NEW MEXICO STATE’S FREEMAN NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
New Mexico State forward Brianna Freeman has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for Feb. 16 through Feb. 22.
Freeman, a sophomore from Killeen, Texas (Harker Heights HS), averaged a double-double on the week to help the Aggies clinch at least a share of the regular season title. She scored 21 points with nine rebounds on Thursday in a 67-62 win over Utah Valley and followed that up with 17 points and 14 rebounds in a 61-60 win over Grand Canyon on Saturday.
Other nominees included: Bakersfield guard/forward Erika Williams averaged 16.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 4.5 apg in a pair of road wins at Chicago State and Missouri-Kansas City…Texas-Pan American forward Shawnte’ Goff posted a pair of 20-plus point games for the Broncs, scoring 25 in a win over NJIT and 26 in a loss to Grand Canyon…Grand Canyon guard August Touchard averaged 20.5 ppg on the weekend in a 75-63 win at UTPA and a 61-60 loss at New Mexico State…Seattle U center Taelor Ross recorded her third career double-double in a loss at UMKC, scoring 18 points and bringing down 12 rebounds…Missouri-Kansas City guard Aries Washington averaged 22.5 ppg as the Kangaroos earned a 62-61 win over Seattle U before falling to Bakersfield, 78-76…Utah Valley guard Mariah Seals led Utah Valley with 15 points at NM State and 16 points at UTPA.
BY THE NUMBERS
With just a few weeks remaining in the regular season, Bakersfield continues to lead the WAC in scoring, averaging 73.9 ppg. Grand Canyon is the top defensive team at 60.3 ppg while conference-leader New Mexico State holds the top scoring margin at +7.5. Bakersfield also leads the conference in free throw percentage (.749), assists (16.19) and assist/turnover ratio (1.10). Utah Valley holds the top shooting percentage at .415 while Missouri-Kansas City is the top three-point shooting team at .352. Seattle U holds the rebounding lead at 40.4 rpg and Texas-Pan American has the most blocked shots, averaging 3.43 per game. New Mexico State also leads in steals (11.16) and three-pointers per game (7.88).
Individually, Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland has a three-point lead on the scoring chart, averaging 18.9 ppg. Teammate Batabe Zempare has a WAC-best 10.3 rebounds per game while Roadrunner point guard Alyssa Shannon leads the conference in assists at 4.89 per game. New Mexico State’s Brianna Freeman is shooting a league-best .521 from the field while Missouri-Kansas City’s Calli White leads the WAC from the line, shooting .847 on free throws. NM State’s Shanice Davis leads the conference in steals at 2.44 per game. Seattle U center Taelor Ross is the top shot blocker, averaging 1.70 per game while Texas-Pan American’s T’Ondria Nolen holds a league-best 2.35 assist/turnover ratio.
SCORING MILESTONES
Chicago State’s Paris Williams scored her 1000th career point last week against Bakersfield to join New Mexcio State junior Sasha Weber as players who’ve reached the plateau this season. Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland, who became the schools all-time leading scoring in January, is approaching 2000 career points as she currently sits at 1959.
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).