This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - March 8
This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - March 8
Complete Release (PDF)
TICKETSMARTER WAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK ANNOUNCED
UT Rio Grande Valley’s Sara Bershers has been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week with Grand Canyon’s Ja’Mya Powell-Smith earning TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week.
Bershers averaged 23 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game as UTRGV finished the regular season. She started the week with a career high 30-point effort in the Vaqueros home finale against Lamar on Thursday. The sophomore also grabbed eight rebounds, had six blocks and four assists in the contest. Bershers followed that with 16-point, 10-rebound double-double at Stephen F. Austin as UTRGV handed the Ladyjacks their first conference loss of the season and ended a 37-game home winning streak for Stephen F. Austin. She also registered three steals and a pair of assists in the upset.
Powell-Smith scored in double figures in both of Grand Canyon’s wins as the Lopes secured the league’s No. 2 seed for the conference tournament next week. She started the week with an 18-point effort in 28 minutes against Utah Valley on Thursday. Two days later she registered 10 points in 16 minutes in Grand Canyon’s win at Dixie State. She shot 52.9 percent from the field in the two games.
Other nominees included: Josie Williams pieced together her 21st and 22nd double-doubles of the season as Utah Valley split their games against Grand Canyon and NM State … Ane Olaeta averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 assists, including a double-double against Lamar, in two wins last week for California Baptist … Courtney Murphy scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds in Seattle U’s three-point road win at Chicago State to close the regular season … Tiarra Brown helped Grand Canyon to a pair of wins by tallying 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game … Angel Hasting helped Lamar to a two wins in three games last week by averaging 13.3 points per game … Jamie Bonnarens scored in double figures in each of Abilene Christian’s three games; highlighted by a season high 26 against Tarleton … Emily Isaacson scored 22 and 14 points respectively as Dixie State closed the campaign against Abilene Christian and Grand Canyon … Tarleton’s Lucy Benson averaged 13.5 points on 10-of-20 (.500) shooting, 7.0 rebounds and 4.5 steals in two games this week; scored a career high 17 against Sam Houston on Thursday … Chicago State’s Quentarra Mitchell closed out the Cougars final two games of the season by averaging 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds last week
Other freshman nominees included: Abby Conlee scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Utah Valley knocked off NM State in the regular season finale … Averi Papa posted a 15-point, 10-point double-double in Dixie State’ s Thursday win against Abilene Christian; averaged 11 points and seven rebounds in the Trailblazers two games … Bella Earle came off the bench to average 6.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in Abilene Christian’s three games … Nicole Avila-Ambrosi averaged 13 points per game and grabbed five total steals for California Baptist … Aaliyah Collins finished her season with a 17-point and 15-point effort as Chicago State hosted California Baptist and Seattle U respectively … Mason Jones came off the bench in Tarleton’s 20-point win against Sam Houston on Thursday
REGULAR SEASON AWARDS
California Baptist’s Caitlyn Harper has been named the Player of the Year with Stephen F. Austin’s Mark Kellogg earning Coach of the Year honors. The Defensive Player of the Year award goes to California Baptist’s Ane Olaeta. Bree Calhoun, of Seattle U, was voted the Sixth Woman of the Year while Abilene Christian’s Jamie Bonnarens earned Newcomer of the Year accolades. Lamar’s Akasha Davis is recognized as the Freshman of the Year.
Harper topped the league in scoring with an 18.0 points per game average while grabbing 6.0 rebounds each time she stepped on the floor for the Lancers. Last season she earned second-team All-WAC honors and was the WAC Tournament MVP.
Kellogg earned Coach of the Year honors after leading the Ladyjacks to a 26-4 overall mark and 17-1 record in league games. Stephen F. Austin captured the WAC regular season crown and earned the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament. This is his third Coach of the Year award after winning the award previously in the Southland (2020-21) and Lone Star (2013-14) conferences.
Olaeta registered 2.6 steals per game and was second in the league in minutes played (35.0 mpg). Calhoun averaged 12.7 points per game and was third in the WAC in steals (2.5 spg). Bonnarens played her final collegiate season with the Wildcats where she averaged a team high 14.9 points per game while hitting 66 shots from behind the arc.Davis’ first collegiate season saw her average a team best 12.6 points per game for Lamar while grabbing 6.5 rebounds while starting all of the Cardinals 26 games.
