2023-24 WAC Women's Basketball Release - Week 4

YAY FOR WAC PLAY
WAC teams are gearing up for a full week of conference play. With the move to a 20-game conference schedule ahead of the 2023-24 season, a full week of WAC matchups were slotted into the final week of November/first week of December instead of the traditional start of league action after the completion of the non-conference slate. A total of 10 WAC showdowns are on tap for Nov. 28 and Dec. 2 before the stretch run of the non-conference schedule closes out the calendar for 2023. An exciting battle which features the 2022-23 WAC Women’s Basketball Championship rematch between California Baptist and Southern Utah will kick off WAC play on Nov. 28.
 
WHAT’S BETTER THAN A DOUBLE? A TRIPLE!
Abilene Christian’s junior guard Bella Earle recorded 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for her first career triple-double in a win over Navy on Nov. 26. Earle is now only one out of seven players in the nation to tally a triple-double so far this season. She is the 12th player in WAC history to achieve the feat.
 
CALIFORNIA BAPTIST ON FIRE 
After a big-time 71-66 win over No. 15 Portland in the Nov. 21 edition of the CollegeInsider.com Mid Major Top-25 Poll, the Lancers remain the only undefeated team in the WAC. Chloe Webb continues to put up monster numbers as she led CBU recording a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Webb leads the WAC in scoring at 20.6 points per game and is top-5 in both steals (3.00) and rebounds (8.00). She also has the most 20+ point games this season with four. She currently ranks 30th in the nation in points per game (20.6) and is tied for 29th in steals per game (3.00).
 
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN HEATING UP 
The ‘Jacks went a perfect 2-0 last week, securing wins over Texas Southern and Rice after ending the previous week of play at 1-3. Stephen. F. Austin was led by senior center Kurstyn Harden as she recorded 43 points, 20 rebounds, one assist and two steals. She averaged 21 points per game, shot 71.4% (15-21) from the field and 85.7% (12-14) from the free throw line. Harden recorded her first double-double of the season against Rice with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
 
FRESHMAN DOING BIG THINGS
Abilene Christian’s freshman guard Payton Hull earned WAC Newcomer of the Week after having an impressive game in a win against Navy. Hull recorded 34 points, currently the most points scored by a WAC player this season, and seven rebounds. Hull’s 34 points and nine three-pointers, hitting 9 of 16 from the perimeter tied for ACU’s DI-era record that was set during the 2022-23 season.

UTAH VALLEY IN NCAA RANKINGS
Utah Valley is ranked in multiple categories in the latest NCAA DI national statistics rankings that were released on Nov. 27. The Wolverines ranked sixth in turnover margin with 9.60, ninth in turnovers forced (24.20) and 12th in steals per game (13.2). Sophomore guard Kylee Mabry is currently tied 16th in the nation in steals per game with 3.40 and tied 37th for total steals with 17. Junior guard Eleyana Tafisi is tied 41st in assists/turnover ratio with 2.75.