WBB: Fabulous Freshman, WAC/CUSA Scheduling Initiative Update, and More
We take a look at some big time freshman, WAC/CUSA update, and College Insider women's poll.
How many freshman guards around the country can claim they had back-to-back 30-point games followed by a 25-point performance? Or, how many freshman guards play a key role on a team that is unbeaten through the first month and a half of the season?
Yeah, the WAC has some really good freshman that we will get to in this newsletter.
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Okay, now back to the newsletter.
December is a big month for the WAC. Especially in terms of the WAC/Conference USA Scheduling Initiative. 13 games take place and it is time over the next two weeks. And it is time to see some separation in the challenge.
Along with that, some WAC teams are getting some pub in the recent College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 poll.
Impact Freshman:
One of my favorite parts of the new year is to see which program’s freshman will make their mark over these first couple of weeks in a new campaign.
Here’s a group of four freshman to keep your eyes on as we work our way through these last couple of weeks of non-conference play and back into league play.
Khloe Lemon, California Baptist, G
Lemon is this week’s WAC Newcomer of the Week for the undefeated Lancers after averaging 11.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in wins over Utah Tech and Pepperdine.
In St. George last Wednesday, Lemon had a career night with 15 points while connecting on four of seven shots from beyond the arc. Lemon also pulled down five rebounds.
Over CBU’s first eight games, Lemon averaged just under 22 minutes of playing time per contest and is recording 9.4 points along with 3.9 rebounds while shooting 35.4% from the field (28% from 3-point range).
Ava Uhrich, Southern Utah, F
Uhrich has impressed early on in her Thunderbirds career, averaging 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 25 minutes played per contest.
Going into their game on Saturday against Utah, Uhrich is second on the team in total field goal percentage at 55.2% and is the team’s top 3-point shooter at 40%.
Uhrich has been in double digit scoring five times so far with a career day against California Baptist in their WAC opener of 18 points and 14 rebounds.
She’s given Megan Smith help in the paint for a Southern Utah team looking to overcome a slow start and make headway in their WAC title defense.
Payton Hull, Abilene Christian, G
Ever since a Thanksgiving trip to Annapolis for the Navy Classic, Hull has found her stride. Against the Midshipmen in the event’s finale, Hull had a career day with 34 points, hitting nine 3-pointers in the win. Hull also pulled down seven rebounds in 33 minutes.
On the year Hull has been in double digit scoring seven times, averaging 16.9 PPG on 48.6% field goal shooting (42.6% from 3-point range) in 28 minutes per contest.
Faith Acker, Tarleton, C
Acker missed the Texans first four games of the year but made a splash in her first two conference games, with a pair of double-doubles as Tarleton split against Stephen F. Austin and UTRGV.
In her two conference games so far, Acker is averaging 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in 18 minutes.
Acker’s career day came in a road game at UTRGV where the Texans rallied for a road win. Acker had 20 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes of action.
Although she has struggled in her last couple of contests, when the consistency comes the potential is there for Acker to be an upper tier post player in the WAC.
WAC/CUSA Scheduling Initiative Results:
As non-conference play resumes after two conference games, the WAC/Conference USA scheduling initiative will also pick up.
After the early matchups, which came before WAC play started, CUSA holds a 3-2 lead. The three wins for CUSA came by an average margin of 6.0 points and the average margin of victory in five games was 7.2 points.
Here are the remaining games:
Saturday, Dec. 16
Utah Valley at New Mexico State
Sunday, Dec. 17
Stephen F. Austin at Middle Tennessee
Monday, Dec. 18
California Baptist at Louisiana Tech
Abilene Christian at Western Kentucky
Tuesday, Dec. 19
UT Arlington at Jacksonville State
Wednesday, Dec. 20
Grand Canyon at Liberty
Thursday, Dec. 21
Sam Houston at Utah Valley
Saturday, Dec. 30
Utah Tech at Florida International
Louisiana Tech at Abilene Christian
UTRGV at Sam Houston
Southern Utah at UTEP
New Mexico State at UT Arlington
Middle Tennessee at Grand Canyon
Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Poll Update:
Three WAC teams find themselves in the most recent Collegeinsider.com women’s basketball mid-major poll.
Grand Canyon, after their first win over a power conference team in program history on Friday at crosstown rival Arizona State, moved one spot to 17th.
After surviving a tough shooting night at Pepperdine on Saturday with an impressive defensive effort including 31 forced Waves turnovers, undefeated CBU moves from 25th to 20th.
Making their first appearance in the poll this year is Stephen F. Austin at 41st after the Ladyjacks defeated Portland (26th this week) and scared Alabama before falling in Tuscaloosa.
It’s a big stretch for our women’s teams with matchups in that poll. SFA will play 14th-ranked Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro on Sunday.
Also, next Wednesday, GCU will make the trip to Lynchburg to face Liberty (this week 40th).
Great stuff. Keep it coming. 🪓🪓🪓