points and eight rebounds ... Melissa Sweat finished with 12 points and Brittany Sims had 11 ... Against the ‘Roos, Outland had 27 points, while Dajy Vines scored 18 ... Alyssa Shannon added 13 points and a career-high eight rebounds ... Outland, who has scored in double figures in 16 of 18 games this season, moved into fifth place on the CSUB career scoring chart with 1,183 points ... Zempare leads the WAC and ranks 18th nationally in rebounding (10.9) ... As a team, Bakersfield leads the WAC in offensive rebounds (15.89), ranks second in free throw percentage (73.2), and third in scoring (72.8), rebounding (40.8) and turnover margin (1.94) ... The Roadrunners host New Mexico State on Thursday and Texas-Pan American on Saturday.
CHICAGO STATE COUGARS (3-17, 0-7 WAC)
The Cougars fell 90-59 to Bakersfield last Thursday and lost 72-46 to Utah Valley on Saturday ... Against the Roadrunners, Layne Murphy had career highs of 17 points and 15 rebounds ... Tierra Williams added 12 points, while Konner Harris and Cailin Nix tallied 11 apiece ... Against the Wolverines, Murphy and Harris led Chicago State with 12 points each, while Chanel Wilson-Stewart pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds ... Tierra Williams has 108 career three-pointers, good for sixth place in program history ... Murphy has scored at least 10 points in seven of her last eight games and has at least six rebounds in six straight games ... Tierra Williams has scored at least 10 points in 12 of her last 14 games ... As a team, the Cougars lead the WAC and rank 75th nationally in steals (9.3) ... Chicago State also ranks fourth in the WAC in three-point field goal percentage defense (28.4) and blocks (2.8) ... The Cougars play at Grand Canyon on Thursday in their only game this week.
GRAND CANYON ANTELOPES (13-6, 2-4 WAC)
The Antelopes fell 58-54 at Idaho last Thursday and lost 89-68 at Seattle U on Saturday ... Against the Vandals, Kaitlyn Petersen led the Antelopes with 13 points and a career-high seven rebounds, while Johnna Brown added 10 points and Asha McDonnell grabbed a team-high eight rebounds ... Against the Redhawks, Petersen led all players with a career-high 28 points, while Deanna Daniels tallied 19 ... Petersen has achieved a career high in each of her last four games – Jan. 9 vs. Bakersfield (25 points), Jan. 11 vs. Utah Valley (12 assists), Jan. 23 vs. Idaho (seven rebounds) and Jan. 25 vs. Seattle U (28 points) ... The Antelopes lead the WAC in scoring defense (60.5), rank second in scoring margin (9.4), field goal percentage defense (39.2), three-point field goal percentage defense (28.2), rebounding defense (38.4), steals (9.26) and turnover margin (3.68), and third in three-point field goal percentage (32.4) ... The Antelopes host Chicago State on Thursday and Kansas City on Saturday.
IDAHO VANDALS (14-7, 7-0 WAC)
The Vandals defeated Grand Canyon 58-54 last Thursday in their only game of the week ... Alyssa Charlston posted a double-double of 14 points and 13 boards, while Stacey Barr also scored 14 ... Addie Schivo added 12 points, while Ali Forde grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds, nabbed four steals and blocked three shots ... The Vandals are now 7-0 in conference play for the first time since the 1981-82 season ... Idaho has made at least one three-pointer in 185 consecutive games ... Barr moved into a tie for third place in school history with 164 career three-pointers ... Charlston moved into fifth place all-time with 779 career rebounds and is first all-time at Idaho with 117 games played ... Forde jumped into sixth place all-time with 95 career blocks ... The Vandals rank 12th nationally in personal fouls (15.2), 16th in turnovers (12.8), 23rd in assist-turnover ratio (1.21) and 25th in field goal percentage defense (35.5) ... Idaho plays at Seattle U on Saturday in its only game this week.
KANSAS CITY KANGAROOS (7-13, 3-4 WAC)
The ’Roos defeated Utah Valley 83-66 last Thursday, then fell 87-80 to Bakersfield on Saturday ... Against the Wolverines, Kim Nezianya led all players with 28 points and 15 rebounds for her WAC-leading ninth double-double of the season, while Eilise O’Connor finished with 24 points, eight boards and eight assists ... Against the Roadrunners, O’Connor led all players with 31 points, while Nezianya added 17 points and eight rebounds ... Kelsey Barnwell finished with 10 points ... Calli White has made 47 three-pointers on the year, good for second all-time among UMKC freshmen, 13 shy of the record ... Nezianya is 40 rebounds shy of the all-time program record of 864 ... O’Connor ranks second on the UMKC career scoring list with 1,564 points ... Kansas City leads the WAC in scoring (73.9), free throw percentage (76.8), three-point field goal percentage defense (26.7), and ranks second in three-point field goal percentage (33.8), rebounding (41.2) and defensive rebounds (28.2) ... The ‘Roos play at Grand Canyon on Saturday in their only game this week.
NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES (6-13, 3-3 WAC)
The Aggies fell 66-61 at Texas-Pan American on Saturday in their only game last week ... New Mexico State led by eight with 9:34 left in the game, but was outscored 19-6 for the remainder of the game and was held scoreless for the final 5:16 ... Danesia Williamson led all players with 30 points, while Sasha Weber added 17 ... Tyler Ellis grabbed a team-high 13 boards ... NM State leads the WAC and ranks 13th nationally in three-pointers per game (8.6) ... The Aggies also rank second in the WAC in blocked shots (3.26), and fourth in field goal percentage defense (39.8), three-point field goal percentage (32.4) and defensive rebounds (26.84) ... Abby Scott ranks fourth in the WAC in three-pointers per game (1.95), while Weber is tied for sixth (1.84) ... Weber also ranks seventh in three-point field goal percentage (31.5) ... Ellis ranks seventh in offensive rebounds (2.76) and ninth in rebounding (6.9) ... The Aggies play at Bakersfield on Thursday and at Utah Valley on Saturday.
SEATTLE U REDHAWKS (10-10, 5-2 WAC)
The Redhawks defeated Grand Canyon 89-68 on Saturday in their only game last week ... Kacie Sowell had 19 points and eight rebounds, while Ashley Ward added 14 points and nine rebounds ... Wilma Afungo was 7-for-7 from the field for a career-high 14 points and tied her career high with five rebounds ... Alexis Montgomery finished with 14 points, while Sylvia Shephard added 11 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals ... As a team, Seattle U grabbed 48 boards, tied for the second-most in a game this season ... The Redhawks rank 20th nationally in assists per game (17.4) and 26th in field goal percentage (45.2) ... Sowell ranks 31st in the nation in field goal percentage (55.7) ... Seattle U also leads the WAC in rebounding defense (36.8) and rebounding margin (3.7), ranks second in assist-turnover ratio (0.90), and third in scoring margin (2.6), steals (8.95) and defensive rebounds (28.0) ... The Redhawks host Idaho on Saturday in their only game this week.
TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN BRONCS (10-9, 4-2 WAC)
The Broncs defeated New Mexico State 66-61 on Saturday in their only game last week ... Jasmine Thompson led the Broncs with 14 points, while Tonisha Walker added 12 ... Shawnte’ Goff grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds, while Brittany Bush finished with 10 boards ... The Broncs are now 7-1 at home, marking their best record through eight home games since 2007-08, when they were also 7-1. If the Broncs win their next home game, they’ll be off to the best home start in program history ... UTPA leads the WAC and ranks 24th in the nation in turnover margin (4.79), and rank third in the WAC and 30th nationally in three-pointers per game (7.7) ... The Broncs also rank second in the WAC in scoring defense (62.4) and offensive rebounds (14.53), third in field goal percentage defense (39.3) and blocks (3.0), and fourth in steals (8.47)... Bush is second in the WAC in blocks (1.7) and fourth in rebounding (8.1) ... UTPA plays at Utah Valley on Thursday and at Bakersfield on Saturday.
UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES (4-15, 1-5 WAC)
The Wolverines fell 83-66 at Kansas City last Thursday, then picked up their first-ever WAC win, beating Chicago State 72-46 on Saturday ... Against the Kangaroos, Whitney Jenkins had 20 points, while Rhaiah Spooner-Knight finished with 19 points and Sam Loggins added 13 ... Against the Cougars, Rebecca MaWhinney had a team-high 15 points and eight rebounds, while Spooner-Knight added 13 points and Loggins had 12 ... As a team, the Wolverines lead the WAC in three-point field goal percentage (35.8), rank second in field goal percentage (42.2), third in free throw percentage (72.4), rebounding defense (39.4), assists (13.68) and assist-turnover ratio (0.90), and fourth in scoring defense (69.9) ... Loggins is fourth in the WAC in field goal percentage (54.0), while Spooner-Knight is fifth (47.2) ... Georgia Agnew ranks third in the WAC in assist-turnover ratio (1.46) and fourth in assists (4.47) ... The Wolverines host Texas-Pan American on Thursday and New Mexico State on Saturday.