This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Nov. 17
This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Nov. 17
2022-23 WAC WBB Release - Nov. 17
GCU OPEN SEASON 2-0
Grand Canyon is 2-0 to open the 2022-23 campaign. The Lopes secured wins over Arizona Christian and Grambling State. Against Arizona Christian, GCU won by a score of 109-53 with six players having double digit scoring outputs. Aaliyah Collins scored 14 points and had six steals in the contest against Arizona Christian. Tiara Brown and Naudia Evans both finished with 14-points, respectively against Grambling State.
SFA’S BRITTINGHAM RECORDS TRIPLE-DOUBLE
Avery Brittingham recorded her first career triple-double against Texas Southern on Nov. 13. Brittingham finished the contest with 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. In 26 minutes of play Brittingham shot 6-12 from the field and was a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe and added four blocks and three steals. Brittingham registered the tenth triple-double in conference history, and the first by a WAC player since the 2019 season.
SOUTHERN UTAH HAS FOUR PLAYERS THAT HAVE RECORDED DOUBLE DOUBLES
Lizzy Williamson, Daylani Ballena, Megan Jensen and Tomekia Whitman have all recorded double-doubles early in the season. Williamson leads the way with three double-doubles of her own whichranks her first nationally. Williamson is also ranked 5th in total rebounds with 43 on the season.
THE WAC IN NATIONAL STAT RANKINGS
Five WAC schools are currently ranked in team assists per game led by Grand Canyon averaging 23.0 then UT Arlington with 19.0. The three other teams are all tied at 18.0 are Stephen F. Austin, Abilene Christian and California Baptist. SFA is also ranked 27th in field goal percentage at 49.4 joined by UT Arlington ranking 44th at 48.5.
Southern Utah is currently ranked 15th in rebounds per game with an average of 51.25 per contest. UT Arlington has the 20th ranked scoring offense averaging 88.5 per game, with Grand Canyon close behind in the 27th position averaging 86.0. Grand Canyon is ranked 2nd nationally in steals per game averaging 21.5 per game and 7th in turnovers forced per game at 29.50.
JOHNSON NAMED WAC PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR BY THE COACHES; JACOBS NAMED PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR BY MEDIA
Stephen F. Austin graduate forward/center Aiyana Johnson was named the 2022-23 WAC Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches’ poll. UT Arlington’s graduate forward Starr Jacobs was named the 2022-23 WAC Media Preseason Player of the Year. Johnson averaged 16.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in 17 starts for the Lumberjacks. Jacobs averaged 21 points and 6.6 rebounds for the Mavericks as she was a fixture in the starting lineup.
Johnson and Jacobs were joined on both preseason all-conference teams by California Baptist’s Trinity San Antonio, Grand Canyon’s Aaliyah Collins, UT Arlington’s Jireh Washington and Utah Tech’s Breaunna Gillen.
WAC RESUME SEEDING SYSTEM MAKES ITS DEBUT
A resume seeding system will be used by the WAC to determine how teams are seeded at this year’s WAC Basketball Tournaments. An algorithm will rate performance against all teams faced in the regular season, not just conference play, that will rank teams for the conference postseason tournament. Using this resume seeding system, teams will receive more credit by playing stronger opponents than if they play weaker opponents. WAC Commissioner Brian Thornton and WAC Associate Commissioner of Basketball Drew Speraw worked with Ken Pomeroy of kenpom.com to put together this formula.