This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Feb. 15
This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Feb. 15
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TICKETSMARTER WAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK ANNOUNCED
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's 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 games 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
THE WEEK AHEAD
The final rescheduled games of the season were played on Valentine’s Day before the regularly scheduled slate began. Three games are on the docket for Wednesday and Thursday before a six-game Saturday is on deck. Highlighting the week is showdown between California Baptist and Grand Canyon as both vie for the No. 2 seed with each team three games behind Stephen F. Austin for the WAC lead.
CLINCHING POSSIBILITY
Stephen F. Austin could clinch a tie for conference regular season title and earn the No. 1 seed for the WAC postseason tournament next month.
If the Ladyjacks win both their games this week AND the winner of Thursday’s CBU/GCU game loses their Saturday game, Stephen F. Austin is assured of at least a tie. Under that scenario, they would reach 14 WAC wins and the best CBU or GCU could do is 14 league victories. Stephen F. Austin holds the tiebreaker over both schools should they be tied.
WINNING STREAKS
Stephen F. Austin has won 13 straight games, the second longest in the nation. Moreover, dating back to their time in the Southland, the Ladyjacks have not lost a conference game since March 3, 2020 vs. Abilene Christian. A stretch of 26 straight. Meanwhile, Sam Houston has put together a seven-game streak of their own which is tied for the 18th longest active winning streak in the country.
DEFENDING THE HOME COURT
Stephen F. Austin currently holds the nation’s longest home winning streak at 36. BYU is the next closest at 28. The Ladyjacks last home loss came against UCF on Nov. 16, 2019 (63-57). They haven’t lost a home conference game since Lamar knocked them off 75-58 on Feb. 24, 2018.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Stephen F. Austin leads the WAC in multiple offensive categories. They top the league in scoring (76.9ppg), scoring margin (+21.1 ppg) and field goal percentage (45.0). California Baptist and Abilene Christian are second and third respectively in scoring at 75.3 and 74.3 points per game. From behind the arc, Lamar is nailing 36.4 percent of their attempts while Abilene Christian and Dixie State are making 9.6 and 9.5 shots from deep per game. At the foul line, Utah Valley is making 77.9 percent of their attempts.
On the other side of the court, Stephen F. Austin is limiting their opposition to just 54.8 points per game and a 34.7 percent shooting mark. Grand Canyon is registering a league high 13.6 steals each time they step onto the court.
Caitlyn Harper remains atop the league’s top scoring players as she is averaging 18.4 points per game for California Baptist. Josie Williams is second in the league in scoring (16.0) while grabbing a conference best 12.1 rebounds each time she suits up for Utah Valley. Akasha Davis is knocking a WAC best 58.5 percent of her field goal attempts for Lamar while Ane Olaeta is registering 7.2 assists per game for the Lancers.
TURNING THE OPPONENT OVER
The WAC team duo of Stephen F. Austin and Grand Canyon are among the best teams in the country in turning their opponents over. Stephen F. Austin is third in the nation with 24.70 turnovers forced per game with Grand Canyon (23.30) ranking fifth in that same category. Stephen F. Austin is also second in the country in turnover margin (+8.87). Not surprisingly, Stephen F. Austin and Grand Canyon ranked among the top 10 in total steals and steals per game (see page 7 of note pack).
1,000 POINT PLATEAU
Sam Houston’s Faith Cook broke into the 1,000 career point club in a big way in December to start a trend. Needing only four points in the Bearkats game against Arlington Baptist, she scored 24 to become the seventh active member of the 1,000-point club among WAC players. She is the second person this season to achieve the milestone as CBU’s Georgia Dale entered the rarified scoring category in December as well. Aiyana Johnson became a member as she reached the milestone a month ago and now has 1,115 career points in four seasons at Stephen F. Austin. Caitlyn Harper recorded her 1,000th career point just over three weeks ago for California Baptist (1,110 points). The newest member broke into the club over the week as Josie Williams of Utah Valley now has 1,030 career points.
400 HEAD COACHING WINS
Heading into the season, Abilene Christian’s Julie Goodenough already reached the 400-win plateau. In her 26th year as a head coach, she leads the league in most seasons as a head as well as career wins (469). During the first weekend of WAC games, Stephen F. Austin’s Mark Kellogg joined her with 400 career wins. Seattle U’s Suzy Barcomb earned her 400th career win last week.
WAC ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO BASKETBALL GAME CANCELATION POLICIES
Following a vote of athletic directors the last week of December, the Western Athletic Conference has adjusted its game cancelation policy to balance the health and safety of coaches, student-athletes, staff and officials as well as protect the integrity of the conference schedule.
The minimum number of participants for conference play has been set at seven Covid-eligible student-athletes and one Covid-eligible coach. If a team meets the requirement, they will be expected to compete in the contest.
In addition, the WAC has determined that if a game is canceled for Covid-related reasons, administrators from the impacted institutions will work collaboratively to find a mutually agreeable date to reschedule. If they are unable to find a date, the game will be considered a no-contest.
The conference will continue to work with institutional leadership regarding any changes to seeding procedures for the 2022 Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament.
RESCHEDULED GAMES
The WAC has been far from immune from the far reaches of the newest coronavirus strain. Heading into the scheduled sixth full week of conference games, the league has rescheduled 14 games.
STAT LEADERS BACK FOR 2021-22
Following a shortened season, the WAC will return almost all of its stat leaders from the spring. After averaging 16.5 points per game to lead the WAC in scoring in the spring as a part of UT Rio Grande Valley, Amara Graham will return to the court this fall as a Grand Canyon Lope. The WAC’s leader in rebounds per game (8.4) and field goal percentage (66.5) will also be back as California Baptist’s Britney Thomas suits up for her final season as a Lancer. The Lancer roster will also include the top three-point shooter and top assister from the spring 2021 season. CBU’s Sydney Palma shot 44.7 percent from deep to lead the league while Ane Olaeta averaged 7.8 assists per game to finish as the nation’s leader in assists.
