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SU'S MONTGOMERY NAMED WAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
NM State's Gia Pack has been named Western Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for Feb. 12 through Feb. 18.
Pack, a sophomore guard from Phoenix, Ariz. (South Mountain HS), posted a pair of double-doubles to help the Aggies get back into the hunt for the regular season title. Against Utah Valley, the sophomore scored 18 points to go with 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals in the 59-51 win. She followed that up with 21 points and 11 rebounds in a 64-53 win over Seattle U on Sunday afternoon.
Other nominees included: CSU Bakersfield's Jazmyne Bartee helped the ‘Runners stay in first place in the WAC standings with 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a 69-40 win over Grand Canyon … Kansas City's India Johnson scored 19 points in a 106-47 win over Chicago State … Seattle U's Alexis Montgomery averaged 14.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game as the Redhawks dropped a pair on the road … UT Rio Grande Valley's Megan Johnson averaged 23.5 points per game as the Vaqueros earned a pair of overtime wins over Seattle U and Utah Valley … Utah Valley's Mariah Seals averaged 15.0 points per game and 3.5 assists per game in a pair of road losses at NM State and UT Rio Grande Valley.
UP NEXT
The first few seeds in the upcoming WAC Tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas could be determined this week as just three games remaining in the regular season. CSU Bakersfield and Grand Canyon make the trips to Utah Valley and Seattle U in what are important games for all four teams. UT Rio Grande Valley and NM State will also be on the road, heading to Kansas City and Chicago State.
BY THE NUMBERS
Seattle U continues to lead the WAC in scoring offense (68.7), rebounding offense (40.0), assist/turnover ratio (1.0) and defensive rebounds (27.2). CSU Bakersfield is the leader in scoring defense (54.4), field goal defense (.361), three-point field goal defense (.285) and offensive rebounds (14.8). Utah Valley holds the top spot in free throw percentage (.727), steals (9.7) and turnover margin (+3.81). NM State holds the top field goal percentage (.423) and is also the leader in blocked shots (4.4). Grand Canyon leads the WAC in three-point percentage (.362) and three-pointers made (7.7). Kansas City is the leader in rebounding defense (35.5) while UT Rio Grande Valley holds the top spot in rebounding margin (+3.0) and assists (13.9).
Individually, SU's Alexis Montgomery is the leader in both scoring (19.8) and rebounding (10.2). UTRGV's Laura Van Tilburg holds the top field goal percentage (.568) while NMSU's Brooke Salas is the top free throw shooter (.829) and GCU's Jessica Gajewski leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (.394). NMSU's Zaire Williams is the assist leader (5.2) while UVU's Taylor Christensen is tops in steals (2.7). UMKC's Samantha Waldron holds the lead in three-pointers made (2.8) while teammate Daijane Dillard has the best assist/turnover ratio (3.2). CSUB's Jazmyne Bartee is the blocks leader with 1.9 per game.
In WAC-only play, Kansas City leads in scoring offense (66.7) and rebounding defense (32.5). CSU Bakersfield holds the top positions in scoring defense (52.3), scoring margin (+12.7), field goal defense (.349), three-point defense (.288) and blocked shots (4.7). Seattle U is the leader in free throw percentage (.770) and rebounding offense (40.5) while Grand Canyon leads in field goal percentage (.431), three-point field goal percentage (.399), assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and three-pointers made (8.1). UT Rio Grande Valley holds the top rebounding margin (+5.4) and leads in assists (14.0) and Utah Valley is the leader in steals (9.1) and turnover margin (+4.00).
Individually, NMSU's Salas holds the top spot on the scoring list (18.7) and steals list (2.6). SU's Montgomery is the rebounding leader (10.0) and UTRGV's Van Tilburg remains atop the field goal percentage list (.633). UMKC's Aries Washington is the leader in free throw percentage (.926) and CSUB's Alexxus Gilbert holds the top three-point field goal percentage (.434). UVU's Mariah Seals is the leader in assists while CSUB's Bartee is the blocks leader (2.0).
