BAKERSFIELD’S ZEMPARE NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bakersfield sophomore forward Batabe Zempare has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 27-Feb. 2. This is her first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.
The Accra, Ghana, native posted her fifth and sixth double-doubles of the season to lead Bakersfield to a 2-0 record last week, moving the Roadrunners into sole possession of second place in the WAC standings. Zempare opened the week with a career-high 26 points on 13-of-18 shooting (72 percent) to go along with 18 rebounds against New Mexico State. She followed it up with 14 points and a school Division I-record 21 rebounds against Texas-Pan American. For the week, Zempare averaged 20.0 points on 68 percent shooting, 19.5 rebounds, 1.0 block and 1.0 steal for per game, and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. She entered the week averaging 8.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.
Other nominees included: Grand Canyon’s Deanna Daniels averaged 23.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 steals and 2.5 assists as the Antelopes went 2-0 on the week ... Stacey Barr of Idaho finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and two assists in a win over Seattle U ... Kansas City’s Kim Nezianya finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and two assists against Grand Canyon ... Danesia Williamson of New Mexico State averaged 14.0, 8.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals as the Aggies went 1-1 on the week ... Texas-Pan American’s KaeLynn Boyd averaged 17.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals as the Broncs went 1-1 last week ... Rhaiah Spooner-Knight of Utah Valley averaged 14.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists last week.
THREE PLAYERS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Three WAC women’s basketball players – Alyssa Charlston of Idaho, Judy Jones of Grand Canyon and Eilise O’Connor of Kansas City – earned Capital One Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). All three now advance to the national ballot for Academic All-America® consideration.
Charlston, a senior post player from Sammamish, Wash., has a 3.97 cumulative grade-point average in broadcast and digital media. A candidate for the Senior CLASS Award, Charlston earned third team Academic All-America® honors during the 2011-12 season, and has twice earned first team All-WAC and WAC All-Tournament Team honors. The three-time Academic All-WAC honoree has been named WAC Player of the Week three times in her career and has been on the Dean’s List on five occasions.
Jones, a 5-9 guard/forward from Monroe, La., boasts a 3.96 GPA as an exercise science major. In her second season with the program after transferring from UTSA, she was averaging 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game before suffering a season-ending injury just before the start of WAC play. Last year, she was a Daktronics third team All-American and first team All-West Region selection after ranking fifth in the nation (in Division II) with 20 double-doubles. She was the 2012-13 PacWest Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
A senior guard from San Francisco, Calif., O’Connor has a 3.99 GPA as a health sciences (pre-dentistry) major and chemistry minor. She broke both the Kansas City and WAC records for free throws in a game with 22 at New Mexico State on Jan. 18. A finalist for the Senior CLASS Award and the WBCA Allstate Good Works Team, last season O’Connor was named to the Division I-AAA Scholar Athlete Team and Summit League Academic All-League, while three-times being selected as a member of the Summit League Academic Honor Roll and twice as a member of the Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence.
WAC STAT LEADERS
Idaho leads the WAC in scoring margin (11.4), field goal percentage defense (35.2), rebounding (43.9), blocks (4.18), assist-turnover ratio (1.22) and defensive rebounds (31.23). Seattle U is tops in field goal percentage (44.3), rebounding defense (37.0), rebounding margin (4.0) and assists (17.19), while Bakersfield leads the conference in scoring (73.9) and offensive rebounds (15.85). Grand Canyon leads the WAC in scoring defense (60.2) and is tied with Chicago State for the lead in steals (9.29), while Kansas City leads the league in free throw percentage (77.0) and three-point field goal percentage defense (26.7). New Mexico State is tops in three-pointers per game (8.57), while Texas-Pan American leads the WAC in turnover margin (5.05) and Utah Valley is tops in three-point field goal percentage (35.1).
Individually, Kansas City’s Eilise O’Connor leads the WAC in scoring (21.2) and minutes per game (38.29), while Bakersfield’s Batabe Zempare is tops in rebounding (11.8), offensive rebounds (4.4) and defensive rebounds (7.4). Utah Valley’s Katie Kuklok leads the league in free throw percentage (93.8), three-point field goal percentage (45.5) and three-pointers per game (3.19), while Idaho’s Ali Forde is tops in field goal percentage (62.7) and blocks (1.94). Connie Ballestero if Idaho is tops in assist/turnover ratio (2.45), Grand Canyon’s Kaitlyn Petersen leads the WAC in assists (4.81) and Chicago State’s Paris Williams is tops in steals (2.56).
