GRAND CANYON’S RARRICK NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grand Canyon guard Casey Rarrick has been named Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 27 through Feb. 1.
Rarrick, a freshman from Scottsdale, Ariz. (Saguaro HS), had a breakout weekend for the Lopes. She came off the bench to score 22 points in a win over Missouri-Kansas City on Thursday and followed that up, in a starting role, with 20 points in a victory at Chicago State. Her 22 points against UMKC were a career-high and her six-three pointers and five assists at Chicago State were also a career-highs.
Other nominees included: New Mexico State forward Brianna Freeman scored 25 points and brought down 15 rebounds to keep the Aggies perfect in WAC play with a win at Texas-Pan American…Bakersfield forward Batabe Zempare posted her eighth double-double of the season as the Roadrunners earned a road win at Seattle U…Missouri-Kansas City forward Grace Mitchell averaged 13.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg in a conference split…Texas-Pan American center Brittany Bush scored 18 points in a three-point loss to league-leading New Mexico State.
BY THE NUMBERS
Through the end of January, Bakersfield continues to lead the WAC in scoring, averaging 73.4 ppg. The Roadrunners also lead the WAC in free throw percentage (.766), three-point field goal percentage (.354), assists (15.67) and assist/turnover ratio (1.10). League-leading New Mexico State holds the top spot in scoring margin (+7.5), field goal percentage (.416), field goal percentage defense (.385), blocks (3.42), steals (11.05) and three-pointers made (8.00).
Grand Canyon is the top defensive team, allowing just 60.5 ppg. Seattle U leads the WAC with 40.9 rebounds per game, 26.6 defensive rebounds per game and a +1.8 rebounding margin. Texas-Pan American holds the top spot in offensive rebounds per game (15.43).
Individually, Bakersfield’s Tyonna Outland continues to lead the WAC in scoring at 19.1 ppg. CSUB’s Batabe Zempare is the top rebounder at 10.2 rpg while teammate Alyssa Shannon leads the conference with 5.24 assists per game and a .463 three-point field goal percentage. NM State’s Brianna Freeman is the top shooter in the conference at .554 while UMKC’s Calli White is the top free throw shooter at .870. New Mexico State’s Shanice Davis leads the league in steals (2.16) while teammate Sasha Weber is tops in three-point field goals made (2.32 per game). Texas-Pan American’s Brittany Bush is the top shot-blocker at 1.43 per game while T’Ondria Nolen holds the best assist/turnover ratio at 2.38.
CLEANING THE GLASS
If the Willis Tower ever needs help cleaning the glass, Chicago State’s Layne Murphy and Paris Williams might be able to help as the Cougar duo broke into the 500 rebound club with 508 and 500 respectively.
UPCOMING MILESTONES
New Mexico State junior Sasha Weber is coming up on 1000 career points. Through the end of January, the Lacey, Wash. product has 956 points in her career. Bakersfield senior Tyonna Outland is also close to hitting another milestone as she sits just six three-pointers away from100 for 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).