This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - March 1
This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - March 1
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TICKETSMARTER WAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK ANNOUNCED
Utah Valley’s Josie Williams has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week with California Baptist’s Trinity San Antonio earning TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week honors.
Williams stuffed the stat sheet in the Wolverines two games last week. She set her career high with a 28-point performance on 63.2 percent shooting (12-for-19) in Utah Valley’s 67-61 road win against Seattle U. During that game against the Redhawks she also grabbed 16 rebounds for her 20th double-double of the season, tying the Utah Valley season record. Two days later she re-set her career high by tallying 31 points at California Baptist. She made all but four of her 16 field goal attempts. Williams also recorded two blocks and a pair of assists.
San Antonio claimed her third Freshman of the Week honor. The guard averaged 13 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in a pair of contests last week. She started her week with a 10-point, eight-rebound, four-steal game against Dixie State. In Saturday’s win against Utah Valley she went for 16 points, 11 rebounds and six steals. San Antonio dished out three assists in each game.
Other nominees included: Stephanie Visscher scored 20 and 16 points respectively for Stephen F. Austin against Sam Houston State and Abilene Christian as the Ladyjacks secured the WAC regular season championship … Taylor Muff put together a 25-point, 13-rebound performance as UT Rio Grande Valley knocked off Tarleton … Dominique Phillips averaged 13.5 points a game as Grand Canyon split games against Chicago State and Sam Houston … Maggie McCord averaged 16 points for Dixie State in two games; her 26 points at Seattle U during an 8-for-11 shooting effort emphasized her week … Angel Hastings put together a 19-point performance against Tarleton in Lamar’s only game of the week … Over the week, Tarleton’s Jenna Dick made 8-of-14 (.571) from the three-point line, averaging 14.5 points and 3.0 rebounds … Caitlyn Harper averaged 19 points and 7.5 rebounds as California Baptist split games against Dixie State and Utah Valley … Kamryn Mraz scored 18 points for Abilene Christian as they hosted Stephen F. Austin … Deja Terrell scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 22 minutes in New Mexico State’s win against Chicago State … Courtney Murphy averaged 13 points per game for Seattle U as they split home games against Utah Valley and Dixie State … Chicago State’s Quentarra Mitchell highlighted her week with a 17-point, eight-rebound game at Grand Canyon
Other freshman nominees included: Chicago State’s Aaliyah Collins had her two-game week highlighted by a 20-point performance at New Mexico State … Macie Warren averaged six points and five rebounds for Dixie State in their games against California Baptist and Seattle U … Mason Jones scored four points in 11 minutes as Tarleton posted a three-point road win at Lamar … Bella Earle went for six points and four rebounds off the bench in Abilene Christian’s home game against Stephen F. Austin … Grand Canyon’s Kiyley Flowers scored 11 points and gathered four rebounds against Chicago State and Sam Houston State
THE WEEK AHEAD
The final week of the regular season began on Monday with a weather make-up game between Abilene Christian and Lamar. There are three games slated for Wednesday and Thursday with Saturday’s six-game schedule wrapping up the regular season.
SEEDING POSSIBILITY
A host of possibilities remain with 12 conference contests this week. The one thing that is assured is that Stephen F. Austin will serve as the No. 1 seed for next week’s WAC tournament in Las Vegas. Grand Canyon will secure the No. 2 seed with one more win OR one California Baptist lose. Moreover, California Baptist is assured of no worse than the No. 3 seed.
The 10-team conference tournament begins on Tuesday, March 8 in Las Vegas. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will get a bye into the semifinals with the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds earning automatic qualification into the quarterfinals.
WINNING STREAKS
Stephen F. Austin has won 17 straight games which is tied with Stanford for the longest in the nation. Moreover, dating back to their time in the Southland, the Ladyjacks have not lost a conference home game since March 3, 2020 vs. Abilene Christian. A stretch of 30 straight.
DEFENDING THE HOME COURT
Stephen F. Austin currently holds the nation’s longest home winning streak at 37. BYU is the next closest at 30. 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.
