TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN’S GOFF NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Texas-Pan American freshman guard Shawnte’ Goff has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 24-March 2. This is her first-ever WAC Player of the Week honor.
The Copperas Cove, Texas, native led the Broncs to a 2-0 record last week with wins over Bakersfield and Utah Valley. Goff opened the week with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and one block in a 22-point win over second-place Bakersfield. It was her fourth game with 20 or more points this season. She followed it up with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block in a win over the Wolverines. For the week, Goff averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 block. She entered the week averaging 12.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
Other nominees included: Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland averaged 24.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as the Roadrunners went 1-1 on the week ... Deanna Daniels of Grand Canyon averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game as the Antelopes went 2-0 on the week ... Idaho’s Ali Forde finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals in a win over Seattle U ... Eilise O’Connor of Kansas City finished with 28 points, five rebounds and five assists in a loss to Grand Canyon ... New Mexico State’s Abby Scott averaged 22.0 points and 2.0 assists on the week ... Rhaiah Spooner-Knight of Utah Valley averaged 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds as the Wolverines went 1-1 on the week.
IDAHO WINS FIRST-EVER WAC REGULAR-SEASON TITLE
When Idaho defeated Seattle U on March 1, it won the WAC regular-season title, a feat it had not accomplished since the 1984-85 season when it won the old Mountain West Conference (now Big Sky). The win also gave the Vandals their first 20-win season since 2003-04.
WAC TO STREAM TOURNAMENT FROM LAS VEGAS
A total of 12 games from the 2014 WAC Basketball Tournament at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., will be available live on WACSports.tv. The only games not shown will be the men’s and women’s championships due to contractual obligations with ESPN. Those games will be available on ESPN3. Individual tournament games may be purchased for $7.95 each. The tournament starts on Wednesday, March 12, with the women’s quarterfinals while the men’s quarterfinals will be held the following day. Friday, March 14 features two women’s semifinal games and two men’s semifinal games. More information and how to subscribe to any of these video streaming events can be found at www.WACSports.tv.
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.
OUTLAND NAMED USBWA NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The U.S. Basketball Writers Association selected Bakersfield guard Tyonna Outland as its Ann Meyers Drysdale Women’s National Player of the Week for games ending the week of Sunday, Feb. 23. As the WAC Player of the Week, Outland was nominated for the weekly award, which was chosen by Mel Greenberg, the USBWA coordinator for women’s basketball, from a list of Division I conference players of the week. Outland averaged 27.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game with a 54.0 field goal percentage as Bakersfield picked up two WAC wins against Kansas City and Chicago State.
TWO WAC PLAYERS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS®
Kansas City senior Eilise O’Connor and Idaho senior Alyssa Charlston were named to the Capital One Academic All-America® Division I Women’s Basketball Teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). O’Connor was a first team selection, while Charlston was named to the second team.
O’Connor, a San Francisco, Calif., native, holds a 3.99 GPA as a health sciences (pre-dentistry) major and chemistry minor and was a semifinalist for the Senior C.L.A.S.S. Award and the WBCA Allstate Good Works Team. O’Connor is the first ‘Roo women’s basketball player to earn a spot on one of the three teams and just the third Kansas City student-athlete to be named to the first team.
Charlston, a native of Sammamish, Wash., holds a 3.97 GPA, as a broadcasting and digital media major. A three-time Academic All-WAC selection, she has been on the Dean’s List on five occasions. Charlston is the second player in program history to earn the honor and the only Idaho women’s basketball player ever to repeat.
WAC STAT LEADERS
Idaho leads the WAC in scoring margin (10.7), field goal percentage defense (35.1), rebounding (43.3), blocks (4.5), assist-turnover ratio (1.23) and defensive rebounds (30.71). Seattle U is tops in field goal percentage (44.9), rebounding defense (36.7), rebounding margin (4.2) and assists (16.11), while Bakersfield leads the conference in scoring (76.1) and offensive rebounds (15.1). Grand Canyon leads the WAC in scoring defense (60.7) and steals (8.9), while Kansas City is tops in free throw percentage (77.7) and three-point field goal percentage defense (26.9). New Mexico State leads the WAC in three-pointers per game (9.07), while Texas-Pan American is tops in turnover margin (4.61) and Utah Valley leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (34.2).
