BAKERSFIELD’S SHANNON NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bakersfield guard Alyssa Shannon has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 19 through Jan. 25.
Shannon, a junior from Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale HS), took control of the Roadrunner offense in a pair of home wins over Missouri-Kansas City and Chicago State. Against, UMKC, she scored a career-high 24 points to go with five assists and three steals. She scored her final seven points from the free throw line in the 70-67 win over the Roos. Against Chicago State, she scored 19 points, had five assists and four steals against the Cougars.
This is Shannon’s second honor of the season, having earned Player of the Week selection on Dec. 29.
Other nominees included: Seattle U forward Wilma Afunugo led the Redhawks to a pair of wins, averaging 13.0 ppg and 8.5 rpg against Chicago State and Missouri-Kansas City...New Mexico State forward Brianna Freeman kept the Aggies undefeated in WAC play, averaging 13.5 ppg and 11.0 rpg in wins at Grand Canyon and Utah Valley…Grand Canyon guard August Touchard led the Lopes with 14.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 4.0 apg in a weekend split…Texas-Pan American guard Cha’zaye Wright averaged 10.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg as the Broncs split a pair of WAC contests on the road, winning at Utah Valley before losing at Grand Canyon…Missouri-Kansas City guard Calli White scored a career-high 27 points in a three-point loss at Bakersfield and averaged 16.0 ppg in a pair of road losses.
BY THE NUMBERS
Bakersfield leads the WAC in scoring (73.6 ppg), free throw percentage (.786), three-point field goal percentage (.360), assists (15.90 apg), and assist/turnover ratio (1.12). Grand Canyon leads the conference in scoring defense (61.2 ppg) and rebounding margin (+1.9). WAC-leader New Mexico State holds the top scoring margin (+7.8), field goal percentage (.414), steals (11.22 spg) and three-point field goals made (8.11).
Utah Valley leads the conference in field goal defense (.381) and defensive rebounds (27.16). Seattle U is tops in rebounding offense (40.7) while Chicago State leads the way in blocks (3.53). Texas-Pan American holds the top turnover margin (+6.90) and the most offensive rebounds (15.00).
Individually, Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland leads the WAC in scoring at 18.9 ppg. Teammate Batabe Zempare is tops in rebounding at 10.1 rpg. New Mexico State’s Brianna Freeman leads the conference in field goal percentage at .547 while Bakersfield’s Alyssa Shannon is the leader in both assists (5.30), free throw percentage (.863) and three-point field goal percentage (.463). NM State’s Shanice Davis has the most steals in the WAC, averaging 2.28 per game.
Bakersfield’s Brooklyn Hinkens is averaging a WAC-best 2.30 three pointers per game while Texas-Pan American’s Brittany Bush has 1.40 steals per game to lead the league. Her teammate T’Ondria Nolen leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio at 2.47. Missouri-Kansas City sophomore Calli White has averaged a WAC-high 36.95 minutes per game.
MILESTONE GAME
Chicago State’s Paris Williams is just one game away for 100 for her career as the Cougars play host to both Utah Valley and Grand Canyon this week.
WAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ON THE NATIONAL STAGE
The Grand Canyon at Missouri-Kansas City women’s basketball game this Thursday, Jan. 29, will air on 28 stations via the American Sports Network. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (CT).
The game will be shown live in Phoenix on Cox Sports Television and streamed nationwide at americansportsnet.com.
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).