Tuesday, December 11, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. - Simon Fraser has earned its first Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top 10 national ranking.

The Clan (8-1) were idle last week, but took advantages of losses by teams ranked ahead of them to climb three spots and earn a No. 9 national ranking in the USA Today Sports NCAA Division II Top 25 poll.

Western Washington (6-2) dropped from sixth to 21st in the poll after dropping a pair of games in the Chico West Regional Classic at Chico, Calif.

Three other GNAC teams received votes in the poll, including Alaska Anchorage (38th overall), Seattle Pacific (41st) and Montana State Billings (47th).

In addition to the poll, Simon Fraser appears prominently in this week's NCAA Division II national statistical report.

The Clan is ranked ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.20), 11th in field goal percentage (46.4), 12th in assists (18.0), 17th in blocked shots (5.0), 18th in scoring defense (52.4), 23rd in scoring margin (20.4) and 28th in both three-point field goals made (7.4) and fewest turnovers (15.0).

Individually, SFU's Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe ranks fifth in field goal percentage (65.1), seventh in double-doubles (5) and 14th in rebounding (10.9).  She needs two more double-doubles to match the GNAC career double-double record of 48. 

SFU's Erin Chambers ranks 12th in free throw percentage (93.4) and the Clan's Rebecca Langmead ranks 29th in blocked shots (2.0).

GNAC teams ranked in the Top 10 in a statistical category in addition to SFU include Montana State Billings (2nd, fewest turnovers, 11.7; 9th in assist/turnover ratio, 1.20); Alaska Anchorage (3rd, assist/turnover ratio, 1.32; 4th, three-point FGs, 9.2; 5th, turnover margin, 9.50; 10th, fewest turnovers, 13.7), and Seattle Pacific (9th, three-point PCT., 40.4).

Individuals in the Top 10 include Mariah Durian of Western Oregon, tied for first in free throw percentage (21 of 21, 100.0); Sasha King of Alaska Anchorage (2nd, assists, 7.7); Suzanna Ohlsen of Seattle Pacific (2nd, assist/turnover ratio, 3.56), and Bobbi Knudsen of MSU Billings (7th, assists, 6.1).

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Dec. 9)

Team (Top 30): Scoring Defense – 18. Simon Fraser 52.4.  Scoring Margin – 23. Simon Fraser 20.4.  Field Goal PCT. – 11. Simon Fraser 46.4; 26. Seattle Pacific 44.9.  Free Throw PCT. – 13. Alaska Anchorage 77.6; 16. Seattle Pacific 77.3.  Rebound Margin – 27. Seattle Pacific 9.1. Three-Point FGs – 4. Alaska Anchorage 9.2; 14. Central Washington 8.1; 28. Simon Fraser 7.4.  Three-Point PCT. – 9. Seattle Pacific 40.4.  Assists – 12.  Alaska Anchorage and Simon Fraser 18.0; 21. Western Washington 17.4.  Blocked Shots – 17. Simon Fraser 5.0; 24. Western Washington 4.7. Fewest Turnovers – 2. Montana State Billings 11.7; 10. Alaska Anchorage 13.7; 28. Simon Fraser 15.0.  Fewest Fouls – 30. Montana State Billings 13.9.  Assist Turnover Ratio – 3. Alaska Anchorage 1.32; 9. MSU Billings and Simon Fraser 1.20; 20. Western Washington 1.08.  Turnover Margin  - 5. Alaska Anchorage 9.50; 13. Montana State Billings 7.89.

Individuals (Top 30) – 26. Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB, 19.4.  Rebounds – 14. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 10.9.  Assists – 2. Sasha King, UAA, 7.7; 7. Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB, 6.1.  Blocked Shots – 29. Rebecca Langmead, SFU, and Jasmine Parker, CWU, 2.0.  Steals – 23. Sasha King, UAA, 3.50.  Field Goal PCT. – 5. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 65.1.  Free Throw PCT. – 1.  Mariah Durian, WOU, 100.0; 12. Erin Chambers, SFU, 93.4.  Assist/Turnover Ratio – 2. Suzanna Ohlsen, SPU, 3.56; 15. Sasha King, UAA, 2.56.  Double-Doubles – 7. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 5; 29. Dana Goularte, WOU, and Megan Hingston, NNU, 3.