This Week In WAC Women’s Basketball – Jan. 29

2024-25 WAC WBB Week 13 Release

GRAND CANYON’S SWEET 17

Grand Canyon is now the current holder of the second-longest active winning streak in NCAA D1 women’s basketball with 17 consecutive wins. With two wins last week against Southern Utah (79-51) and Utah Tech (78-43), GCU tied its single-season record of 17 straight wins, matching the record last reached in 2010-11. The Lopes also tied a program record for home victories in a single season (14). GCU is 40-8 at home since the 2022-23 season and has won at least 13 home games in each of the last three seasons. The Lopes received their best NET ranking in program history as they checked in at 68th and moved up to fourth in the Women’s Mid Major Top 25 Poll.

 

WOLVERINES WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT

Utah Valley kept its winning streak rolling as the Wolverines picked up wins over California Baptist (59-50) and Seattle U (99-55). UVU overcame a 10-point deficit on Thursday against CBU with a 17-point run that started in the third quarter and carried into the fourth quarter. The Wolverines were one point shy of reaching triple digits against SU on Saturday as six players reached double figures in the scoring category. Redshirt-senior guard Tahlia White led all scorers in both games and averaged 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.5 steals.

 

UT ARLINGTON RETURNS TO THE WIN COLUMN

UT Arlington rebounded from suffering its first conference loss with two wins last week over Seattle U (70-58) and Abilene Christian (71-52). With the win against ACU, the Lady Mavs improved to a perfect 8-0 home record, accomplishing the feat for the first time at the College Park Center and the first time since the 2007-08 season. Fifth-year forward Koi Love claimed her sixth WAC Newcomer of the Week honor after averaging 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals and shooting 55.6 percent from the field. Fellow fifth-year forward Avery Brittingham collected her league-leading eighth and ninth double-double last week, making herself one of only 31 players in the country to have at least nine double-doubles this year.

 

SOUTHERN UTAH’S CALIFORNIA COMEBACK

Southern Utah performed one of the biggest WAC comebacks of the year on Saturday against California Baptist as the Thunderbirds were looking at a 10-point deficit with nearly two and a half minutes left on the clock. Graduate guard Sydney Gandy hit a big three to begin the comeback run and graduate guard Daylani Ballena took over in the final two minutes, scoring seven points including the game-winning layup with three seconds remaining. Ballena’s game-winner capped off a 12-1 Thunderbird run as SUU came away with the 64-63 victory. Ballena posted a season-high 20 points and graduate guard Lexi Bull recorded a double-double with 10 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.

 

TIARRA BROWN GROWS HER GCU LEGACY

Two weeks after becoming Grand Canyon’s all time D1 scoring leader, graduate Tiarra Brown put herself atop the GCU record books once again by becoming the Lopes’ all-time rebounding leader with her 650th career board on Thursday night versus Southern Utah. That number surpassed the mark of 649 that was set in 1992-1996 by Channa Speckman. Brown had a career-high of 153 rebounds in the 2022-23 season and is eight more boards away from hitting the century mark this season.