THE 1,000-POINT CLUB
Six WAC women's basketball players have joined Utah Valley's Mariah Seals as active members of the WAC's 1,000-point club this season. Seattle U's Alexis Montgomery scored her 1,000th point on Nov. 30 at California and Grand Canyon's Jessica Gajewski scored her 1,000th point on Dec. 3 at Bethune-Cookman. Kansas City's Samantha Waldron went over the millenium mark against Denver while teammate Aries Washington hit 1,000 against Stetson. NM State's Brooke Salas reached the 1,000-point plateua as part of a 33-point game against Chicago State on Jan. 6. The latest player to reach the mark was Utah Valley's Taylor Christensen, who scored her 1,000th point on Feb. 8 against Chicago State.
MAKE IT A TRIPLE
Seattle U's Alexis Montgomery recorded just the fifth triple-double in WAC women's basketball hsitory on Feb. 8, putting up 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 66-62 win over Kansas City. It was the first triple-double by a WAC women's basketball player in nearly 12 years with the last time the feat was met was March 4, 2005 by Louisiana Tech's Tasha Williams, who had 10 points, 11 assists and 10 steals against Hawai'i. It also marks the first triple-double by a women's basketball player in Seattle U's Division I history.
SHATTERING RECORDS
Kansas City's lobsided 90-10 win over Central Christian College of the Bible met or broke a number of WAC records. The 80-point differential matched the largest margin of victory, last done in Rice's 115-34 win over Texas Southern during the 1997-98 season. The 10-point allowed shattered the previous WAC record of 23, which was set twice in the 1998-99 season by Fresno State and Utah, both games against San Jose State. The four field goals allowed also broke the previous record of eight, which was held by Idaho against Colorado State in the 2007-08 season. The 32 field goals attempted bested the previous mark of 36, set by Utah against New Mexico in 1992-93.
MILESTONE WINS
UT Rio Grande Valley head coach Larry Tidwell earned his 200th career win on opening night against Concordia (Texas). CSU Bakersfield head coach Greg McCall also hit a milestone, earning his 100th career win on Feb. 3 against Kansas City.
FIRST-TIME LEADERS
The WAC has three new head coaches in 2017-18 and all three of them are first-year head coaches. NM State's Brooke Atkinson, who was an assistant with the Aggies early in her career, headed to Las Cruces after serving as an assistant at Colorado State. Grand Canyon's Nicole Powell returns to her hometown of Phoenix after working as an assistant at Oregon. Kansas City's Jacie Hoyt comes to the Roos from Kansas State. All three coaches won their WAC debuts on Jan. 6.
COUGARS WIN!
On game after Chicago State set an unwanted record on Feb. 3, passing LIU Brooklyn for the longest losing streak in NCAA Division I women's basketball history with a 59-43 loss to Grand Canyon for the Cougars' 59th straight defeat, CSU found a way to get into the win column, earning an 84-74 win in front of a capacity crowd at Utah Valley on Feb. 8.
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
NM State is the favorite to win the 2017-18 Western Athletic Conference women's basketball title and Seattle U's Alexis Montgomery was selected 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 Aggies, who won their third straight WAC title last season, received 47 points and six first place votes in the preseason poll. CSU Bakersfield picked up the remaining two first place votes for a total of 39 points to edge out Seattle U by one point for second place. Utah Valley was selected fourth while Grand Canyon, UT Rio Grande Valley and Kansas City were all separated by just two points for the fifth, sixth and seventh spots. Chicago State rounded out the poll.
Montgomery leads the list of Preseason All-WAC honorees. Joining her on the first team are NM State's Brooke Salas, Grand Canyon's Brie Mobley and Utah Valley's Taylor Christensen and Mariah Seals.
Second team selections include Utah Valley's Sam Lubcke, CSU Bakersfield's Jazmyne Bartee and Aja Williams, Kansas City's Samantha Waldron and NM State's Zaire Williams.
PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
The Western Athletic Conference women's basketball media have selected NM State as the preseason favorite to repeat as conference champions in 2017-18 and Seattle U's Alexis Montgomery as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
The Aggies earned seven first place votes in the media poll to collect 82 points to top the poll. Seattle U was second with four first place votes and 76 points while CSU Bakersfield came in third with 60 points. Grand Canyon was selected fourth with 55 points and Utah Valley earned fifth with 46 points. UT Rio Grande Valley, Kansas City and Chicago State rounded out the poll.
Montgomery leads the list of Preseason All-WAC honorees. Joining her on the first team are NM State's Brooke Salas, Utah Valley's Sam Lubcke, Grand Canyon's Brie Mobley and CSU Bakersfield's Jazmyne Bartee.
Second team selections include CSU Bakersfield's Aja Williams, Utah Valley's Mariah Seals and Taylor Christensen, and Kansas City's Kristen Moore and Samantha Waldron.
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS
Just two of five First Team All-WAC players from last season return for the 2016-17 season as WAC Preseason Player of the Year Alexis Montgomery and NM State's Brooke Salas return for this season. Second Team honoreers Brie Mobley (Grand Canyon), Taylor Christensen (Utah Valley) and Jazmyne Bartee (CSU Bakersfield) are back as well.
KEY NON-CONFERENCE MATCHUPS
This season, WAC teams will face some tough competition in the non-conference portion of the schedule, with 14 games against NCAA Tournament participants and 11 against Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) participants. The complete list is below.
Games vs. NCAA Teams
Nov. 10 - Kansas City at Western Illinois
Nov. 12 - Duke at Grand Canyon
Nov. 15 - Utah Valley at Oregon State
Nov. 19 - CSU Bakersfield at Stanford
Nov. 20 - Kansas City at Iowa State
Nov. 22 - Western Illinois at Chicago State
Nov. 24 - NM State vs. Texas Southern (at UTEP)
Nov. 29 - Chicago State at Western Illinois
Nov. 30 - Seattle U at California
Dec. 7 - Long Beach State at Grand Canyon
Dec. 10 - Grand Canyon at Washington
Dec. 18 - Chicago State at Kansas State
Dec. 20 - CSU Bakersfield at Boise State
Dec. 20 - Seattle U at Washington
Games vs. WNIT Teams
Nov. 17 - UT Rio Grande Valley at Oklahoma State
Nov. 19 - Grand Canyon at UNLV
Nov. 20 - Northern Illinois at Chicago State
Nov. 21 - Utah Valley at Brigham Young
Nov. 26 - Morehead State at Chicago State
Nov. 26 - UC Davis at Seattle U
Dec. 3 - Grand Canyon at Bethune-Cookman
Dec. 3 - Chicago State at Wright State
Dec. 3 - CSU Bakersfield at SMU
Dec. 9 - CSU Bakersfield at South Dakota
Dec. 29 - Kansas City vs. Stetson (at FAU)
READY TO GO
After playing through a four-year transition period to NCAA Division I, Grand Canyon is eligible for the postseason this year. The Lopes are predicted to finish fourth by the media and fifth by the coaches
COMING SOON
California Baptist is scheduled to join the WAC for 2018-2019 competition. They will begin their four year transition process to Division 1. This will make them ineligible to compete in post season tournaments (WAC and NCAA) until 2022-2023 season. They will be coming from the Pacific West Conference where they won five championships (M&W Cross Country, W. Basketball, W. Golf, and Softball) during 2016-2017 season.
ORLEANS ARENA IN LAS VEGAS TO HOST 2018 WAC TOURNAMENT
The 2018 WAC Basketball Tournament returns to the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for the eighth year in a row. This year's tournament includes all eight teams and will be held Wednesday-Saturday, March 7-10.
COMING TO YOU LIVE
The WAC Digital Network will broadcast 104 regular season women's basketball games. In addition, the WDN will produce 15 regular-season games as well as all games at the 2017 WAC Basketball Tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for broadcast on ESPN3