In WAC games only, Idaho leads the conference in scoring (81.9), scoring defense (57.4), scoring margin (24.5), field goal percentage (46.8), field goal percentage defense (31.1), three-point field goal percentage (38.0), three-point field goal percentage defense (28.2), rebounding (46.0), blocks (6.13), assists (16.88), assist-turnover ratio (1.41) and defensive rebounds (35.12). Texas-Pan American leads the WAC in steals (7.63), turnover margin (5.63) and offensive rebounds (14.5), while Seattle U is tops in rebounding defense (32.5) and rebounding margin (10.9). Grand Canyon leads the WAC in free throw percentage (81.8), while New Mexico State is tied with Idaho for the lead in three-pointers per game (9.5).
Individually in WAC games, O’Connor leads the conference in scoring (23.6) and minutes played (39.12), while teammate Kim Nezianya is tops in rebounding (12.1) and defensive rebounds (8.0). Forde leads the WAC in field goal percentage (72.4) and blocked shots (2.88), while Petersen is tops in assists (5.5). Seattle U’s Ashley Ward leads the WAC in free throw percentage (87.0), while Grand Canyon’s Deanna Daniels is tops in steals (2.25). Bakersfield’s Dajy Vines leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (50.0), while Abby Scott of New Mexico State is tops in three-pointers per game (3.75). Ballestero is tops in assist/turnover ratio (3.0), while Zempare leads the WAC in offensive rebounds (4.38).
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 NAMED 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®.
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.
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS (12-8, 6-2 WAC)
The Roadrunners defeated New Mexico State 86-63 last Thursday and beat Texas-Pan American 82-74 on Saturday to move into second place in the WAC standings ... Against the Aggies, Batabe Zempare had a career-high 26 points to go along with 18 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season ... Tyonna Outland added 17 points and six assists, Melissa Sweat had 15 points, Shaquita Smith finished with 15 points and six assists, and Dajy Vines added 11 points ... Against the Broncs, Outland had with 21 points to go along with 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the year ... Sweat added 19 points and six assists, while Zempare posted her sixth double-double of the season with 14 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, the program Division I record ... Outland has scored in double figures in 18 of 20 games this season ... The Roadrunners host Grand Canyon on Saturday in their only game this week.
CHICAGO STATE COUGARS (3-18, 0-8 WAC)
The Cougars fell 84-53 to Grand Canyon last Thursday in their only game of the week ... Tierra Williams had a team-high 17 points, while Cailin Nix added 14 ... Layne Murphy nearly doubled up, posting nine points and 11 boards ... Tierra Williams has scored at least 10 points 13 of her last 15 games ... Jasmine Sanders has set career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals this season, while Chanel Wilson-Stewart has set career highs in points, rebounds and blocks ... The Cougars have five players with at least 20 steals and one player with 19 this season. The team has had at least six players with 20 steals in each of the past three seasons ... Murphy has 17 blocks in the last 13 games after blocking just one shot in the first eight games of the season ... Wilson-Stewart’s 1.4 blocks per game this year ranks tied for third in the program’s history for a single season block average ... The Cougars host Kansas City on Saturday in their only game this week.
GRAND CANYON ANTELOPES (15-6, 4-4 WAC)
The Antelopes defeated Chicago State 84-53 last Thursday and beat Kansas City 74-63 on Saturday ... Against the Cougars, Kaitlyn Petersen led the ‘Lopes with 22 points and 10 assists for her second double-double of the season. She also nabbed four steals ... Deanna Daniels added 18 points and five steals, while Johnna Brown was just shy of a double-double, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds ... Against the Kangaroos, Daniels led all players with a career-high 29 points to go along with 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season ... Jenna Pearson added 12 points, while Brown tallied 10 rebounds and dished out six assists ... Grand Canyon leads the WAC in scoring defense (60.2) and steals (9.29), and ranks second in scoring margin (10.5), field goal percentage defense (39.1), rebounding defense (38.1) and turnover margin (3.81) ... The Antelopes play at Utah Valley on Thursday and at Bakersfield on Saturday.
IDAHO VANDALS (15-7, 8-0 WAC)
The Vandals defeated Seattle U 77-59 last Saturday in their only game of the week ... Stacey Barr led all players with 25 points to go along with 12 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the year ... Alyssa Charlston added 15 points and four blocks, while Connie Ballestero finished with 12 ... Christina Salvatore added 11 points and Ali Forde had 10 ... Barr has now scored 20 or more points 10 times this season and has recorded double-figure scoring in 26 of the last 28 games dating back to the 2012-13 season ... The Vandals have won eight straight games for the first time since the since the 1985-86 season ... Idaho has made at least one three-pointer in 187 consecutive games ... The Vandals rank 11th nationally in turnovers (12.6), 13th in personal fouls (15.3), 17th in field goal percentage defense (35.2) and three-pointers per game (8.4), and 21st in assist-turnover ratio (1.22) ... Idaho plays at New Mexico State on Thursday and at Texas-Pan American on Saturday.
