BAKERSFIELD’S OUTLAND NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bakersfield guard Tyonna Outland has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for Feb. 9 through Feb. 15.
Outland, a senior from Compton, Calif. (Lynwood HS), helped the Roadrunners pick up their 19th and 20th straight home win over Texas-Pan American and New Mexico State. After scoring 21 points against UTPA, Outland came out ready to play against first-place New Mexico State, scoring 23 points and bringing down a career-high 13 rebounds to hand the Aggies their first conference loss of the season. Outland averaged 22.0 ppg and 9.0 rpg on the week.
Other nominees included: Missouri-Kansas City forward Kiana Law recorded her fourth double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and securing 12 rebounds in a win against Chicago State…New Mexico State guard Shanice Davis averaged 20.5 ppg as the Aggies split on the road, winning at Seattle U before falling at Bakersfield…Texas-Pan American center Brittany Bush averaged 13.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg as the Broncs split a pair of games on the road, falling at Bakersfield before earning at win at Seattle U…Grand Canyon guard Courtney Hayes had a turnover-free, career-high 17 points game in a win against Utah Valley…Utah Valley forward Rhaiah Spooner-Knight scored 16 points in a loss at Grand Canyon on Saturday.
BY THE NUMBERS
Bakersfield holds the top spot on the team scoring list by just one-tenth of a point over New Mexico State at 73.3 ppg. Grand Canyon continues to be the top defensive team at 60.2 ppg while New Mexico State still holds the top scoring margin at +7.9. Bakersfield is the top shooting team from the charity stripe, shooting .751 on free throws, while NM State is the top shooting team from the field at .416.
Missouri-Kansas City holds the best shooting percentage from three point range at .344 while Seattle U is the top rebounding team, averaging 40.9 per game. Chicago State is the top shot blocking team at 3.57. Bakersfield is averaging the most assists at 15.76 per game and NM State has the most steals at 11.52. Texas-Pan American holds a WAC-best +6.58 turnover margin and Bakersfield’s 1.08 assist/turnover ratio is also a league best.
Individually, Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland continues to hold the top scoring spot at 19.0 ppg. Teammate Batabe Zempare is the top rebounder at 10.3 ppg while Alyssa Shannon is averaging a WAC-best 5.04 assists per game. NM State’s Brianna Freeman is the most accurate shooter at .540 while Missouri-Kansas City’s Calli White is shooting a league-best .847 on free throws. New Mexico State’s Shanice Davis leads the conference in steals at 2.48 per game and Grand Canyon freshman Casey Rarrick tops the three pointers made list at 2.24 per game. Seattle U’s Taelor Ross is the top shot blocker at 1.60 per game while Texas-Pan American’s T’Ondria Nolen has a WAC-best 2.48 assist/turnover margin.
SCORING MILESTONES
New Mexico State junior Sasha Weber scored her 1000th career point on Saturday against Seattle U, joining Bakersfield Tyonna Outland as the only current WAC players with over 1000 career points. Outland is approaching another milestone herself as she sits just 76 points away from 2000 for her career. Chicago State’s Paris Williams could join Weber and Outland in the 1K club soon as she has 993 points entering this week.
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).