This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Jan. 26
This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Jan. 26
CBU's HARPER NAMED TICKETSMARTER WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
California Baptist's Caitlyn Harper has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for Jan. 18 through Jan. 24.
Harper, a redshirt sophomore from Hartland, Wis., dominated for the Lancers in a pair of victories over Chicago State. She posted a double-double in both games, averaging 20.5 points per game and 12 rebounds per game while shooting 71.4 percent from the field on the weekend. Harper opened the series with 19 points and 14 boards to go along with a pair of blocks. On Saturday, she finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds to lift CBU past the Cougars. On the season, Harper is averaging 13.3 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game while also shooting 52.4 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free-throw line.
Other nominees included: Chicago State's Nadia Thorman-McKey averaged 21 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game in the pair of WAC matchups with CBU… Seattle U's Bree Calhoun nearly averaged a double-double, posting 11.5 points per game and eight assists per game as she helped lead the Redhawks to an undefeated week... Tarleton's Marissa Escamilla posted a double-double against Seattle U as she finished with 16 points and 10 boards to lead the Texans in both categories… UT Rio Grande Valley's Amara Graham posted double digits for the seventh time this season, finishing with 14 points in the Vaqueros lone game of the week at Southern Utah.
ON TAP
In a week that has been impacted by cancellations and postponements, several WAC teams will still be in action. Tarleton and UT Rio Grande Valley will kick off the week on Wednesday as they compete in a non-conference matchup. Chicago State will also be on the court as they host Seattle U in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, California Baptist will travel to UT Rio Grande Valley to take on the Vaqueros on Friday and Saturday.
BY THE NUMBERS
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). Unbeaten California Baptist hoists the top scoring defense, allowing just 59.3 points per game. The Lancers also lead the conference in several other categories, including scoring margin (+18.9), field goal percentage (.440), field goal percentage defense (.319), three-point field goal percentage defense (.230), rebounding offense (43.8), blocked shots (5.7), assists (21.0), assist to turnover ratio (1.4), defensive rebounds (33.2) and three-pointers made (8.6). Utah Valley is atop the group in free throw percentage (.727), rebounding defense (35.1), and rebounding margin (+5.7). Meanwhile, Dixie State leads in defensive rebound percentage (.739) and 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 (8.7) and field goal percentage (.697). Fellow Lancer Ane Olaeta leads the WAC in assists (7.5) and assist to turnover ratio (2.6). 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 2.2 a game. Utah Valley's Madison Grange has the best three-point percentage at .450 while her teammate Josie Williams rejects the most shots a game (1.9) and collects the most offensive rebounds a game (3.3).
LANCERS CONTINUE TO CLIMB IN MID-MAJOR POLL
Behind a 14-0 start and the nation's third-longest win streak (17), California Baptist earned a spot on CollegeInsider.com's Women's Mid Major Top 25. CBU is now up to No. 13 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 14 wins and an undefeated record. They are also one of only five Division I teams to have 14 or more wins this season.