NEW MEXICO STATE’S MACK NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
New Mexico State guard Moriah Mack has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for Dec. 8 through Dec. 14.
Mack, a sophomore from San Antonio (Reagan HS), led the Aggies to their third-straight win, scoring a career-high 18 points in a 79-59 victory over North Dakota State. In addition to the double-digit scoring, she grabbed eight rebounds, collected four steals and dished out a pair of assists. Mack was 7-of-10 from the field, including sinking both of her three-point attempts.
Other nominees included: Utah Valley guard Mariah Seals continued her streak of four consecutive games in double-digit scoring, scoring 14 points in a win against Air Force and 19 points in a loss at Idaho State…Grand Canyon guard Jessica Gajewski scored seven of her team-high 14 points in the final 1:19 to lead the Lopes to a win at Oral Roberts…Texas-Pan American guard Troi Swain led the Broncs in scoring with 10 points in a 50-42 loss at Texas Tech… Missouri-Kansas City guard Aries Washington averaged 12.0 ppg in a pair of losses for the Roos, including a career-high 16 points against North Texas.
BY THE NUMBERS
Riding a three-game win streak, the New Mexico State Aggies took over the WAC scoring lead this week, averaging 72.4 ppg. Grand Canyon is the top defensive team, giving up just 60.0 ppg while Bakersfield continues to lead the WAC in scoring margin at +5.2. Bakersfield also leads the conference in free throw percentage (.765), three-point field goal percentage (.358), assists (14.78), turnover margin (+8.33) and asssist/turnover ratio (1.06).
Utah Valley leads the WAC in field goal percentage (.434), field goal percentage defense (.373), rebounding offense (39.5), rebounding margin (+0.9) and defensive rebounds (28.55). Chicago State and NM State are tied for the conference lead in blocked shots, averaging 3.75 per game while NMSU also leads the WAC in steals at 11.88 per game.
Individually, Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland continues to lead the WAC in scoring, averaging 17.5 ppg. Teammate Batabe Zempare has the conference lead in rebounds at 9.0 per game while NMSU’s Brianna Freeman is shooting a WAC-best .565 on the season. Bakersfield’s Alyssa Shannon leads the conference in assists (5.56) and assist/turnover ratio (3.57).
Missouri-Kansas City’s Calli White is the top free throw shooter, converting at a .938 clip. New Mexico State’s Shanice Davis leads the steals list with 2.63 per game. Chicago State’s Jakeisha Wells has a conference-best 2.00 blocks per game
THE 100 THREE-POINTER CLUB
The opening weekend saw a pair of players record their 100th career three-pointer and Bakersfield senior guard Brooklyn Hinkens hit the milestone against Air Force and New Mexico State sophomore Abby Scott made her 100th career long-ball at UTEP.
CLEANING UP THE GLASS
Bakersfield senior Tyonna Outland joined teammate Batabe Zempare in the 500-rebound club with eight rebounds in a win over UC Riverside.
WHITE HOT FROM THE LINE
Missouri-Kansas City’s Calli White has made 17 consecutive free throws having not missed in six games and 13 halves.
EXTRA TIME
The WAC saw its first overtime game on Nov. 28 as New Mexico State took Weber State to double-overtime before falling 100-97. NMSU junior Sasha Weber took advantage of the extra 10 minutes, collecting a career-best 16 rebounds en route to her fourth career double-double.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A MONTH MAKES
After going the month of November without a win, New Mexico State is rolling in the month of December, taking a three-game win streak into a Tuesday home game with Cal Poly before heading to Long Beach State to take on Pacific and Florida Atlantic in a pair of neutral site tilts.
WELCOME TO SEATTLE
The Seattle U Redhawks are in the midst of a stretch of 11 of 12 games at home. SU’s lone road game before mid-January will be a Dec. 29 non-conference contest at Oregon, 285 miles from the Connolly Center.
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS
Only one of the first team All-WAC players from last season return for the 2014-15 season in Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland. Other WAC honorees returning are Texas-Pan American’s Shawnte’ Goff, the reigning Freshman of the Year, who was also on the All-Newcomer Team. Teammate Brittany Bush returns after earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team, while Utah Valley’s Rhaiah Spooner-Knight returns after being named to the All-Newcomer Team.
PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
Bakersfield is the preseason favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball title, while Roadrunners’ senior Tyonna Outland was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the year in a vote of the league’s eight head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
The Roadruners received 48 points and six first-place votes to earn the top spot in the preseason poll. Texas-Pan American was predicted second with 35 points, including one first-place vote.
Outland, the lone First Team All-WAC returner, leads the list of Preseason All-WAC Honorees. Joining her on the first team are teammate Batabe Zempare, New Mexico State’s Sasha Weber, Texas-Pan American’s Shawnte’ Goff, and Utah Valley’s Rhaiah Spooner-Knight.
PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
The Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball media have selected Bakersfield as the preseason favorite to win the conference crown during the 2014-15 season, and Roadrunner senior guard Tyonna Outland has been selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
The Roadrunners earned 10 first-place votes, earning 94 points. Seattle U was picked second with 67 points and one first-place vote. Texas-Pan American and New Mexico State tied for third with 60 points, with the Broncs also earning a first-place vote.
Outland, the lone First Team All-WAC returner, leads the list of Preseason All-WAC Honorees. Joining her on the first team are teammate Batabe Zempare, New Mexico State’s Sasha Weber, Texas-Pan American’s Shawnte’ Goff, and Utah Valley’s Rhaiah Spooner-Knight.
KEY NON-CONFERENCE MATCHUPS
This season, WAC teams have 26 games scheduled 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. 15 - Texas-Pan American at DePaul (Maggie Dixon Classic)
Nov. 16 - Texas-Pan American vs. Texas A&M (Maggie Dixon Classic)
Nov. 19 - Bakersfield at Arizona State
Nov. 26 - Texas-Pan American at Texas
Nov. 29 - Idaho at Seattle U
Nov. 30 - Fresno State at Bakersfield
Dec. 3 - Texas-Pan American at Baylor
Dec. 7 - DePaul at Chicago State
Dec. 13 - Bakersfield at Nebraska
Dec. 18 - Louisville at Grand Canyon
Games vs. WNIT Teams
Nov. 14 - Northwestern at Chicago State
Nov. 14 - New Mexico State at UTEP
Nov. 21 - Seattle U at Washington State
Nov. 29 - Grand Canyon at Navy (Navy Classic)
Dec. 2 - Southern Utah at Utah Valley
Dec. 4 - Washington at Seattle U
Dec. 16 - Cal Poly at New Mexico State
Dec. 17 - Montana at Seattle U
Dec. 19 - Utah Valley at Montana (Lady Griz Classic)
Dec. 19 - New Mexico State vs. Pacific (Beach Classic)
Dec. 21 - Texas-Pan American at VCU
Dec. 23 - Hawai’i at Bakersfield
Dec. 29 - New Mexico State at Southern Utah
Dec. 29 - Seattle U at Oregon
Jan. 3 - Bakersfield at Cal Poly
Jan. 6 - Utah Valley at Southern Utah
ORLEANS ARENA IN LAS VEGAS TO HOST 2015 WAC TOURNAMENT
The 2015 WAC Basketball Tournament returns to the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for the fifth year in a row. This year’s tournament includes all even eligible teams and will be held Wednesday-Saturday, March 11-14.
WAC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TICKETS ON SALE NOW
All-session tickets for the 2015 Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament set for Mar. 11-14 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas are now available for purchase through the ticket offices at individual WAC schools.
All-session tickets include access to each men’s and women’s tournament game, totaling 12 games in six sessions. All-session tickets are also available through the Orleans Arena box office. Prices begin at $100.
Single-session tickets will not be available until Mar. 11 and will only be available for purchase through the Orleans Arena box office.
Student Single-session end zone seating can be purchased on a session basis during the week of the tournament (on-site at the Orleans Arena). Tickets are $10 per session. Individual institutions may elect to conduct an on-campus pre-sale of student tickets for its first guaranteed game.
ESPNU TO TELEVISE WAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
ESPN will once again broadcast the WAC men’s and women’s tournament championship games from the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on March 14. The women’s game will be broadcast on ESPNU at 1 p.m. (PT). The men’s championship game will also be broadcast by ESPNU at 8 p.m. (PT).