United Athletic Conference

 

Utah Valley's Josie Williams has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week for Feb. 1 through Feb. 7.

 

Williams, a junior from West Haven, Utah, averaged a double-double for the week as she led the Wolverines to an undefeated weekend. Williams posted a stat line of 26 points and 13 boards to carry Utah Valley to an eight-point win over Chicago State on Friday. The center finished the week averaging 17.5 points per game and 10 rebounds per game to go along with six total blocks during the homestand against the Cougars. On the season, Williams leads UVU in scoring with 15.4 points per game and snags a WAC-best 8.8 rebounds per game.

 

Other nominees included: California Baptist's Ane Olaete led the Lancers to a commanding sweep over NM State this weekend, averaging 12 points and eight assists as CBU maintained its undefeated record… Chicago State's Wynter Webb averaged 13 points per game and 2.5 steals per game while shooting 50 percent from the three-point line during the Cougars road trip… Grand Canyon's Katie Scott had a pair of 20-plus point outings on her way to averaging 16.8 points per game on 55.6 percent shooting during the Lopes four-win week… NM State's Soufia Inoussa reached double-digits for the fifth time this season as she put up 17 points in the Aggies' second matchup with California Baptist… Seattle U's McKenzi Williams led the Redhawks to a dominating win over Northwest as she finished with 16 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block… Tarleton's Marissa Escamilla had a monster performance on Friday as she went 8-for-10 from the field to post a season-high 23 points while also pulling down eight rebounds… UT Rio Grande Valley's Amara Graham reached double-digit scoring for the ninth and tenth times this weekend as she tallied 13 points on Friday and 21 points on Saturday in the Vaqueros' series with GCU.

 

This week's slate opens up with a matchup between undefeated California Baptist and UT Rio Grande Valley while Grand Canyon pays a visit to Utah Valley and Seattle U heads to NM State's temporary home of El Paso, Texas, to battle the Aggies. Saturday's schedule features the second round of each of the previously mentioned matchups as well as the first of two games between Chicago State and Tarleton in Chicago. Meanwhile, the Cougars and Texans wrap up their series on Sunday.

 

California Baptist continues to lead the league in scoring, posting 78.7 points per game. The undefeated Lancers also lead the conference in several other categories, including scoring defense (58.4), scoring margin (+20.3), field goal percentage (.445), field goal percentage defense (.320), three-point percentage (.320),  three-point field goal percentage defense (.229), rebounding offense (43.5), blocked shots (5.8), assists (21.4), assist to turnover ratio (1.4), defensive rebounds (33.1) and three-pointers made (8.9). Grand Canyon paces the conference in steals per game (15.0) and turnover margin (+10.38). Utah Valley is atop the group in free throw percentage (.724), rebounding defense (34.6), rebounding margin (+6.4) and defensive rebound percentage (.743) while NM State leads in offensive rebounds (13.8) and offensive rebound percentage (.352).

 

For the seventh straight week, Grand Canyon's Katie Scott leads the league in scoring as she is averaging 17.6 points per game. Scott also leads the conference in three-point percentage (.516). Utah Valley's Josie Williams collects the most rebounds per game at 8.8 while also leading the league in blocked shots (2.1) and offensive rebounds (3.7). California Baptist's Britney Thomas has the top field goal percentage by a wide margin, shooting at a .670 clip. Thomas also snags the most defensive rebounds per game (5.9). Fellow Lancer Ane Olaeta dishes out the most assists per game at 7.6 while also maintaining the best assist to turnover ratio (2.8). Seattle U's McKenzi Williams holds the best free throw percentage at .839 while her teammate Bree Calhoun collects the most steals per game (3.3). Tarleton's Iyana Dorsey connects on the most triples, hitting 2.1 per contest. Lastly, UT Rio Grande Valley's Amara Graham records the most playing time as she spends 37.6 minutes on the floor per game.

 

California Baptist head coach Jarrod Olson posted his 200th win as the Lancer leader. Friday, CBU dominated NM State 94-53 at home to help Olson reach the mark. His 74.1 win percentage is also the best in program history by far and ranks second in program wins behind Dave King as King was at the helm for 287 wins. On the court, the Lancers offense was rolling as they shot 54.8 percent from deep and knocked down 17 triples, just one shy of most all-time in a WAC contest.

 

Behind a 16-0 record and the nation's second-longest active win streak (19), California Baptist earned a spot on CollegeInsider.com's Women's Mid Major Top 25. CBU is now up to No. 9 and will look to extend their win streak as they travel to Edinburg, Texas, to take on UT Rio Grande Valley this weekend.

 

The Lancers stand alone as the only team in the country with at least 16 wins and an undefeated record. They are also one of only two unbeaten teams and one of only six teams with at least 16 wins on the year.