#BigSkyWBB Weekly Notebook - Feb 12
WEEKLY NOTEBOOK (PDF)
OGDEN, Utah (February 12, 2019) -- Some clarity is beginning to make its way into the women's basketball standings but with another key match up this week that has the potential to change.
- Idaho emerged as the leader in the standings this week after picking up a pair of wins to improve to 10-2 in conference play.
- Three teams are right behind the Vandals with three losses in league play.
- Idaho and Northern Colorado face off against each other this weekend. Saturday’s game is one that could have big repercussions on the league standings. Northern Colorado has already defeated Idaho once this season and a victory would give the Bears the tie breaker in that match up.
- Portland State and Idaho were both receiving votes in this week’s Collegeinsider.com Mid Major Pool.
- Portland State’s Sidney Rielly was named the Big Sky Player of the Week for her performance last week against Northern Colorado and Sacramento State
?Eastern Washington
- The Eagles went 1-1 on their against the Montana schools this week. After opening the week with a loss to Montana State, Eastern Washington responded with a three-point victory over Montana.
- Violet Kapri Morrow ranks third in the conference in points scored this season with an average of 19.0 points per game this year.
Idaho
- Idaho moved to the top of the standings this week after going 2-0 with wins against Montana and Montana State.
- Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce continue to be lights out from behind the three point line. Pierce currently ranks as the top three-point shooter in the country and is averaging 4.57 per game this year.
- Ferenz is 116 points away from being the Big Sky women’s basketball all-time leading scorer.
Idaho State
- The Bengals suffered their third loss in conference play to start the week when they faced off against Northern Arizona. Idaho State now sits at 10-3 in a two way tie for second place.
- Idaho State rebounded in their second game of the week with an 80-47 victory over Southern Utah.
- The Bengals continue to have one of the best defenses in the conference and only allows 59.1 points per game this season to opposing teams.
Montana
- The Lady Grizzlies went 0-2 this week as they suffered losses to Eastern Washington and Idaho this past week.
- Jace Henderson is one of the leagues leading rebounders ranking fourth this season. Henderson is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game this season.
Montana State
- The Bobcats split their games this week after picking up a win against Eastern Washington and suffering a loss to Idaho.
- Claire Lundberg leads the team in offensive production this season and is averaging 17.0 points per game this year.
Northern Arizona
- The Lumberjacks picked up two wins this week including an impressive win against Idaho State. Northern Arizona had to come from behind in the fourth quarter in their second game of the week to pick up the victory against Weber State.
- Northern Arizona has the fifth best scoring offense in the conference this season and is averaging 66 points per game this season.
Northern Colorado
- The Bears went 1-1 on the week to sit in a tie for second place in the standings. Northern Colorado suffered a loss to Portland State before bouncing back for a double digit victory over Sacramento State in their second game of the week.
- Northern Colorado has three different players that rank in the top two in the conference in either points, rebounds, or assists. Savannah Smith leads the team in points per game with an average of 20.1. Ali Meyer is second in the conference with an average of 11.3 rebounds per game, Krystal Leger-Walker leads the conference in assists with 5.8 per game this year.
- Northern Colorado is currently out rebounding their opponents by 3.2 rebounds per game this season which the best of any team in the conference
Portland State
- The Vikings went 2-0 this week and improved to 9-3 in conference play after picking up wins against Northern Colorado and Sacramento State.
- The Vikings’ Sidney Rielly was named this week’s Big Sky Player of the Week for here performance in both games this week.
- Rielly is the team’s leading scorer and eight best offensive player in the conference this season. Rielly is averaging 16.2 points per game this season.
Sacramento State
- The Hornets went 0-2 on the week with losses to Northern Colorado and Portland State
- Sacramento State currently has the third best scoring offense in the conference and is averaging 70.2 points per game but is also allowing 80.6 points to opposing teams, which is the worst in the conference.
Southern Utah
- The Thunderbirds suffered a pair of road losses to Weber State and Idaho State this week.
- Southern Utah has one of the better defenses against the three-point shot. The Thunderbirds are holding opponents to 28.1 percent from behind the three point line which is tied for the best in the league.
Weber State
- The Wildcats split their games this week as they picked up their second win in conference play against Southern Utah.
- Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman is one of the conference leaders in assists and is averaging 5.3 assists per game this season.