2023-2024 WAC WBB Release - Week Eighteen 

SEE YA AT #WACVEGAS 
Abilene Christian officially clinched a spot in the 2024 Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament joining Grand Canyon, California Baptist, Stephen F. Austin, UT Arlington and Utah Tech. The Wildcats (9-9 WAC, 13-14 overall) earned a spot after going 2-0 over Southern Utah and Utah Tech last week.
 
DOWN TO THE WIRE
As the final week of conference play approaches, California Baptist took the lead in the WAC standings on March 2 and extended its lead in the latest WAC Résumé Seeding System rankings compiled on March 3. The Lancers are now 16-2 in conference and their overall record of 24-3 has accumulated to 6.33 points in the seeding system rankings as they look to secure the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Grand Canyon is in second with 5.37 points, while Stephen F. Austin (1.53) is the only other team with a positive point value. UT Arlington is in fourth place with -1.64 points, while Utah Tech sits at fifth with -2.28.
 
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.

MARCH MADNESS HAS DEFINITELY ARRIVED 
WAC squads are not backing down without a fight to punch their ticket to the 2024 Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament as two spots remain. Last week’s conference series was highlighted by multiple upsets which puts the remaining WAC teams in a position of tournament contention. Tarleton State (6-12 WAC) took down Utah Tech on Feb. 29 in a 76-60 win, while Seattle U (5-13 WAC) defeated UT Arlington 81-77.  Abilene Christian beat Utah Tech 74-62 on March 2 and Stephen F. Austin pulled off the conference sweep of Grand Canyon as it took down the Lopes 85-77.
 
A LITTLE FAITH GOES A LONG WAY
Tarleton State’s freshman center Faith Acker was electric for the Texans as they went 2-0 on the week, beating Utah Tech 76-60 at home on Thursday, then winning 69-63 against Southern Utah on Saturday. Acker averaged 15.0 points on 15-of-26 (.577) shooting, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals. She achieved her second double-double of the year with 16 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 11 rebounds against Utah Tech. She then recorded 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals against Southern Utah.
 
GO HARDEN THE PAINT       
Stephen F. Austin’s redshirt senior center Kurstyn Harden had one of her best week’s this season so far as she recorded her 10th and 11th games scoring more than 20 points against California Baptist and Grand Canyon. Harden led the team in both games, scoring 29 and 23 points respectively. Overall, Harden averaged 26.0 points per game, went 19-of-31 (.613) from the floor and scored 52 total points. She also recorded 16 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and one steal.
 
WAC REGULAR SEASON TITLE ON THE LINE    
California Baptist and Grand Canyon will go head-to-head on March 9 to cap off the conference schedule, which will determine if the two teams will share or outright win the WAC regular season title. California Baptist can secure the conference championship with wins against UT Arlington and the Lopes. Grand Canyon can outright win with a CBU loss and a win over the Lancers. California Baptist and Grand Canyon will claim a share of the title if the Lancers win against UT Arlington but lose to the Lopes.