United Athletic Conference

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Kansas City's Cristina Soriano has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 6 through Jan. 12.

 

Soriano, a senior forward from Valladolid, Spain, recorded her fourth and fifth consecutive double-doubles as she led the Roos to two close wins over the weekend. Against UT Rio Grande Valley, Soriano tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds. On Sunday, she scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Roos to a four-point victory over Preseason WAC favorite NM State. The senior also added seven assists, four blocks and a 50 percent shooting mark during the two-game stretch.

 

Other nominees included: CSU Bakersfield's Vanessa Austin recorded a career-high 22 points in the 'Runners road victory over California Baptist… Chicago State's Alexandria Cliff poured in a career-high 23 points in the Cougars loss to UT Rio Grande Valley… Laura Piera of Grand Canyon led the Lopes to a win over California Baptist behind a team-high 13 points on 55.6 percent shooting… UT Rio Grande Valley's Jordan Augustus notched her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds as the Vaqueros fell to Kansas City… Utah Valley's Maria Carvalho matched her career-high with 19 points while also adding seven rebounds and eight assists in the Wolverines win over Seattle U.

 

With two weeks of conference play in the books, the league is starting to take shape. Preseason WAC favorite NM State will host Utah Valley as the Wolverines will look to stay undefeated in league play. The only other undefeated team in league play is the CSU Bakersfield 'Runners. They will take on Kansas City on the blue court at the Icardo Center where the 'Runners have yet to lose this season. Grand Canyon will host Chicago State while Seattle U will make the long trip down to Texas to take on UT Rio Grande Valley.

 

In the weekend's second slate of games, UVU will remain on the road as they will take on UT Rio Grande Valley. Kansas City will take on Grand Canyon in Phoenix, NM State will host Seattle U and Chicago Stat visits CSU Bakersfield.

 

California Baptist leads the WAC in scoring offense (74.3), rebounding offense (39.8), assists (17.4), assist/turnover ratio (1.2), defensive rebounds (30.8) and three-pointers made per game (9.7). Utah Valley has the top scoring defense (63.0), rebounding margin (+0.9), three-point defense (.263) and free throw percentage (.758) while CSU Bakersfield is the leader in scoring margin (+2.8), steals (10.1), turnover margin (+3.93) and offensive rebounds (14.5). Grand Canyon has the top field goal percentage (.426), three-point shooting percentage (.355) and rebounding defense (36.1). Kansas City is the leader in field goal percentage defense (.374) and blocked shots (4.7).

 

Individually, Seattle U's Kamira Sanders is the leading scorer at 17.6 points per game. GCU's Da'jah Daniel is the leading rebounder (10.1) as well as the leader in blocks (1.8) and defensive rebounds (7.5). CSUB's Vanessa Austin has the top field goal percentage (.600) and GCU's Venla Varis has the top three-point field goal percentage (.426). GCU's Jada Holland is the leader in free throw percentage at .833. CBU's Ane Oleata holds the lead in assists (5.9) while UTRGV's Trelynn Tyler has the lead in steals (2.7). SU's Courtney Murphy is averaging a league-high 3.1 three-pointers per game and CSUB's Andie Easley is the leader in assist/turnover ratio at 2.1. CSU's Ines Mata Boix is the top offensive rebounder (3.5). CSU's Tyeshia Bowers is averaging the most minutes played at 34.2 per game.

 

Utah Valley and CSU Bakersfield are the only two remaining WAC teams that have yet to lose in conference play. The Wolverines sit atop the conference at 3-0 and are riding a five-game win streak. UVU will be put to the test this Thursday when they travel to take on Preseason WAC favorite NM State followed by a trip to UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, Jan. 18.

 

CSU Bakersfield is currently claiming the No. 2 spot in the conference as they will look to defend home court against Kansas City and Chicago State on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

 

CSU Bakersfield is a perfect 8-0 at the Icardo Center this season. The 'Runners next play at home on Jan. 16 against Kansas City. CSUB is averaging 80 points per game at home, 11.7 points above their season average. The 'Runners home scoring margin currently sits at +16.5, nearly 14 points better than their season average of +2.8.

 

Kansas City's win over Missouri was the WAC's first win over a Power Five opponent since the Roos earned a 47-44 win over Kansas on Dec. 10, 2015. It was also the league's first win over an SEC opponent since Louisiana Tech earned a win over Ole Miss on Dec. 1, 2012. 

 

Kansas City's Ericka Mattingly returns for her senior season after leading the WAC in scoring (19.8), assists (6.0), free throw percentage (.817), steals (3.2) and minutes played (35.5). California Baptist's Britney Thomas is also back after leading the league in field goal percentage (.577). Kansas City sharpshooter Emily Ivory will look for a strong sophomore campaign after averaging a WAC-best 2.7 three-pointers per game and Chicago State senior Ines Mata Boix will look to lead the league in blocked shots again after averaging 1.9 per game last season.

