United Athletic Conference

 

Utah Valley's Josie Williams has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 11 through Jan. 17.

 

Williams, a junior from West Haven, Utah, helped carry the Wolverines to a pair of league wins as UVU completed the sweep of Seattle U this weekend. Williams averaged a double-double over the two games, finishing with 14.5 points per game and 10 rebounds per game to go along with six total blocks. On Friday, she posted 11 points, nine rebounds and five blocks and followed that up with an 18-point, 11-rebound outing on Saturday. On the season, Williams is averaging 14.9 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game and 1.9 blocks per game to lead her team in each category.

 

Other nominees included: California Baptist's Nicole Avila-Ambrosi finished her weekend averaging 16 points per game and three rebounds per game to help the Lancers remain perfect on the season… Grand Canyon's Laura Piera posted 12 points per game and four steals per game as the Lopes split their series with rival NM State… NM State's Rodrea Echols averaged 16 points per game and five and a half rebounds per game to help the Aggies earn the split against GCU… Seattle U's McKenzi Williams averaged 16 points per game, three and half assists and three and a half rebounds per game as the Redhawks were at Utah Valley to open their conference season… UT Rio Grande Valley's Sara Bershers reached a pair of career-highs as she knocked down five three-pointers to finish with 22 points as the Vaqueros battled with Southern Utah.

 

The week kicked off last night as UT Rio Grande Valley concluded its series with Southern Utah. As for WAC play, Chicago State is set to get its conference season underway as they will travel to Riverside, Calif., to take on the conference's top team in California Baptist on Friday and Saturday. Seattle U hosts Tarleton on Friday and Saturday as both squads will look to turn the tide after each dropped a pair of WAC matches last week. Utah Valley will also be in action on Friday with the Wolverines hosting Park University in a non-conference matchup.

 

Grand Canyon continues to lead the league in scoring as they post 79.8 points per game. The Lopes also pace the conference in steals per game (15.3), turnover margin (+11.18), offensive rebounds per game (15.0) and offensive rebound percentage (.353). Undefeated California Baptist hoists the top scoring defense, allowing just 60.5 points per game. The Lancers also lead the conference in several other categories, including scoring margin (+17.4), field goal percentage (.443), field goal percentage defense (.323), three-point field goal percentage defense (.234), rebounding offense (42.6), blocked shots (5.2), assists (20.9), assist to turnover ratio (1.4), defensive rebounds (33.1) and three-pointers made (8.9). Utah Valley is atop the group in free throw percentage (.727), rebounding defense (35.1), rebounding margin (+5.7) and defensive rebound percentage (.739). Meanwhile, NM State leads in three point percentage (.333).

 

Individually, Grand Canyon's Katie Scott continues to lead the league in scoring as she is averaging 18.9 points per game. California Baptist's Britney Thomas leads in rebounding (8.2) and field goal percentage (.696). Fellow Lancer Ane Olaeta leads the WAC in assists (7.6) and assist to turnover ratio (2.5). Amara Graham of UT Rio Grande Valley has the best free throw percentage (.878) and leads the conference in minutes played (37.4) while GCU's Taylor Caldwell is atop the league in steals (3.5). Tarleton's Iyana Dorsey hits the most triples, knocking down 2.1 a game. Tarleton's Callie Boyles rejects the most shots a game (1.9) and Utah Valley's Josie Williams collects the most offensive rebounds a game (3.3). 

 

Behind a 12-0 start and the nation's third-longest win streak (15), California Baptist earned a spot on CollegeInsider.com's Women's Mid Major Top 25. CBU is now up to No. 16 and will look to extend their win streak as they host Chicago State this weekend.

 

The Lancers stand alongside No. 1 Louisville as the only two teams in the country with at least 12 wins and an undefeated record. They are also one of only seven Division I teams to have 12 or more wins this season.

 

Seattle U's 106-39 win over Northwest produced a night of scoring that is unmatched in Redhawk history. SU set a Division I program scoring record with 106 points while they tied their DI program record in both assists (29) and three-pointers made (15).

 

Tarleton also posted numbers that were etched into the history books as they blew out Champion Christian College, 95-27. The Texans reached a new program record for three-pointers made, knocking down 16 triples. Tarleton also forced 32 turnovers to set a new record for a Misty Wilson-coached team. The 68-point win is also the most dominating victory during Wilson's tenure.

 

Seattle U took down Utah State 75-72 in overtime on Thursday, Dec. 3. In the Redhawks overtime win, they collected 66 rebounds, marking the third-most by an NCAA team up to that point in the season and the most by a Seattle U team since 2010.

