This Week In WAC Women's Basketball - Feb. 1
This Week In WAC Women's Basketball - Feb. 1
2022-23 WAC Women's Basketball Release - Feb. 1
SFA A STAPLE AT TOP OF WAC RESUME SEEDING
In the latest WAC Resume Seeding System ranking on Jan. 29, Stephen F. Austin remained at the top of the conference seeding with a 17-4 overall record and 7-2 mark in WAC play to post 4.16 points. Other teams with positive point values include Southern Utah (12-7; 8-0 WAC; 2.07 points), Grand Canyon (15-6; 7-3 WAC; 0.98 points), California Baptist (11-9, 7-2 WAC; 0.68 points) and Utah Tech (13-7; 5-4 WAC; 0.30 points).
SOUTHERN UTAH REMAINS UNDEFEATED
Southern Utah upped its conference record to 8-0 in WAC play after victories over Grand Canyon and Tarleton last week. The Thunderbirds topped Grand Canyon 63-60 on the road and were led by Daylani Ballena who finished with 15 points on 6-12 shooting and four rebounds. Southern Utah then went on to beat Tarleton 55-48 with Cherita Daughtery and Tomekia Whitman both scoring 14 points, respectively. The Thunderbirds are also the lone unbeaten team in WAC play.
CBU IN MIDST OF WINNING STREAK
California Baptist in the midst of four game winning streak dating back to Jan. 19 with a win over Seattle U. The Lancers went onto get victories over Grand Canyon, UT Arlington and Stephen F. Austin. CBU scheduled to play its next two games at home against NM State and Sam Houston.
GCU TOPS ABILENE CHRISTIAN
Olivia Lane led the Lopes with 13 points off the bench while shooting 5-5 from the free throw line. The double-digit performance was Lane’s eighth in WAC play and 11th of the season, with her free throw percentage increasing to 84.2% in conference action. Tiarra Brown had 12 points and four rebounds with Naudia Evans registering nine points, four rebounds and five assists. The Lopes tallied 12 steals, its third straight game of 10 or more steals. Aaliyah Collins led the way with four steals while adding four assists, three rebounds and seven points to her day.
THE WAC IN NATIONAL STATS RANKINGS
In the latest NCAA DI national statistics rankings that were released on Jan. 30, Grand Canyon remained 3rd in steals per game at 13.3 and is now 23rd in turnover margin (5.24) along with being 6th in turnovers forced per game (22.19). Sam Houston dropped one spot to 4th in offensive rebounds per game at 17.7. California Baptist currently ranks 4th in three-point field goals per game with 28.9 followed by Abilene Christian in the 21st spot with 25.6 and UTRGV ranked 33rd at 24.9. Southern Utah is now ranked 14th in total rebounds per game with 43.42 and Sam Houston is ranked 27th in the same category at 41.53, along with California Baptist ranked 43rd at 40.85. NM State is ranked in three different categories, ranking 43rd in total steals per game (10.0), 39th in turnover margin (4.10) and 39th in turnovers forced per game at 19.48.
THE RACE TO #WACVEGAS HEATS UP
The top 12 teams in the final conference standings will take part in the 2023 Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament on March 6-11 in Las Vegas. The top four seeds will earn an automatic bye into the quarterfinal round.