2024-25 WAC WBB Week 4 Release

UTAH TECH SWEEPS WAC WEEKLY HONORS
Utah Tech’s Chardonnay Hartley and Aaliyah Ibarra claimed this week’s WAC Player and Newcomer of the Week honors after having double-digit point performances in the Trailblazers’ two-game split last week where they claimed a 79-69 win against McNeese State. Hartley tallied 17 points in both games and averaged 7.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. Ibarra, the junior transfer from College of Southern Nevada, posted a career-high of 36 points of the bench in UTU’s victory over McNeese State, the second-most points scored by a Trailblazer in a game in Utah Tech’s D-I era.
 
GRAND CANYON CLIMBS TO 16TH IN MID-MAJOR TOP 25 POLL
In the latest College Insider Women’s Mid-Major Top 25 Poll that was released on Tuesday, Nov. 19, Grand Canyon rose up to 16th, four spots better from last week. At the time, GCU was coming off a big win over in-state and Big 12 rival Arizona State 70-59 and since then have battled with #23 Oregon who currently sits at 6-0. In the latest update, Ball State was ranked first with 23 first-place votes with an undefeated 4-0 record.
 
WAC IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
Utah Tech is ranked third in the nation in 3-pointers per game (11.5), only 0.5 behind the nation leader Tennessee (12.0). UTU’s Chardonnay Hartley leads the country in free-throw attempts (58), is third in total assists (49), and fourth in assists per game (9.0).
 
UT Arlington holds the ninth-best free throw attempts per game in the nation with 25.67. UTA’s Avery Brittingham remains only one of five players in D-I women’s basketball to record a triple-double this season (vs. Arlington Baptist, 11/7).
 
Utah Valley is fifth in the country in steals per game (16.5), 10th in assists per game (21.2), and 13th in bench points per game (36.2). UVU’s Danja Stafford Collins checks in at 12th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (4.8).
 
Grand Canyon holds a steady defense at the perimeter as the Lopes’ opponents see only 20.8% of shots beyond the arc go in the basket, giving GCU the 12th best 3-point percentage defense.
 
UPCOMING CLASSICS
With the holiday season beginning this season, the WAC has multiple teams hosting or joining tournaments and classics across the country. Grand Canyon will host the Talking Stick Resort Thanksgiving Classic where it will host Seattle U, UC Santa Barbara, and Texas A&M - Commerce. Abilene Christian will be one of two teams traveling to Florida this week as it will participate in the FIU Thanksgiving Classic. California Baptist will also make its appearance in the Sunshine State as it will play in the FGCU Homewood Suites Classic. Southern Utah will participate in the Nugget Classic hosted by Nevada and Tarleton State will be one of 10 teams to compete in the 2024 Big Easy Classic at the Alario Center in New Orleans.