UNDEFEATED AGAIN?
Should Stephen F. Austin win their final two regular season games, it will be the second straight season the WAC regular season champion finished without a loss. Last season, California Baptist went through WAC play with a 14-0 record. The Ladyjacks are looking to match the 2002-03 La. Tech squad which also went 18-0.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Stephen F. Austin leads the conference in a handful of team offensive categories. Their 45.1 shooting percentage lifts them past Abilene Christian (43.9). The Ladyjacks top the league in field goals made (772) and points per game (75.8). Abilene Christian is making a WAC best 35.8 percent of their shots behind the arc with Dixie State’s 265 total made three-pointer topping the conference. From the foul line Utah Valley is making 78.2 percent of their attempts.
On the other side of the court, Grand Canyon leads the WAC with 13.2 steals per game with Ladyjacks holding their opponents to a 34.8 percent shooting mark.
Caitlyn Harper remains atop the league’s top scoring players as she is averaging 18.3 points per game for California Baptist. Josie Williams is second in the league in scoring (17.3) while grabbing a conference best 12.2 rebounds each time she suits up for Utah Valley. Ane Olaeta is registering 7.1 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 24.39 turnovers forced per game with Grand Canyon (22.56) ranking fifth in that same category. Stephen F. Austin is second in the nation in turnover margin (+8.46). 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
During the season, six active players scored their 1,000th career point. 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. California Baptist’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). Two weeks ago, Josie Williams of Utah Valley now has 1,030 career points. The newest member is Utah Valley’s Maria Carvalho. She entered the rarified air in the Wolverines win against Dixie State last Saturday.
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 three weeks ago.
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 third 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.
KEY NON-CONFERENCE MATCH-UPS
The WAC will have its fair share of opportunities to shine against top competition this season. The league currently has 10 games against teams that advanced to the 2021 NCAA Tournament and 10 games against teams that participated in the 2021 NIT. The complete list is below.
Games vs. 2021 NCAA Tournament Teams
Nov. 9 UT Rio Grande Valley at USF, 8 p.m. ET
Nov. 10 Tarleton at Arkansas, 7 p.m. ET
Nov. 14 Dixie State at Oregon, 5 p.m. PT
Nov. 17 California Baptist at Oregon State, 7 p.m. PT
Nov. 18 Stephen F. Austin at Texas A&M, 7 p.m. CT
Nov. 27 Sam Houston at Arkansas, 2 p.m. CT
Dec. 12 Stephen F. Austin at Gonzaga, noon PT
Dec. 13 Sam Houston at Alabama, 11:30 a.m. CT
Dec. 21 Utah Valley at Idaho State, 7 p.m. MT
Jan. 9 UTRGV at Texas, 2 p.m. CT
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. Tarleton and Dixie State are not eligible for the tournament as they transition from NCAA Division II to Division I.
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.
KEY NON-CONFERENCE MATCH-UPS
The WAC will have its fair share of opportunities to shine against top competition this season. The league currently has 10 games against teams that advanced to the 2021 NCAA Tournament and 10 games against teams that participated in the 2021 NIT. The complete list is below.
Games vs. 2021 NCAA Tournament Teams
Nov. 9 UT Rio Grande Valley at USF, 8 p.m. ET
Nov. 10 Tarleton at Arkansas, 7 p.m. ET
Nov. 14 Dixie State at Oregon, 5 p.m. PT
Nov. 17 California Baptist at Oregon State, 7 p.m. PT
Nov. 18 Stephen F. Austin at Texas A&M, 7 p.m. CT
Nov. 27 Sam Houston at Arkansas, 2 p.m. CT
Dec. 12 Stephen F. Austin at Gonzaga, noon PT
Dec. 13 Sam Houston at Alabama, 11:30 a.m. CT
Dec. 21 Utah Valley at Idaho State, 7 p.m. MT
Jan. 9 UTRGV at Texas, 2 p.m. CT
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. Tarleton and Dixie State are not eligible for the tournament as they transition from NCAA Division II to Division I.