WEEKLY NOTEBOOK (PDF)
EASTERN WASHINGTON (2-3)
Eastern Washington defeated Utah Valley and lost to No. 10 Oregon last week. in the victory over UVU, senior forward Delaney Hodgins became just the third player in Eastern Washington history to surpass 1,500 career points. She now has 1,523 career points and ranks fourth in rebounds (8.2 rebounds per game) and fifth in points (19.0 points per game) in the Big Sky so far this season. The Eagles get after it defensively and currently rank third in blocks (5.6 blocks per game) and second in steals (11.8 steals per game) in the Big Sky. EWU will play at Gonzaga and host Boise State this week.
IDAHO (2-3)
Idaho went 1-1 at the Cal State Northridge-hosted Thanksgiving Classic, beating the host and losing to TCU last week. Senior Geraldine McCorkell notched a pair of season highs as she scored 25 points versus CSUN and pulled down 12 rebounds against TCU. McCorkell earned a spot on the all-tournament team for her efforts. McCorkell and juniors Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce all average above 15 points per game and rank among the top 12 scorers in the Big Sky this season. The Vandals rank first in the conference and 23rd in the nation in 3-point field goals made per game (11.0). Idaho will host Washington and Cal State Fullerton this week.
IDAHO STATE (5-1)
The Bengals suffered their first setback of the season in a tight 80-74 loss to Pepperdine. However, Idaho State bounced back in a 20-point victory over Utah State to go 1-1 last week. Idaho State currently has the best record in the Big Sky and ranks first in the conference and fourth in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (47.6%). The Bengals also battle on the boards as they rank second in the league and eighth in the nation in defensive rebounds per game (32.7). Senior Brooke Blair’s scorching 62.1 3-point field goal percentage tops the Big Sky and ranks fourth in the nation. Idaho State will travel to Washington State and Wyoming this week.
MONTANA (0-5)
Montana lost a pair of games to Indiana State and Marquette at the Cancun Challenge last week. Sophomore McKenzie Johnston leads the Lady Griz in scoring as she averages 10.6 points per game. Johnston also ranks 11th in the Big Sky in assists with her 3.2 assists per game average. Additionally, senior Mekayla Isaak ranks ninth in the conference in blocks per game with an average of 1.0. The Lady Griz will face Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State this week.
MONTANA STATE (3-2)
In only one contest last week, Montana State defeated MSU-Billings 67-47 to boost its home winning streak to 27 straight wins at the Worthington Arena. That winning streak ranks second in the nation, only behind No. 1 UConn. Sophomore Madeline Smith ranks first in the Big Sky in rebounds as she averages 11 per game. Smith also leads the conference in field goal percentage (64%). As a team, the Bobcats lead the league in scoring defense, allowing just 58.2 points per game. Montana State will take the court against three Mountain West foes this week as they play Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada.
NORTH DAKOTA (3-2)
The Fighting Hawks defeated both Lamar and UTSA to score a tournament win in San Antonio, Texas last week. junior forward Lexi Klabo continues to play solid basketball. Klabo ranks eighth in the nation in blocks per game (3.40) and 13th in the nation in total blocks (17). North Dakota is a force on the boards as they are fourth in defensive rebounds per game (34.0) and ninth in the nation in total rebounds per game (48.2).
NORTHERN ARIZONA (2-3)
The Lumberjacks cruised to a 101-49 victory over Antelope Valley last week. NAU saw six players reach double digits and the 104 points scored in that contest is the most recorded by a Big Sky member so far this season. The Lumberjack offense also leads the league in points per game as they average 82 points a contest. Senior Kenna McDavis consistently scores and rebounds with the best of them. She is ranked eighth in the conference in scoring (17.4) and second in the Big Sky in rebounding (10.8). Northern Arizona will play on the road against Denver this week.
NORTHERN COLORADO (4-2)
Northern Colorado dropped a pair of contests to Quinnipiac and Fordham last week. The Bears rank first in the league and third in the nation in free throw percentage (82.8) as a team this season. Senior Savannah Scott leads the Bears scoring efforts with 16.5 points per game. Northern Colorado’s Krysta Leger-Walker ranks among the league’s best distributors as she is tied for third in the Big Sky in assists per game (4.3). Northern Colorado will host BYU and Pacific this week.
PORTLAND STATE (2-4)
The Vikings lost to Seattle, but then beat Multnomah to finish off the week 1-1. Field goal percentage is among Portland State’s strength as the Viks rank second in the Big Sky with a team field goal percentage of .438. Junior Sidney Rielly leads the conference in points per game with 21.2 points a contest. Reilly 21.2 points per game also ranks 30th in the nation. Portland State will play in-state rival Portland and Gonzaga this week.
SACRAMENTO STATE (1-5)
Sacramento State got its first win of the season over UC Riverside on Sunday. The Hornets also fell to Nevada last week. Sacramento State’s sophomore Hannah Friend poured in 34 points for a new career-high in the victory over UC Riverside. The Hornets will play UC Davis on the road this week.
SOUTHERN UTAH (1-5)
The Thunderbirds lost to UC Davis and CSU Bakersfield, but did pick up their first win of the season over in-state rival Utah State. In an interesting stat, SUU’s sophomore guard Rebecca Cardenas is currently the only player in the Big Sky that has a perfect free throw percentage. Cardenas also excels on defense as she ranks 33rd in the nation in total steals (18), while the team ranks first in the Big Sky and seventh in the nation in total team steals (85). Southern Utah will play Utah Valley this week.
WEBER STATE (4-1)
Weber State scored two victories last week over Westminster and Incarnate Word. Larryn Brooks, Weber State’s leading scorer, averaged 20.7 points per game, while shooting 53 percent from the field over all games last week. In fact, Brooks averages 18.4 points per game on the season, which ranks sixth in the Big Sky. Weber State plays at Cal State Northridge and at Oregon this week.