2023-24 WAC WBB Release - Week Sixteen 

TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Grand Canyon reclaimed the lead in the latest WAC Résumé Seeding System rankings compiled on Feb. 18 with 5.10 points. California Baptist is not far behind with 5.08 points. Stephen F. Austin (1.30) is the only other team with a positive point value. UT Arlington takes back fourth place with -0.88 points, while Utah Tech sits at fifth with -1.41 in the most recent seeding system rankings. Both teams are tied with 9-6 WAC records.
 
SHEESH THINGS ARE GETTING INTERESTING!
Last week, WAC teams shook up the conference standings with some big-time wins. On Feb. 15, Seattle U secured its third conference win taking down Southern Utah 75-71. Utah Valley earned a huge upset win over California Baptist, as the Wolverines won 92-89 in overtime. On Feb. 17, Stephen F. Austin trailed Abilene Christian the entire game up until three minutes left in the fourth quarter, the ‘Jacks came back to win 89-83. In the biggest matchup of the day, the top two WAC squads went head-to-head as California Baptist was victorious in a 71-65 win over Grand Canyon.
 
GOOD NEWS, WAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WILL BE ON TV!
The final game of the WAC women’s basketball championship will be shown live on ESPNU at 10:30 a.m. PT on March 16. The 2024 women’s championship contest will mark the first WAC women’s title game to be carried live on linear TV since 2016.
 
ALL GAS, NO BRAKES 
UT Arlington’s junior guard Gia Adams became just the second player in the league to win three consecutive WAC women’s basketball weekly award honors, joining Grand Canyon’s Katie Scott (2020-21). Adams averaged 20.5 points last week with a 77.4 field goal percentage (17-of-22) and 71.4 3-point percentage (5-of-7). She recorded 22 points, two rebounds and one block against Tarleton State. Adams then tallied 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in a win over UTRGV.
 
QUEEN OF THE DECK   
Stephen F. Austin’s sophomore guard Kyla Deck had a stellar performance in the ‘Jacks come from behind 89-83 victory over Abilene Christian. Deck set a new career-high with 34 points, scoring 15 in the fourth quarter. Her previous career-high was 24, which she had recorded twice this season. Deck went 12-of-17 (.706) from the field and 3-of-5 (.600) from beyond the arc. She also led the team with four steals and recorded four rebounds.
 
STAY OUT OF HER LANE     
Grand Canyon’s senior forward Olivia Lane has been putting up big numbers for the Lopes. Lane averaged 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists this past week for GCU. She also shot 63.6 percent from the field. Lane totaled 39 points for the week, including a 17-point, six rebound performance at Utah Tech and a 22-point, nine-rebound day against California Baptist.
 
WAC IN THE NATIONAL STATS RANKINGS  
In the latest NCAA Division I national statistics report on Feb. 20, three teams were ranked in the top 10 in 3-point attempts per game. Utah Tech checked in fourth (29.7), California Baptist fifth with 29.4 and Abilene Christian ranked sixth (28.6). California Baptist ranked third in defensive rebounds per game with 31.7, while Utah Tech ranked ninth with 30.8. Utah Valley was seventh in the nation in steals per game with 12.0 and ranked sixth in bench points per game. (29.3)
 
CAN’T MISS MATCHUPS  
Abilene Christian will head to California Baptist, as the Wildcats look to secure the conference sweep on Feb. 22. Utah Tech will make the trek to UT Arlington on Feb. 24, as both teams are fighting for sole possession of fourth place in the WAC. Stephen F. Austin aims to start back up a winning streak as the ‘Jacks host Seattle U on Feb. 22 and Utah Valley on Feb. 24.