There are six teams represented on the first-team all-conference squad with 12 teams represented on either the first- or second-team.
In addition to the representation by Harper, Olaeta and Bonnarens, earning first-team accolades are Faith Cook, Amara Graham, Aiyana Johnson, Stephanie Visscher and Josie Williams.
In addition to Calhoun and Davis, on the second-team are Maria Carvalho, Aaliyah Collins, Emily Isaacson, Zya Nugent, Taylor Muff and Bigue Sarr.
The five player defensive team is made up of Calhoun, Olaeta, Visschers, Madelyn Batista and Brianna Mitchell.
The All-Newcomer team consists of Bonnarens, Collins, Muff, Sarr and Shanaijah Davison.
Player of the Year: Caitlyn Harper, CBU
Defensive Player of the Year: Ane Olaeta, CBU
Sixth Woman of the Year: Bree Calhoun, SU
Newcomer of the Year: Jamie Bonnarens, ACU
Freshman of the Year: Akasha Davis, LU
Coach of the Year: Mark Kellogg, SFA
First-Team All-WAC
Jamie Bonnarens, ACU
Faith Cook, SHSU
Amara Graham, GCU##
Caitlyn Harper, CBU#
Aiyana Johnson, SFA
Ane Olaeta, CBU*
Stephanie Visscher, SFA
Josie Williams, UVU*
Second-Team All-WAC
Bree Calhoun, SU
Maria Carvalho, UVU*
Aaliyah Collins, CSU
Akasha Davis, LU
Emily Isaacson, DSU
Zya Nugent, SFA
Taylor Muff, UTRGV
Bigue Sarr, NMSU
All-Defensive Team
Madelyn Batista, SHSU
Bree Calhoun, SU^
Brianna Mitchell, SFA
Ane Olaeta, CBU
Stephanie Visscher, SFA
All-Newcomer Team
Jamie Bonnarens, ACU
Aaliyah Collins, CSU
Shanaijah Davison, DSU
Taylor Muff, UTRGV
Bigue Sarr, NMSU
*Indicates Previous First Team All-WAC Selection
#Indicates Previous Second Team All-WAC Selection
^Indicates Previous All-Defensive Team Selection
THE WEEK AHEAD
The 2022 Hercules Tires WAC Women’s Basketball tournament tips-off on Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas and concludes on Saturday afternoon when the league crowns its postseason champion.
STREAK HALTED
UT Rio Grande Valley played a spoiler in multiple ways with their upset win at Stephen F. Austin on Saturday afternoon. The victory snapped the Ladyjacks 38 game home winning streak (the longest active streak in the nation) as well as ending their hopes of becoming the second WAC school to post an 18-0 regular season conference record (2002-03 La. Tech).
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
California Baptist leads the league in scoring (76.1 ppg) with Stephen F. Austin’s 75.3 points per game total just behind. The Ladyjacks do lead the league in shooting percentage (44.5%) and scoring margin (+20.1 ppg). California Baptists has made a WAC best 824 total fields. Behind the arc, Dixie State made a regular season best 290 three-pointers with Lamar’s 35.8 shooting accuracy from deep topping the league. Utah Valley is connecting on a conference best 78.5 percentage of their free throws.
On the other side of the court, Grand Canyon leads the WAC with 12.9 steals per game with Ladyjacks holding their opponents to a 35.2 percent shooting mark.
Caitlyn Harper remains atop the league’s top scoring players as she is averaging 18.0 points per game for California Baptist. Josie Williams is second in the league in scoring (17.3) while grabbing a conference best 12.3rebounds each time she suits up for Utah Valley. Ane Olaeta is registering 7.3 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 second in the nation with 24.37 turnovers forced per game with Grand Canyon (22.14) ranking seventh in that same category. Stephen F. Austin is second the nation in turnover margin (+8.40). Not surprisingly, Stephen F. Austin and Grand Canyon ranked among the top five 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 for Stephen F. Austin. Caitlyn Harper recorded her 1,000th career point just over a month ago for California Baptist. Two weeks ago, Josie Williams of Utah Valley entered the career point milestone club. The newest member is Utah Valley’s Maria Carvalho. She entered the rarified air in the Wolverines win against Dixie State two weeks ago. (see page 9 of note pack)
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.