DENVER – California Baptist’s Ane Olaeta has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week with Lamar’s Akasha Davis earning TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week.
Olaeta made the Lancers offense click on all cylinders during their 3-0 week. The senior averaged 20.3 points, 6.7 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.7 rebounds during that stretch. Olaeta nailed 51.2 percent of her jump shots, including an 11-for-18 effort from behind the arc. She started the week with a 20-point, six-assist game at Seattle on Monday. Three days later she registered 21 points, nine assists and five steals in a home win against Tarleton before closing her week with an 18-point, five-assist performance during the Lancers victory against Abilene Christian.
Davis put together a pair of double-doubles while averaging 13 points and 9.3 rebounds a game as the Cardinals posted a pair of wins in their three games. She started her week by hitting four of her five jumpers against Stephen F. Austin en route to a 10-point game on Monday. In 29 minutes against Dixie State three days later, she recorded a 19-point, 11-rebound effort during the 75-65 victory. The forward closed the week by notching another double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) during a 59-55 home win against Utah Valley.
Other nominees included: Madison Grange averaged 15.7 points a game as Utah Valley posted two wins (Dixie State, UT Rio Grande Valley) in their three contests … Bree Calhoun came off the bench in Seattle U’s three games to score in double figures each time en route to averaging 15.3 points a game … UT Rio Grande Valley’s Ivan Belosevic connected on 70 percent of her field goal attempts and scored 17 and 16 points respectively against Utah Valley and Dixie State … Amara Graham tied for the highest scoring game of the week (24 points) as Grand Canyon knocked off Sam Houston State … Malaya Kendrick tallied 46 total points (15.3 ppg) as Tarleton notched two wins (Sam Houston State, Seattle U) in three games … In New Mexico State’s only game, Taylor Donaldson scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds in their victory against Sam Houston State … Shanaijah Davison averaged 14.3 points and 6.0 rebounds a game in Dixie State’s three games … Madi Miller recorded 13.5 points each time she stepped on the floor last week for Abilene Christian; notched a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) against California Baptist … Lamar had three solid performances during their two-win week as Malay McQueen averaged 12 points per game while Sabria Dean notched 11.3 points each contest last week … Davis was also under consideration for Player of the Week accolades
Other freshman nominees included: Trinity San Antonio helped California Baptist to a 3-0 week by scoring 7.3 points per game from her forward position … Kacee Kyle scored 12 and 14 points respectively against Utah Valley and Dixie State as UT Rio Grande Valley split their week … Ja’Mya Powell-Smith put together a six-point, four-assist, two-steal effort as Grand Canyon knocked off Sam Houston State … Mason Jones came off the bench in each of Tarleton’s three games led by her six-point effort against California Baptist … Dixie State’s Macie Warren averaged nine points per game in three games last week … Bella Earle scored 15 points, tying for team high honors, in Abilene Christian near Saturday victory at California Baptist