Complete Release in PDF Format
SU'S MONTGOMERY NAMED WAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Seattle U's Alexis Montgomery has been named Western Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for Feb. 26 through March 4. It is her sixth honor of the season.
Montgomery, a senior forward from Beaverton, Ore. (Beaverton HS), posted her second triple-double of the season in a win over Utah Valley. Playing her final game at Connolly Center, she scored 15 points, brought down 15 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. She posted her first triple-double of the season on Feb. 1 against Kansas City and is now the only player in WAC women's basketball history to earn multiple triple-doubles.
Other nominees included: CSU Bakersfield's Aja Williams scored 22 points as the ‘Runners fell in double-overtime to Grand Canyon … Chicago State's Phylicia Johnson scored 14 points in the Cougars' regular-season finale against Kansas City … Grand Canyon's Brie Mobley scored 18 points as the Lopes outlasted CSU Bakersfield in double overtime … NM State's Brooke Salas earned the double-double with a league-high 24 points and 13 rebounds in a title-clinching win over UT Rio Grande Valley … UT Rio Grande Valley's Marie-Fatou Gueye scored a career-high 15 points in a loss at NM State.
TOURNEY TIME
It's the most wonderful time of the year as #WACvegas heads to Orleans Arena for the 2018 WAC Women's Basketball Tournament. The action begins on Wednesday afternoon with third-seed Grand Canyon making its tournament debut against sixth-seed Utah Valley at noon. CSU Bakersfield earned the number two seed and will face off with seventh-seed UT Rio Grande Valley at 2:30 p.m. For the fourth season in a row, NM State is the top seed and will play eight-seed Chicago State at 6 p.m. Fourth-seed Seattle U and fifth-seed Kansas City round out the first day, tipping at approximately 8:30 p.m. Semifinal games will be at noon and 2:30 p.m. on Friday with the championship set for Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
BY THE NUMBERS
Seattle U finished the regular season leading the WAC in scoring offense (68.6), three point defense (.292), rebounding offense (40.3), assists (14.0), assist/turnover ratio (1.0) and defensive rebounds (27.6). CSU Bakersfield is the leader in scoring defense (55.8), scoring margin (+4.3), field goal defense (.368) and offensive rebounds (15.2). Utah Valley is tops in free throw percentage (.738), steals (9.2) and turnover margin (+3.45). Regular season champion NM State leads in field goal percentage (.422) and blocked shots (4.5). Grand Canyon was the top three-point shooting team, both by percentage (.360) and made per game (7.6). Kansas City held the top mark in rebounding defense (35.3) while UT Rio Grande Valley was best in rebounding margin (+2.8).
Individually, SU's Alexis Montgomery leads the league in scoring (19.4) and rebounding (10.3). UTRGV's Laura Van Tilburg led the WAC in field goal percentage (.546), NMSU's Brooke Salas led in free throw percentage (.846) and GCU's Jessica Gajewksi led in three-point field goal percentage (.415). NMSU's Zaire Williams was the assists leader (5.3) while UVU's Taylor Christensen led in steals (2.5). UMKC's Samantha Waldron average a league-best 2.7 three-poitners per game and CSUB's Jazmyne Bartee led in blocked shots (2.0). UMKC's Daijane Dillard posted a WAC-best 3.4 assist/turnover ratio.
In WAC-only play, Kansas City led the league in scoring offense (67.1), rebounding defense (32.7) and steals (8.7). CSU Bakersfield was tops in scoring defense (55.4), scoring margin (+9.6), field goal defense (.366), rebounding margin (+4.4) and blocked shots (5.1). In addition to being at the top of the standings, NM State was best in free throw percentage (.761) and three-point defense (.290). Grand Canyon held the top field goal percentage (.433) and three-point field goal percentage (.387) and was the leader in assists (13.9), assist/turnover ratio (1.3) and three-point field goals made (7.9). Seattle U was the leader in rebounding offense (41.1) and defensive rebounds (28.2). Utah Valley held the top turnover margin in league play (+3.21) while UT Rio Grande Valley was the leader in offensive rebounds (15.6).
Individually, NMSU's Salas was the leading scorer (18.4) and SU's Montgomery was the leading rebounder (10.4). UTRGV's Van Tilburg held the top field goal percentage (.563), CSUB's Alexxus Gilbert and UMKC's Aries Washington tied for the top free throw percentage (.886) and GCU's Gajewski had the top three-point field goal percentage (.451). UVU's Mariah Seals was the assist leader (5.6) and Salas was the leader in steals (2.6). UMKC's Waldron averaged a league-high 3.1 three-pointers per game while CSUB's Bartee and CSU's Ines Mata Boix tied for the lead in blocked shots (2.2).
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...TWICE
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. Not to be outdone, Montgomery recorded the sixth triple-double in WAC women's basketball history on the final day of the regular season, posting 15 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Utah Valley.
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