 

NM State is the favorite to win the 2018-19 Western Athletic Conference women's basketball title and the Aggies' Gia Pack was selected WAC Preseason Player of the Year in a vote of the league's nine head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.

 

The Aggies, who won their fifth-straight WAC regular season title last season, received 62 points and six first-place votes in the preseason poll. California Baptist picked up two first-place votes for a total of 57 points and Kansas City earned the remaining first-place vote and 44 points. UT Rio Grande Valley was picked fourth with 40 points while CSU Bakersfield earned fifth with 35 points. Utah Valley was selected sixth with 29 points, followed by Grand Canyon, Seattle U and Chicago State.

 

Pack leads the list of Preseason All-WAC honorees. Joining her on the first team are Utah Valley's Jordan Holland, Kansas City's Ericka Mattingly and California Baptist duo Ane Olaeta and Britney Thomas.

 

Second team selections include CSU Bakersfield's Vanessa Austin, Grand Canyon's Da'jah Daniel, UT Rio Grande Valley pair Amara Graham and Megan Johnson and Seattle U's Kamira Sanders.

 

The Western Athletic Conference women's basketball media have selected NM State as the preseason favorite to repeat as conference champions in 2019-20 and Kansas City's Ericka Mattingly as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.

 

The Aggies earned eight first place votes from the media to collect 110 points to top the poll. California Baptist is second with three first place votes and 96 points overall. Kansas City was right behind the 'Runners with the Roos earning two first place votes and 92 points. UT Rio Grande Valley came in fourth with 66 points, followed by Utah Valley in fifth with 64 points. CSU Bakersfield is sixth with 57 points, followed by Seattle U in seventh, Grand Canyon in eighth and Chicago State in ninth.

 

Mattingly leads the list of Preseason All-WAC honorees. Joining her on the first team are Utah Valley's Jordan Holland, NM State's Gia Pack, Seattle U's Kamira Sanders and California Baptist's Britney Thomas.

 

Second team selections include Seattle U's Joana Alves, CSU Bakersfield's Jayden Eggleston, UT Rio Grande Valley's Megan Johnson, Chicago State's Ines Mata Boix and California Baptist's Ane Olaeta.

 

Three of the five First Team All-WAC players from last season return for the 2017-18 season as WAC Preseason Players of the Year Ericka Mattingly of Kansas City and Gia Pack of NM State return, along with California Baptist's Britney Thomas. Four of the five second team honorees also returns as Seattle U's Joana Alves, Grand Canyon's Da'jah Daniel, Utah Valley's Jordan Holland and California Baptist's Ane Olaeta hit the hardwood.

 

After three new coaches in each of the last two seasons, Utah Valley's Dan Nielson is the lone rookie head coach in the WAC this season. A former UVU assistant, he most recently was on the bench at nearby Brigham Young, helping lead the Cougars to the WCC Tournament title last season.

 

There will be a bit of new blood in the WAC this season but the game won't be without some familiar faces. Five of nine schools return a majority of starters, including Utah Valley returning all five starters from last season. California Baptist and Seattle U each bring back four starters and Grand Canyon boasts three starters returning.

 

This season, WAC teams will face some tough competition in the non-conference portion of the schedule, with 15 games against NCAA Tournament participants and 14 against Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) participants. The complete list is below.

 

Nov. 10 - CSU Bakersfield at Gonzaga

Nov. 19 - CSU Bakersfield at Wright State

Nov. 20 - UT Rio Grande Valley at Texas

Nov. 26 - Utah Valley at Boise State

Nov. 28 - California Baptist vs. Stanford (Victoria Invitational)

Dec. 1 - Kansas City at Missouri State

Dec. 6 - Grand Canyon at Portland State

Dec. 8 - Missouri at Kansas City

Dec. 14 - Utah Valley at Brigham Young

Dec. 14 - Kansas State at Kansas City

Dec. 18 - Arizona State at NM State

Dec. 28 - NM State at Abilene Christian

Dec. 28 - UT Rio Grande Valley at Kansas State

Dec. 29 - Grand Canyon at California

Dec. 29 - CSU Bakersfield at Oregon State

 

Nov. 5 - Denver at Kansas City

Nov. 8 - Kansas City at Pacific

Nov. 9 - Chicago State at UTA

Nov. 9 - NM State at Denver

Nov. 11 - Seattle U at Idaho State

Nov. 12 - Arizona at Chicago State

Nov. 17 - New Mexico at NM State

Nov. 20 - Pepperdine at NM State

Nov. 20 - Idaho at Seattle U

Nov. 23 - Chicago State at Green Bay

Dec. 3 - Idaho State at Utah Valley

Dec. 7 - Pacific at CSU Bakersfield

Dec. 16 - California Baptist at Idaho State

Dec. 16 - NM State at New Mexico

 

The 2020 WAC Basketball Tournament returns to the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for the 10th year in a row. This year's tournament includes all eight eligible teams and will be held Wednesday-Saturday, March 11-14.