Welcome to Vaquero Radio’s first Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball power rankings of the 2020-21 conference season. This will be a weekly ranking of all eight WAC basketball programs, excluding ninth Dixie State due to the postponement of its season. In each publication, I will review the team’s week and provide a case for each ranking.
Please Keep In Mind:
- Without saying but for the people in the back, although this list is subjective, I will rank teams based on stats, schedules, gameplay and storylines. Ultimately, this is done in good spirit because who doesn’t like ranking things from best to worst.
- Team records are not a determining factor for ranking a team higher or lower.
- Nearly every aspect of a team will be looked at in the rankings, such as injuries, COVID-19 (although I hope these remain at a minimum throughout conference play), opponents and how a game played out.
- For example, Team B beat Team A and Team C beat Team B, so Team C is better than Team A is not a valid argument for ranking.
1. California Baptist University (Last Week: N/A) 8-0:
When you have the possible WAC Player of the Year Ane Olaeta averaging 13 points, five rebounds and eight assists per game and leading the Lancers to a perfect 8-0 record, it is simply a no-contest for the No. 1 spot. I really don’t have to say more.
An interesting note, to start the 2019-20 season, California Baptist jumped out to a 7-0 season start and promptly lost 10 of their next 11 games which included an 0-4 WAC start against four of the top five teams, New Mexico State, UTRGV, CSU Bakersfield (now in the Big West Conference) and Grand Canyon. It will be interesting to see if it can keep its undefeated momentum going into conference play.
The Lancers are not eligible for postseason play as they make the transition from DII to DI but both basketball programs have set strong foundations to become a consistent powerhouse in the WAC.
2. Grand Canyon University (Last Week: N/A) 8-1:
Traditionally, when a new head coach takes over a program, a team will struggle in its first season. However, Molly Miller has a solid foundation of players that have played together over the past two seasons, added talented freshmen to her team and was only a one-point, 84-83, loss against Southern Utah from a perfect start.
Center Katie Scott has been nothing short of spectacular, leading the WAC in scoring at 20 points per game and shooting a mind-boggling 60% from the field, 60% (9-15) from the 3-point line and 80% from the line. A beast down low that you can’t foul but also has the ability to step out and fire from long range to keep you honest.
The scary part is that she is only a freshman that will get better as she continues to play against DI talent.
3. Utah Valley University (Last Week: N/A) 2-1:
Only having played three games does hurt the Wolverines, as they hadn’t had the time to play and face multiple game scenarios that only a competitive DI game can have.
I am going to bank on the talents of guard Maria Carvalho and center Josie Williams, both preseason WAC selections in the coaches’ poll.
Once they play their first conference game against a very talented and undefeated California Baptist team, I’ll be more accurately able to see where they stand.
4. UTRGV (Last Week: N/A) 4-2:
UTRGV is equally the most heart-attack-inducing and entertaining team to watch this year in the non-conference season. All four of their victories have come with high-scoring fourth quarters, in which the Vaqueros are outscoring opponents 92-55.
Similar to the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL, this team will keep you on the edge of your seat for three solid quarters until the final frame of play where it closes it out.
At times, you would like to see a more complete game in which the team dominates from start to end but with injuries to key players, such as guard Valeria Tapia, center Burcu Soysal and guard Sara Bershers, it has thrusted a young squad with few veterans to play big minutes and the Vaquero have responded at the last minute, but responded.
When Head Coach Lane Lord gets some veteran players back from injury, this team could make a jump in the power rankings, but most importantly, it’ll give players, such as guards Amara Graham and Jena’ Williams who are currently averaging 37 and 34 minutes per game, some much needed rest.
5. Seattle U (Last Week: N/A) 3-5:
Although their win-loss column isn’t the most impressive, the Redhawks have consistently played in a season that has seen a vast majority of games being cancelled or postponed. Compared to Utah Valley and Chicago State, the Redhawks have their sea legs under them and that should be a benefit once conference season double-headers start for them on Jan. 15 and 16 against the Wolverines.
Junior guard McKenzi Williams is a 5-foot-5 professional bucket getter. She is averaging 17 points and shooting a jaw-dropping 45%-52%-83% on the season and set a program single-game scoring record dropping 36 on the road against Idaho.
Last year, her stats didn’t take a hit once conference season started, but Williams wasn’t a key part of the offense. Yet, with plenty of game film to study and conference coaches familiar with Head Coach Suzy Barcomb’s system, it’ll be interesting to see if she can keep scoring at this pace.
6. New Mexico State University (Last Week: N/A) 2-5:
With two overtime losses against hated rival UTEP and its lone DI victory against Denver, which went 2-8 in its non-conference schedule, it is definitely a tough start for a team we are used to seeing at the end of the season being crowned WAC champions.
Although I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, like I did the men’s team, due to their history and the tough 2020 year they’ve had with COVID-19-related issues–which I can only imagine has been tough on everyone–I couldn’t bring myself to do it looking at their fourth-quarter numbers.
Excluding their 92-38 victory against NAIA Park University Gilbert, the Aggies have been outscored in the fourth quarter 117-76, the most embarrassing of these a 22-3 fourth quarter in a 54-46 loss against Pepperdine, in which they were leading by nine to start the final quarter.
I want to like this team and they’ve definitely made me eat my words before, but I need to see them come alive in the fourth before I can move them up.
7. Tarleton State (Last Week: N/A) 3-6:
The adjustment from DII to DI comes with varying results at each institution. In 2018-19 California Baptist went 11-5 in conference its first season and finished as the second seed, but the Texans have struggled thus far against DI talent, falling in each one of their matchups.
It is encouraging to see that they have stomped on the non-DI opponents with a 76-50 win, 80-39 triumph and a dominant 95-27 victory.
They have pummeled teams they are supposed to beat but that isn’t enough to get higher than seventh in this week’s power rankings.
8. Chicago State (Last Week: N/A) 0-3:
Between postponed games and blowout losses, Chicago State will start the conference season ranked last.
You could make an argument that Tarleton State could be here but, one, please re-read rule No. 1 and No. 2 up top, and two, the Cougars average margin of loss this season has been by 33 points while Tarleton State has been almost half of that at 15.
While both teams have yet to notch a victory against a DI opponent, Chicago State’s games have been blowouts with a possible exception of a 70-57 loss against Loyola Chicago, in which it trailed by 19 to start the fourth and held the Ramblers scoreless for the last 3:19 minutes of the game.