Josie Williams of Utah Valley will be back on the court for the Wolverines after leading the WAC in blocks per game last season. Seattle U’s Bree Calhoun will also be disrupting WAC offenses once again as she returns after pacing the conference in steals per game at 3.3.
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
California Baptist has been named the favorite to win the 2021-22 women’s basketball title and the Lancers’ Ane Olaeta was selected as the WAC Preseason Player of the Year in a vote of the league’s 13 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
After putting together one of the best seasons in WAC history a season ago, the Lancers earned the top spot with 137 points and six first-place votes in the preseason poll. WAC newcomer Stephen F. Austin was close behind with six first-place votes and a total of 133 points. The Ladyjacks were followed by Grand Canyon who received the remaining first-place vote and 112 points. Utah Valley was slotted in the fourth spot with 106 points while Abilene Christian was selected to finish fifth, garnering 91 points. Sam Houston claimed a total of 86 points as they landed in sixth. NM State came in just behind the Bearkats with 90 points while Lamar was eighth with 63 points. Seattle U captured ninth with 61 points, followed by UT Rio Grande Valley with 54 points. The Tarleton Texans earned 43 points to see themselves picked to finish 11th. Dixie State and Chicago State rounded out the poll, collecting 25 points and 14 points, respectively.
Olaeta is atop the list of Preseason All-WAC honorees. The senior guard is joined on the first team by fellow Lancer Britney Thomas, Stephen F. Austin’s Stephanie Visscher and Zya Nugent, Utah Valley’s Maria Carvalho and Josie Williams, Grand Canyon’s Amara Graham and Lamar’s Micaela Wilson.
Second team honors went to UT Rio Grande Valley’s Sara Bershers, Grand Canyon’s Tiarra Brown, Seattle U’s Bree Calhoun and McKenzi Williams, Sam Houston’s Faith Cook, California Baptist’s Caitlyn Harper, Stephen F. Austin’s Aiyana Johnson and Abilene Christian’s Madi Miller.
PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
The Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball media have selected California Baptist as the preseason favorite to be named the 2021-22 conference champions while the Lancers’ Ane Olaeta was named WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
The Lancers earned the sweep in the polls as they picked up the top spot in the media poll after being selected first overall in the coaches’ poll. CBU was followed by Stephen F. Austin while Utah Valley was picked to finish third in the conference. Grand Canyon was chosen to finish fourth, Sam Houston was fifth and NM State took sixth. The Aggies were followed by Lamar, Abilene Christian, Seattle U, UT Rio Grande Valley, Tarleton, Dixie State and Chicago State.
Olaeta leads the group of Preseason All-WAC award getters and is joined by teammate Britney Thomas. Utah Valley’s Maria Carvalho and Josie Williams joined the pair of Lancers while Stephen F. Austin also boasted two first-team members in Aiyana Johnson and Stephanie Visscher. Grand Canyon’s Amara Graham and Lamar’s Micaela Wilson also picked up first-team honors.
Second-team selections include Grand Canyon’s Tiarra Brown, Seattle U’s Bree Calhoun, Sam Houston’s Faith Cook, Tarleton’s Marissa Escamilla, California Baptist’s Caitlyn Harper, NM State’s Soufia Inoussa, Abilene Christian’s Madi Miller and Stephen F. Austin’s Zya Nugent.
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS
Coming off a year in which the WAC only returned three all-conference players, the WAC will look very familiar this season, returning eight of 10 All-WAC players. From the list of first-team honorees, Utah Valley’s Maria Carvalho and Josie Williams and California Baptist’s Ane Olaeta and Britney Thomas will all be back in action. Also, Grand Canyon’s Tiarra Brown and Amara Graham, California Baptist’s Caitlyn Harper and Seattle U’s McKenzi Williams are returning after earning Second Team All-WAC recognition in the spring.
WAC fans will also see four of the five members of the WAC All-Defensive Team back this year as Grand Canyon’s Taylor Caldwell, Seattle U’s Bree Calhoun, Utah Valley’s Carvalho and California Baptist’s Thomas make their way back. Lastly, four WAC All-Newcomer representatives are coming back for the 2021-22 season as California Baptist’s Nicole Avila-Ambrosi, Grand Canyon’s Brown, Seattle U’s Calhoun and Utah Valley’s Shay Fano return
With the addition of four schools coming over from the Southland Conference, the WAC also adds four Southland All-Conference selections from last season. Both Lamar’s Micaela Wilson and Stephen F. Austin’s Stephanie Visscher were first-team honorees, while the Ladyjacks Aiyana Johnson and Zya Nugent garnered second team distinction.
TEXAS SIZED ADDITION
After adding Dixie State and Tarleton a season ago, the WAC has expanded once again by adding four Texas schools. Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin all come over to the WAC after spending time in the Southland Conference. Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston and Lamar each finished inside the top four of the Southland’s standings last season. The Ladyjacks also claimed the Southland Conference title as they finished the year with a 24-2 overall record and a near-upset of Georgia Tech in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
WAC TOURNAMENT MAKES 11TH TRIP TO VEGAS
The conference will head back to #WACVegas for the 2022 tournament in Las Vegas. The tournament will begin March 8 with a pair of games to be held at Michelob Ultra Arena before the remainder of the tournament heads to Orleans Arena on March 9-12. The tournament will include the top 10 eligible teams.