DENVER – After earning a pair of road victories in their swing through the Lone Star State, California Baptist swept the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball weekly honors. Ane Olaeta was named the Player of the Week with Trinity San Antonio earning Freshman of the Week honors.
Olaeta averaged 16.5 points and shot 60 percent from the floor as the Lancers knocked off Lamar and UT Rio Grande Valley. She started the week with an 18-point, seven-rebound, six-assist game at Lamar then posted 15 points, four rebounds and eight assists 48 hours later to close the road trip. It is the second time this season, the senior was recognized as the league’s Player of the Week.
San Antonio came off the bench in the two victories, scoring in double figures in both games. In earning her second Freshman of the Week honor this season, she also shot 57.1 percent from the floor. San Antonio scored 10 points and grabbed three rebounds with a pair of steals at Lamar then notched a 12-point effort with two assists in 22 minutes against the Vaqueros.
Other nominees included: Madison Grange helped Utah Valley to road wins at Grand Canyon and NM State, highlighted by a 20-point outburst in Phoenix during the eight-point win … In Stephen F. Austin’s lone game, Stephanie Visscher tallied 22 points, eight rebounds and six blocks against Chicago State … Seynabou Thiam posted a double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds) while adding four blocks in 22 minutes as Tarleton recorded a 73-67 road win at Abilene Christian … Taylor Muff scored 17 and 22 points respectively as UT Rio Grande Valley beat Seattle U and hosted California Baptist … Tianna Brown two-game week for Grand Canyon was highlighted by eight made three-pointers in a 16-point win against Dixie State … Jamie Bonnarens averaged 15 points per game for Abilene Christian as they split games against Chicago State and Tarleton … Bigue Sarr averaged 11.3 points and 11.7 rebounds as NM State won two games in their three contests … Breaunna Gillen highlighted her two-game week for Dixie State with a 21-point contest against New Mexico en route to averaging 15.5 points in those two games … Aaliyah Collins averaged 10.7 points each time she stepped onto the court in Chicago State’s three games … Angel Hasting paced Lamar’s offense as she scored 31 total points in their two games
Other freshman nominees included: Ja’Mya Powell-Smith scored a career-high 15 points in Grand Canyon’s game against Utah Valley … Kacee Kyle averaged 16 points and 4.5 assists per game as UT Rio Grande Valley split games against Seattle U and California Baptist … Bella Earle scored 26 total points in Abilene Christian’s games at Chicago State and home against Tarleton State … Lamar’s Emma Imevbore averaged five points and 4.5 rebounds off the bench in home game against California Baptist and Seattle U … Macie Warren’s week was highlighted by her 18-point performance in Dixie State’s three overtime game against NM State … Collins from Chicago State was also under consideration for the honor