#BigSkyWBB Weekly Notebook - Feb 2
WEEKLY NOTEBOOK (PDF)
OGDEN, Utah (February 20, 2019) -- With only six games to play in the regular season there is still a lot to be decided as we inch closer to the Big Sky Basketball Championships in Boise, Idaho.
- Two teams sit at the top of the standings after a week that saw most teams go 1-1 in their conference games. Portland State and Idaho both are tied for first place in the conference standings at 11-3.
- Idaho State and Northern Colorado both hold down the second place spot in the conference standings after last week and both team hold an 11-4 record.
- Savannah Smith earned her fourth Big Sky Player of the Week honor after a great week on the hardwood. Smith averaged 30.5 points this week and was active defensively with 3.5 steals.
- One key match up this week that will help clarify the standings as the season draws to a close will be Thursday evening when Portland State travels to Idaho State to take on the Bengals.
Eastern Washington
- The Eagles went 1-1 on the week against the two of the top teams in the conference. Eastern Washington defeated Northern Colorado to start their week and lost to Idaho in their final game.
- Violet Kapri Morrow averaged 23 points during the week and 9.5 rebounds.
- Eagles will host two games this week against Northern Arizona and Southern Utah as they remain in the hunt for one of the top five seeds in the post season tournament.
Idaho
- Went 1-1 on the week after dropping a game at Northern Colorado and then getting a win against Idaho.
- The Vandals are sitting in a tie for the first place in the standings along with Portland State.
- Mikayla Ferenz leads the team with an average of 22.2 points per game this season and is 61 points away from the Big Sky all-time scoring record.
Idaho State
- Went 1-1 this week on their Montana road swing and picked up a win against Montana State.
- Saylair Grandon and Estefania Ors are both approaching the 1,000 point mark in their careers and are both within range of obtaining that mark this season.
- The Bengals sit at 11-4 after this week in a tie for second place along with Northern Colorado.
Montana
- Montana went 2-0 this week and stayed in the hunt for a first round bye in the post season tournament. The Lady Grizz are currently 7-7 in conference play this season.
- Montana picked up a big win to finish the week against Idaho State in a 60-59 decision.
- Gabi Harrington led the way for the Lady Grizz and averaged 15.5 points and 9.0 rebounds this week. Harrington had a week high 18 points in their victory over Idaho State.
Montana State
- The Bobcats went 1-1 this week with a victory over Weber State to finish of their week.
- MSU is sitting as the fifth team in the conference with an 8-7 record and are battling with in-state rival Montana for a first round bye in the conference tournament.
- Madeline Smith led the Bobcats in their outings this week and had a game high 25 points in their victory over Weber State.
Northern Arizona
- Went 1-1 against Portland State and Sacramento State this week picking up a 71-69 victory over Sacramento State to finish of their week.
- NAU will hit the road as they travel to take on Idaho and Eastern Washington their games this week.
- Khiarica Rasheed continues to impress on the Lumberjacks squad as she averaged 18 points and 7.5 rebounds this past week.
Northern Colorado
- Northern Colorado was 1-1 this week with a loss at Eastern Washington and then picked up a win at home against Idaho.
- The Bears are one game back of the top spot in the conference standings and are in a tie for second place at 11-4 with Idaho State.
- Savannah Smith was named the Big Sky player of the week for the fourth time this season. She averaged 30.5 points and grabbed 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals, while dishing out 5.5 assists on the week.
Portland State
- Portland State was one of the few teams that went 2-0 this week as they picked up victories against Northern Arizona and Southern Utah.
- Portland State sits at the top of the table at 11-3 after this week and is in a tie with Idaho for the top spot.
- The Vikings are in the hunt for their 20th win of the season, which would be the first time the team has reached that bench mark since the 2010-2011 season.
Sacramento State
- Went 1-1 this weekend after picking up a win to start the week against Souther Utah in a 75-69 game.
- The Hornets were led by Hannah Friend this week and she picked up her 1,000th career NCAA Div. 1 point. Friend also averaged 21.3 points and 10.7 rebounds this week in two games.
Southern Utah
- Southern Utah was 0-2 this week after facing Portland State and Sacramento State.
- The Thunderbirds will travel to play Eastern Washington and Idaho in their game’s this week.
Weber State
- Weber State went 0-2 this week with losses to Montana and Montana State.
- Weber State will host Sacramento State and then travel to Idaho State to finish out their week.