2024-25 WAC WBB Week 17 Release
GRAND CANYON CLINCHES A SHARE OF THE REGULAR SEASON TITLE
Grand Canyon claimed at least a share of the program's first WAC regular season title last week with a 74-56 victory over California Baptist along with a UT Arlington loss. The win also extended the historic winning streak to 23 games and improved the Lopes record to 25-2, a new D1 era program record for wins. The Lopes are four wins away from tying the all-time GCU single season wins record of 29 set in 2010-11. GCU also swept this week's WAC Player of the Week awards as Trinity San Antonio took the Player of the Week honor after her third consecutive game of 20+ points. Alyssa Durazo-Frescas was named the Newcomer of the Week following 21 points and her sixth game with at least six 3s. A win at UT Arlington on Thursday will give the Lopes the outright title.
TARLETON STATE TAKES SECOND IN THE WAC STANDINGS
Tarleton State got its redemption from its first conference loss of the season and won the battle for second place in the WAC standings with a 67-57 victory over UT Arlington. The Texans also picked up their 12th win of the season at Wisdom Gym, the most in TSU' D1 era and the most since the 2018-19 season. Arieona Rosborough led Tarleton State with 17 points and was two rebounds shy of a double-double. Faith Acker recorded her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
BALLENA DROPS 19 IN SOUTHERN UTAH'S THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
Southern Utah defeated Abilene Christian 49-46 in a defensive showdown with the Wildcats as Daylani Ballena led the scoring category for Thunderbirds with 19 points, her third straight game with 18+ points. Lexi Bull accounted for 14 of the team's 41 rebounds as she ranks third in the conference in rebounding in WAC-play (8.46). SUU will host the second round of the Utah rivalry week as the T-Birds look to sweep the series against Utah Tech and Utah Valley.
SHARP SHOOTING FROM BARCELLO ENDS UTAH VALLEY'S LOSING SKID
Utah Valley put an end to its four-game losing streak with wins against Utah Tech (74-51) and Seattle U (68-51) and big performances from Amanda Barcello and Halle Nelson. Barcello shot 78.1 percent (11-of-14) in the week and was a perfect 8-of-8 from beyond the arc. Barcello averaged 18.0 points per game including a career-high 22 against UTU where she made six 3-pointers. Nelson also scored a career-high 17 points against SU and added on 11 rebounds for the double-double.