 

Despite a slow start, Tarleton put together an 80-39 win over Bacone College on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The 41-point margin marks the Texans' most dominating victory since 2017 when they took down Arlington Baptist 104-52.

 

California Baptist's Ane Olaeta returns for her senior season after leading the WAC in assists (6.0). The WAC Preseason Player of the Year is also the leagues leading scorer amongst returners as she finished ninth a year ago, averaging 12.2 points per game. UT Rio Grande Valley's Amara Graham is also back after leading the conference in three-point percentage (.427). 

 

Utah Valley has been named the favorite to win the 2020-21 women's basketball title and California Baptist's Ane Olaeta was selected as the 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.

 

After finishing second in the conference a year ago, the Wolverines earned the top spot with 57 points and two first-place votes in the preseason poll. California Baptist collected four first-place votes and tallied 55 points, followed by Grand Canyon with two first-place votes and 47 points. NM State garnered the final first-place vote and a total of 45 points as they were picked to finish fourth while UT Rio Grande Valley came in just behind the Aggies with 44 points. Seattle U claimed sixth with 29 points. Newcomer Tarleton followed the Redhawks to capture the seventh spot with Dixie State and Chicago State rounding out the group.

 

Olaeta is atop the list of Preseason All-WAC honorees. The senior guard is joined on the first team by Utah Valley's Josie Williams and Maria Carvalho, UT Rio Grande Valley's Amara Graham and Aaliyah Prince of NM State.

 

Second team honors went to Grand Canyon's Laura Piera, NM State's Soufia Inoussa, Tarleton's Alexa Hoy and Seattle U's duo Courtney Murphy and McKenzi Williams.

 

The Western Athletic Conference women's basketball media have selected California Baptist as the preseason favorites to be named the 2020-21 conference champions while the Lancers' Ane Olaeta was named WAC Preseason Player of the Year.

 

In just their third year in the league, California Baptist earned five first-place votes and 61 points from the media to capture the top spot. Utah Valley came in just behind CBU with 60 points and received one first-place vote. UT Rio Grande Valley collected the third spot as they earned 56 points while NM State picked up a first-place vote to put them in fourth with 53 points. The media gave the fifth spot to Seattle U with 41 points. Grand Canyon tallied the final first-place vote and 39 points to finish sixth, followed by Tarleton in seventh, Dixie State in eighth and Chicago State in ninth.

 

Olaeta leads the group of Preseason All-WAC award getters and is joined by teammate Britney Thomas. UT Rio Grande Valley's Amara Graham, Utah Valley's Maria Carvalho and NM State's Aaliyah Prince are also among the first-team honorees.

 

Second-team selections include Utah Valley's Josie Williams, Seattle U's Courtney Murphy, California Baptist's Georgia Dale and Caitlyn Harper, and NM State's Soufia Inoussa.

 

The WAC had two games against teams that advanced to the 2019 NCAA Tournament and six games against teams that participated in the 2019 NIT. The complete list is below.

 

Games vs. 2019 NCAA Tournament Teams

Nov. 28 Seattle U at Oregon, L, 51-116

Nov. 30 Chicago State at DePaul, L, 66-128

 

Games vs. 2019 NIT Teams

Dec. 5 Loyola Marymount at Grand Canyon, W, 76-54

Dec. 5 Tarleton at Lamar, L, 58-73

Dec. 12 NM State at Pepperdine, L, 46-54

Dec. 15 California Baptist at Pepperdine, W, 75-67

Dec. 18 Prairie View A&M at UT Rio Grande Valley, W, 66-63

Dec. 21 Seattle U at Idaho, L, 96-105

 

The WAC adds two new schools as Dixie State and Tarleton join the conference. The Dixie State Trailblazers come over from the DII Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and while the Texans of Tarleton competed in the DII Lone Star Conference a year ago. The two newcomers are replacing CSU Bakersfield (Big West) and Kansas City (Summit League). Dixie and Tarleton join California Baptist as schools transitioning from Division II to Division I. The Lancers enter the third year in the WAC and will be eligible for NCAA postseason in the 2022-23 season. Dixie and Tarleton will complete their transition and be eligible for NCAA postseason play in 2024-25.

 

WAC TOURNAMENT MAKES TRIP NO. 10 TO VEGAS

After COVID-19 cut the 2020 WAC Basketball Tournament short, the conference will head back to #WACVegas for the 2021 tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The tournament will be held March 10-13 and will include all six NCAA-eligible teams as well as transitioning member California Baptist.