Tuesday, December 4, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington is ranked sixth and Simon Fraser is ranked 12th in this week's USA Today Sports NCAA Division II Top 25 women's basketball poll.

The Vikings, who were ranked eighth last week, are unbeaten in six games.  The Clan (8-1) moved up four positions in this week's poll from 16th to 12th.

WWU and SFU are the two highest ranked teams from the West Region.  The only other West Region team ranked is Grand Canyon at No. 18.  Chico State, which is among "others receiving votes" and is 26th overall, is the highest ranked CCAA team in the poll.

Three GNAC teams are ranked among "others receiving votes" including Alaska Anchorage (35th), Seattle Pacific (48th) and Northwest Nazarene (52nd).

In this week's NCAA Division II national statistical report, Montana State Billings is ranked third in fewest turnovers per game (11.5). Alaska Anchorage is ranked fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.32), seventh in turnover margin (9.5) and eighth in three-point field goals made (9.2).  Western Washington is ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.24).  Seattle Pacific is 10th in three-point percentage (42.3).

Individually, Mariah Durian of Western Oregon is in a 12-way tie for first in free throw percentage, shooting 100 percent (21 of 21).

Also in the Top 10 are Sasha King of Alaska Anchorage and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe of Simon Fraser.  King is ranked third in assists (7.7).  Raincock-Ekunwe ranks fifth in double-doubles with five and eighth in field goal percentage (65.1).

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Dec. 2):  Team (Top 30): Scoring Defense – 20. Simon Fraser 52.4.  Scoring Margin – 27. Simon Fraser 20.4.  Field Goal PCT. – 20. Simon Fraser 46.4; 28. Western Washington 45.7.  Free Throw PCT. – 17. Alaska Anchorage 77.6; 25. Seattle Pacific 75.7.  Three-Point FGs – 8. Alaska Anchorage 9.2; 13. Central Washington 8.1.  Three-Point PCT. – 10. Seattle Pacific 42.3; 29. Saint Martin’s 38.1.  Assists – 17. Western Washington 18.3; 18.  Alaska Anchorage and Simon Fraser 18.0.   Blocked Shots – 17. Western Washington 5.1; 19. Simon Fraser 5.0. Fewest Turnovers – 3. Montana State Billings 11.5; 11. Alaska Anchorage 13.7; 25. Western Washington 14.7.  Fewest Fouls – 14. Montana State Billings 13.3.  Assist Turnover Ratio – 5. Alaska Anchorage 1.32; 9. Western Washington 1.24; 11. Simon Fraser 1.20; 16. Montana State Billings 1.14.  Turnover Margin  - 7. Alaska Anchorage 9.50; 17. Montana State Billings 7.38. Individuals (Top 30) – 26. Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB, 19.5.  Rebounds – 23. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 10.9.  Assists – 3. Sasha King, UAA, 7.7; 14. Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB, 5.8.  Blocked Shots – 28. Rebecca Langmead, SFU, and Jasmine Parker, CWU, 2.0.  Steals – 24. Sasha King, UAA, 3.50.  Field Goal PCT. – 8. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 65.1.  Free Throw PCT. – 1.  Mariah Durian, WOU, 100.0; 20. Erin Chambers, SFU, 93.4.  Assist/Turnover Ratio – 11. Suzanna Ohlsen, SPU, 2.88; 18. Sasha King, UAA, 2.56; 20. Corinn Waltrip, WWU, 2.50.  Double-Doubles – 5. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 5; 16. Dana Goularte, WOU, and Megan Hingston, NNU, 3.