KANSAS CITY KANGAROOS (7-14, 3-5 WAC)
The ’Roos fell 74-63 at Grand Canyon last Saturday ... Kim Nezianya had 22 points and 11 rebounds for her WAC-leading 10th double-double of the year ... Eilise O’Connor added 16 points and seven boards ... Nezianya is 29 rebounds shy of the all-time program record of 864 ... O’Connor ranks second on the UMKC career scoring list (1,580) ... Calli White has 48 three-pointers on the year, good for second all-time among UMKC freshmen, 12 shy of the record ... Kansas City leads the WAC and ranks 13th nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense (26.6) ... The ‘Roos also lead the WAC in free throw percentage (77.0), rank second in three-point field goal percentage (33.5), and third in scoring (73.4), rebounding (41.1) and rebounding margin (1.0) ... O’Connor ranks 21st in the nation in points (446), 25th in points per game (21.2) and 34th in free throw percentage (86.3) ... Nezianya ranks 32nd nationally in double-doubles (10) and 43rd in rebounds per game (9.8) ... The ‘Roos play at Chicago State on Saturday in their only game this week.
NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES (7-14, 4-4 WAC)
The Aggies fell 86-63 at Bakersfield on Thursday, then beat Utah Valley 83-78 in overtime on Saturday ... Against the Roadrunners, Abby Scott had 19 points, while Danesia Williamson added 15 and Sasha Weber had 12 ... Against the Wolverines, Weber finished with a career-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds, while Brianna Freeman also had a career-high 16 points in the win ... Williamson posted her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 assists, while Scott added 15 points ... 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 (3.38) ... Scott ranks fifth in the WAC in three-pointers per game (2.1), while Weber is sixth (1.95) ... Weber also ranks 10th in three-point field goal percentage (32.5) ... Tyler Ellis ranks eighth in offensive rebounds (2.74) and 10th in rebounding (6.6) ... The Aggies host Idaho on Thursday and Seattle U on Saturday.
SEATTLE U REDHAWKS (10-11, 5-3 WAC)
The Redhawks fell 77-59 to Idaho on Saturday in their only game last week ... Alexis Montgomery had 12 points on a career-high four three-pointers, while Ashley Ward added 11 points ... Kacie Sowell posted her sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds ... Kristin Stoffel tied her career high with seven rebounds as the Redhawks matched their season high with 51 boards in the game ... Seattle U ranks 19th nationally in assists per game (17.2) and 34th in field goal percentage (44.3) ... Sowell ranks 28th in the nation in field goal percentage (55.6) ... Seattle U also leads the WAC in rebounding defense (37.0) and rebounding margin (4.0), ranks second in defensive rebounds (28.240), third in scoring margin (1.6), steals (8.62) and assist-turnover ratio (0.89), and fourth in scoring (71.9), field goal percentage defense (40.1), rebounding (41.0) and offensive rebounds (12.7) ... The Redhawks play at Texas-Pan American on Thursday and at New Mexico State on Saturday.
TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN BRONCS (11-10, 5-3 WAC)
The Broncs defeated Utah Valley 64-54 last Thursday, then fell 82-74 at Bakersfield on Saturday ... Against the Wolverines, KaeLynn Boyd had 17 points, while Shawnte’ Goff added 15 and Brittany Bush grabbed a game-high 13 boards ... Against the Roadrunners, Boyd finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists ... Jasmine Thompson and Goff finished with 13 points apiece, while Bush grabbed eight boards ... The Broncs are tied for the best 21-game start in program history. This is the third time the Broncs have been 11-10, having also done so in 2008-09 and 2004-05 ... UTPA leads the WAC and ranks 20th in the nation in turnover margin (5.05), and ranks third in the WAC and 37th nationally in three-pointers per game (7.6) ... The Broncs also rank second in the WAC in offensive rebounds (14.81), third in scoring defense (63.0), field goal percentage defense (39.2) and blocks (2.8), and fourth in steals (8.33)... The Broncs host Seattle U on Thursday and Idaho on Saturday.
UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES (4-17, 1-7 WAC)
The Wolverines fell 64-54 to Texas-Pan American last Thursday and lost 83-78 in overtime to New Mexico State on Saturday, despite never trailing in regulation ... Against the Broncs, Rebecca MaWhinney led all players with 18 points to go along with nine rebounds, while Rhaiah Spooner-Knight added 14 points ... Against the Aggies, Katie Kuklok had 24 points, while Spooner-Knight posted a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds to go along with seven assists ... Sam Loggins also doubled up with 12 points and 13 boards, while Whitney Jenkins added 10 points ... As a team, the Wolverines lead the WAC in three-point field goal percentage (35.1), rank second in free throw percentage (73.2) and field goal percentage (41.9), and third in rebounding defense (39.3) and assists (13.62) ... Loggins is fourth in the WAC in field goal percentage (52.6), while Spooner-Knight is sixth (48.3) and Kuklok is eighth (45.3) ... The Wolverines host Grand Canyon on Thursday in their only game this week.