NEW MEXICO STATE’S DAVIS NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
New Mexico State guard Shanice Davis has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 12 through Jan. 18.
Davis, a junior from Kileen, Texas (Harker Heights HS), helped lead the Aggies to a pair of home wins over Bakersfield and Seattle U. On Thursday against Bakersfield, she exploded for 32 points on 12 of 20 shooting, including four three pointers as NM State erased a 20-point deficit to win in overtime. Against Seattle U, she had an outstanding overall game, scoring 13 points, bringing down six rebounds and dishing out eight assists in a 10-point win over the Redhawks.
Other nominees included: Texas-Pan American forward Shawnte’ Goff averaged 19.5 ppg on the week as the Broncs earned a pair of big wins over Seattle U and Bakersfield…Missouri-Kansas City forward Grace Mitchell scored 20 points and brought down 10 rebounds in a come-from-behind win at Chicago State…Utah Valley center Sam Loggins led the Wolverines to a win over Grand Canyon on Saturday, scoring 10 points and grabbing five rebounds…Grand Canyon guard Jessica Gajewski led all players with 18 points in a two-point loss at Utah Valley.
BY THE NUMBERS
Despite an 0-2 road trip, Bakersfield continues to lead the WAC in scoring offense (73.3), free throw percentage (.783), three-point field goal percentage (.355), assists (15.44) and assist/turnover ratio (1.07). Grand Canyon is the top defensive team, allowing just 60.8 ppg and holding a league-best +1.3 rebounding margin. New Mexico State holds the lead in scoring margin (+7.4), field goal percentage (.412), steals (11.31) and three-pointers per game (8.00). Chicago State leads the WAC with 3.80 blocks per game while Texas-Pan American has a conference-best +6.50 turnover margin.
Individually, Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland leads the conference in scoring at 18.9 ppg. Teammate Batabe Zempare has a WAC-best 10.1 rebounds per game and CSUB’s Alyssa Shannon is averaging 5.33 assists per game. New Mexico State’s Brianna Freeman is the most accurate shooter in the WAC, shooting at a .555 clip.
WAC Player of the Week Shanice Davis leads the conference in steals at 2.31 per game while Texas-Pan American freshman Hildur Kjartansdottir is shooting a WAC-best .431 from three-point range. Bakersfield’s Brooklyn Hinkens has made a conference-best 2.39 three-pointers per game and UTPA’s Brittany Bush is averaging 1.44 blocks per game. Texas-Pan American’s T’Ondria Nolen holds the lead in assist/turnover ratio at 2.33 and Missouri-Kansas City’s Calli White is averaging a conference-high 36.82 minutes per game.
BALL THIEF
WAC preseason player of the year Tyonna Outland hit one more career milestone last weekend, recording the 200th steal of her career.
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. Missouri-Kansas City sophomore Calli White joined the club in a non-conference game at North Florida.
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).