Individually, Kansas City’s Eilise O’Connor leads the WAC in scoring (21.5) and minutes per game (37.89), while teammate Kim Nezianya is tops in rebounding (11.0) and defensive rebounds (6.96). Utah Valley’s Katie Kuklok leads the league in free throw percentage (94.2) and three-pointers per game (2.9), while Seattle U’s Kacie Sowell is tops in field goal percentage (58.9). Grand Canyon’s Kaitlyn Petersen leads the WAC in assists (5.0), while Seattle U’s Sylvia Shephard is tops in steals (2.11). Dajy Vines of Bakersfield leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (43.7), while teammate Batabe Zempare leads the WAC in offensive rebounds (4.08). Idaho’s Ali Forde is tops in blocks (1.91), while teammate Connie Ballestero leads the WAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.53).
In WAC games only, Idaho leads the conference in scoring defense (59.1), scoring margin (17.4), field goal percentage defense (32.6), three-point field goal percentage (35.3), three-point field goal percentage defense (27.5), rebounding (43.9), blocks (5.93), assists (15.86), assist-turnover ratio (1.35) and defensive rebounds (32.43). Seattle U leads the WAC in field goal percentage (46.6), rebounding defense (33.9) and rebounding margin (8.4), while Bakersfield is tops in scoring (79.7) and steals (7.87). Kansas City leads the league in free throw percentage (77.0) and offensive rebounds (14.14), while New Mexico State is tops in three-pointers per game (10.0) and Texas-Pan American leads the WAC in turnover margin (4.53).
Individually in WAC games, O’Connor leads the conference in scoring (23.1), free throw percentage (89.1) and minutes played (38.0), while Nezianya is tops in rebounding (13.3), offensive rebounds (4.64) and defensive rebounds (8.64). Sowell leads the WAC in field goal percentage (67.2), while Shephard is tops in steals (1.86). Petersen is tops in assists (5.57), while Bakersfield’s Dajy Vines leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (47.1). Abby Scott of New Mexico State is tops in three-pointers per game (3.13), Forde leads the WAC in blocked shots (2.43) and Ballestero leads the WAC in assist/turnover ratio (3.0).
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS (17-10, 11-4 WAC)
The Roadrunners fell 84-62 at Texas-Pan American last Thursday, then defeated New Mexico State 96-90 on the road on Saturday to clinch the No. 2 seed in the WAC Tournament ... Against the Broncs, Tyonna Outland paced Bakersfield with 14 points ... Against the Aggies, Outland led all players with 34 points, while Melissa Sweat posted her first double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds ... Dajy Vines added 19 points ... As a team, Bakersfield ranks 38th nationally in scoring (76.1) and 52nd in free throw percentage (73.5) ... Batabe Zempare ranks 20th nationally in rebounds per game (10.8), while Outland is 26th in points per game (21.1) and 35th in total points (570) ... Bakersfield leads the WAC in scoring and offensive rebounds (15.07) ... Outland has 1,394 career points, good for fifth place all-time at Bakersfield and 402 points shy of the record ... The Roadrunners host Utah Valley on Saturday to close out the regular season.
