#BigSkyWBB Weekly Notebook - Jan. 8
WEEKLY NOTEBOOK (PDF)
OGDEN, Utah (January 8, 2019) -- After the second week of conference play Northern Colorado sits at the top of the conference in sole possession of first place with a 4-0 record.
• Only one team remains unbeaten in conference play after the second week. Northern Colorado sits atop the table with a 4-0 record.
• Montana, Montana State, Idaho, and Idaho State all sit in a tie for second place with 3-1 records.
• Idaho State’s Saylair Grandon was named the Ready Nutrition Player of the Week after an exceptional week on the hardwood. This is the second time this year that she has earned this award.
• Northern Colorado will put their undefeated conference record on the line this Saturday when they travel to take on Montana. The Bears wrap up their week on Monday for the second time in a row when they will face Montana State.
EASTERN WASHINGTON
- Lost both of their games last week with a 84-68 loss to Idaho and then were defeated by Northern Colorado 67-68 on overtime.
- As a team the Eagles are sixth in the conference in blocked shots and are averaging 7.2 per game.
- Violet Kapri Morrow is sixth in the conference in points per game and is averaging 17.5 per game this season.
IDAHO
- Idaho split the week going 1-1 in conference play. The Vandals won their first game of the week with an 84-68 victory over Eastern Washington. Idaho lost to Northern Colorado 86-72.
- The Vandals have the second best offense in the conference and are averaging 73.8 points per game.
- Mikayla Ferenz leads the conference in two offensive statistical categories. Ferenz is the conference leader in points per game with an average of 22.4, which is also the eighth best average in country.
IDAHO STATE
- The Bengals went 2-0 this week with wins over Southern Utah and Northern Arizona.
- Saylair Grandon was named the Big Sky Ready Nutrition Player of the Week for her play in both game’s this week.
- The Bengals are shooting 44.8 percent from the floor to sit atop the conference in field goal percentage.
MONTANA
- The Grizzlies went 1-1 this week with a victory over Sacramento State and a loss to Portland State.
- Jace Henderson is leading Montana on the boards with an average of 7.5 rebounds per game this season.
- Montana is out rebounding their opponents by 2.2 rebounds per game which is third best in the conference.
MONTANA STATE
- The Bobcats went 1-1 this week with a victory over Sacramento State and a loss to Portland State.
- Claire Lundberg is third in the conference with 18.9 points per game this season.
- Lundberg currently leads the conference in three-point percentage and has hit 43 percent of them this season which is also ranks her? 43rd in the country.
NORTHERN ARIZONA
- Northern Arizona went 1-1 this week and picked up their first conference win of the year with a 74-64 victory over Weber State.
- Northern Arizona boasts the 18th best three-point shooting defense in the country sits atop the conference in that category.
NORTHERN COLORADO
- Northern Colorado remains the only unbeaten team in conference play and is sitting at 4-0 after picking up a pair of wins this past week.
- Ali Meyer has been a force on the boards this season for the Bears and is averaging 11.8 rebounds per game to make here the leagues top rebounder.
- Savannah Smith is the fourth best scorer in the league and is averaging 17.9 points per game this season.
PORTLAND STATE
- After a rough start to conference play the Vikings picked up two victories this week. Portland State defeated Montana and Montana State.
- Portland State is holding teams to an average of 58.5 points per game this season which gives them the best scoring defense in the league.
- Ashley Bolston is second in the conference in assists this season and is averaging 5.4 per game for the Vikings.
SACRAMENTO STATE
- The Hornets are one of two teams that have yet to win a game in conference play after suffering losses to Montana and Montana State this past week.
- The Hornets have the best scoring offense in the league and is averaging 76.5 points per game which is also the 41st best offense in the country.
- Kennedy Nicholas anchors the defensive end for the Hornets and is second in the conference with 11.5 rebounds per game this season.
SOUTHERN UTAH
- Southern Utah went 1-1 this week and picked up an 84-79 victory over Weber State.
- The Thunderbirds are active on defense and are averaging 9.1 steals per game this season which is third best in the conference.
- Harley Hansen and Rebecca Cardenas are in the top five in the conference in steals per game. Hansen is averaging 2.77 steals per game while Cardenas is averaging 2.1.
WEBER STATE
- Weber State is one of two teams in the conference that have yet to win a game in conference play. The Wildcats dropped two games this week to Southern Utah and Northern Arizona.
- Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman is ranked third in the league in assists with 5.4 assists per game this season.
This Week in the Big Sky
Thursday, January 10
Eastern Washington at Montana - 7:00 p.m MT
Idaho State at Weber State - 7:00 p.m. MT
Idaho at Montana State - 7:00 p.m. MT
Saturday, January 12
Northern Colorado at Montana - 2:00 p.m. MT
Southern Utah at Northern Arizona - 2:00 p.m. MT
Sacramento State at Idaho State - 2:00 p.m. MT
Portland State at Weber State - 2:00 p.m. MT
Monday, January 14
Montana State at Northern Colorado - 7:00 p.m. MT