CHICAGO STATE COUGARS (3-24, 0-14 WAC)
The Cougars fell 69-38 to Grand Canyon last Saturday in their only game of the week ... Layne Murphy, Konner Harris and Cailin Nix led Chicago State with eight points each ... As a team, the Cougars rank 27th nationally in personal fouls per game (16.0) ... Chicago State ranks second in the WAC in steals (8.85), third in blocked shots (2.89) and fourth in three-point field goal percentage defense (30.9) ... Jasmine Sanders ranks third in the WAC in steals (1.88), while Tierra Williams is sixth (1.67) ... Chanel Wilson-Stewart is fourth in blocks (1.38), while Williams and Harris are ninth and 10th, respectively, in three-pointers per game at 1.59 and 1.41 ... Murphy is fourth in minutes per game (34.41), seventh in blocks (1.15) and eighth in rebounding (7.0) ... Chicago State has six players with at least 20 steals for the fourth season in a row ... The Cougars play at Idaho on Thursday and at Seattle U on Saturday to close out regular-season play.
GRAND CANYON ANTELOPES (19-8, 8-6 WAC)
The Antelopes defeated Kansas City 67-63 last Thursday, then beat Chicago State 69-38 on Saturday ... Against the Kangaroos, Deanna Daniels had a career-high 32 points, while Johnna Brown grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and dished out seven assists ... Against the Cougars, Asha McDonnell led the ‘Lopes with 12 points, while Kaitlyn Petersen added 10 points and dished out six assists ... Brown grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, while August Touchard nabbed five steals ... GCU leads the WAC in scoring defense (60.7) and steals (8.89), ranks second in scoring margin (9.0), rebounding defense (37.0), turnover margin (2.89) and assist-turnover ratio (0.95), third in field goal percentage defense (40.2), three-point field goal percentage (32.7), three-point field goal percentage defense (29.5) and assists (13.96), and fourth in free throw percentage (71.9) and field goal percentage (41.9) ... The ‘Lopes host New Mexico State on Thursday and Texas-Pan American on Saturday.
IDAHO VANDALS (20-8, 13-1 WAC)
The Vandals defeated Seattle U on 60-57 last Saturday to win their first-ever WAC regular-season title and clinch the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament ... Stacey Barr led the Vandals with 14 points, while Christina Salvatore and Ali Forde added 13 each ... Alyssa Charlston tallied four blocks, while Forde pulled down a team-high nine rebounds ... The Vandals rank 11th nationally in field goal percentage defense (35.1) and turnovers per game (12.4), 13th in personal fouls per game (15.2), 15th in three-pointers per game (8.4), 26th in assist-turnover ratio (1.23), 27th in three-point field goal percentage defense (28.0) and 45th in blocks (4.5) ... Connie Ballestero ranks 22nd in the nation in assist-turnover ratio (2.53) .. The Vandals have made at least one three-point basket in 193 consecutive games ... Charlston was selected as an Academic All-American for the second time in her career ... Idaho hosts Chicago State on Thursday and Kansas City on Saturday to close out the regular season.
KANSAS CITY KANGAROOS (10-17, 6-8 WAC)
The Kangaroos fell 67-63 to Grand Canyon last Thursday in their only game of the week ... Eilise O’Connor led Kansas City with 28 points, while Kim Nezianya added 13 points and Calli White finished with 10 ... White drained two three-pointers on the game to move her season total to 61, a new record for UMKC freshmen ... O’Connor has scored in double digits every game this season and has 20 or more points 14 times ... Kansas City ranks ninth nationally in free throw percentage (77.7) and 13th in three-point field goal percentage defense (26.9) ... O’Connor ranks 18th in the nation in free throw percentage (87.6), 22nd in points per game (21.5) and 30th in total points (581), while Nezianya is 18th in rebounds per game (11.0) and 21st in double-doubles (15) ... O’Connor was a first team Academic All-American, the first Kangaroo women’s basketball player to earn the honor and just the third Kansas City student-athlete ever ... The ‘Roos play at Seattle U on Thursday and at Idaho on Saturday to close out the regular season.
NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES (10-18, 7-8 WAC)
The Aggies fell 87-81 to Utah Valley last Thursday, then lost 96-90 to Bakersfield on Saturday ... Against the Wolverines, Abby Scott led all players with 29 points, while Sasha Weber and Danesia Williamson scored 15 each and Elena Holguin finished with 12 ... Weber dished out eight assists, while Tyler Ellis had a team-high eight rebounds ... Against the Roadrunners, Weber led a group of five Aggies in double-digit scoring with 20 points, while Williamson added 16 and Scott had 15 ... Brianna Freeman had 13 points and Moriah Mack tallied 12 ... NM State leads the WAC and ranks seventh nationally in three-pointers per game (9.07) ... The Aggies also rank second in the WAC in blocked shots (3.04) and fourth in scoring (71.7), three-point field goal percentage (32.4) and offensive rebounds (12.79) ... Weber ranks third in the WAC in three-pointers per game (2.43) and sixth in three-point field goal percentage (36.4) ... The Aggies play at Grand Canyon on Thursday to close out the regular season.
SEATTLE U REDHAWKS (13-14, 8-6 WAC)
The Redhawks fell 60-57 at Idaho last Saturday in their only game of the week ... Alexis Montgomery had 16 points, while Kacie Sowell posted her 11th double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds ... Sylvia Shephard added 10 points ... Seattle U leads the WAC and ranks 28th nationally in field goal percentage (44.9) and leads the WAC and ranks 40th in the nation in assists per game (16.1) ... Sowell ranks eighth nationally in field goal percentage (58.9) ... Seattle U also leads the WAC in rebounding defense (36.7) and rebounding margin (4.2), ranks second in field goal percentage defense (39.8) and defensive rebounds (28.59), and fourth in scoring margin (1.4), rebounding (40.9), steals (8.11) and assist-turnover ratio (0.83) ... Sowell ranks third in the WAC in rebounding (9.3) and sixth in scoring (15.0) ... The Redhawks host Kansas City on Thursday and Chicago State on Saturday to close out the regular season.
TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN BRONCS (14-14, 8-7 WAC)
The Broncs defeated Bakersfield 84-62 last Thursday and beat Utah Valley 55-46 on Saturday to tie the program record for wins ... Against the ‘Runners, Shawnte’ Goff led all players with 22 points, while KaeLynn Boyd added 21 and Jasmine Thompson finished with 12 ... Against the Wolverines, Goff had 16 points, while Rickell Preston added 11 points and eight rebounds ... UTPA leads the WAC and ranks 22nd nationally in turnover margin (4.61), and ranks third in the WAC and 49th nationally in three-pointers per game (7.39) ... The Broncs also rank second in the WAC in offensive rebounds (14.21), third in scoring defense (64.7) and steals (8.14), and fourth in field goal percentage defense (40.5) and blocks (2.75) ... Goff ranks third in the WAC in three-point field goal percentage (37.6) and sixth in free throw percentage (79.5), while Brittany Bush is third in blocks (1.44) and tied for fifth in rebounding (8.0) ... The Broncs play at Grand Canyon on Saturday to close out regular-season play.
UTAH VALLEY WOLVERINES (7-21, 4-11 WAC)
The Wolverines defeated New Mexico State 87-81 last Thursday, then fell 55-46 at Texas-Pan American on Saturday ... UVU overcame an 11-point second half deficit to top the Aggies behind 60 percent shooting for the game ... Against NM State, Georgia Agnew and Rhaiah Spooner-Knight led a group of five Wolverines in double-digit scoring with 18 points each ... Katie Kuklok added 16 points, Sam Loggins had 14 and Whitney Jenkins tallied 11 ... Loggins also pulled down a game-high nine boards ... Against the Broncs, Kuklok had 11 points and eight rebounds ... As a team, the Wolverines rank 29th nationally in free throw percentage (74.8) and 47th in personal fouls per game (16.5) ... Kuklok ranks fifth in the nation in free throw percentage (94.2), and 26th in both three-pointers per game (2.87) and three-point field goal percentage (42.0) ... The Wolverines play at Bakersfield on Saturday in their final regular-season game.