Tuesday, February 12, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Simon Fraser moved back into the Top 10 in this week's USA Today Sports WBCA national basketball poll announced Tuesday.

The Clan, coming off a 74-59 win over Western Washington Saturday, climbed four spots to No. 8.  Meanwhile, the Vikings fell five positions to No. 9.  Northwest Nazarene joined the two in the Top 25 for the first time this season, debuting at No. 22.

The three are among five West Region teams in the Top 25.  Chico State from the CCAA is ranked 11th and Grand Canyon from the PacWest Conference is ranked 13th. 

The three GNAC teams have identical 17-3 overall records. In conference play, Western Washington (11-1) leads Simon Fraser (10-2) by one game and Northwest Nazarene (9-3) by two games.

In this week's NCAA Division II national statistical report. Simon Fraser's Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe remained No. 1 in field goal percentage (66.0), but Mariah Durian of Western Oregon, last week's national leader in free throw percentage, fell out of the rankings because she doesn't have enough attempts to qualify.

Raincock-Ekunwe is shooting 66.0 percent from the field.  She also ranks fifth nationally in rebounding, averaging 12.8 per game.  Durian is shooting (95.0 percent) from the foul line (57 of 60) and has made 13 straight, but needed 58 made free throws this week to meet the NCAA standard.

Five other GNAC players are nationally ranked in the Top 10.

Bobbi Knudsen of Montana State Billings ranks second (6.0) and Sasha King of Alaska Anchorage ranks fourth in assists (5.9).  Britt Harris of Western Washington ranks fifth in field goal percentage (60.1).  SFU's Erin Chambers ranks fourth in free throw percentage (90.3) and Corinn Waltrip of Western Washington ranks seventh in three-point percentage (43.9).

In team categories, Simon Fraser ranks third in field goal percentage (46.1) and assists (18.4) and 10th in scoring margin (17.5) and assist/turnover ratio (1.13).

Western Washington ranks fifth in assists (18.1) and eighth in field goal percentage (44.5) and assist/turnovers (1.15).  Seattle Pacific is the national leader in free throw percentage (79.4) and ranks eighth in three-point percentage (37.8).

Montana State Billings ranks second in fewest turnovers (11.4), third in assist/turnover ratio (1.26), eighth in turnover margin (6.83) and 10th in fewest fouls (13.4).

Alaska Anchorage ranks fifth in free throw percentage (76.7). Central Washington is 10th in three-point field goals (8.3).

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Feb. 10):  Team (Top 30): Scoring Offense – 27. Simon Fraser 72.4. Scoring Defense – 22. Simon Fraser 54.9.  Scoring Margin – 10. Simon Fraser 17.5; 30. Northwest Nazarene 11.5.  Field Goal PCT. – 3. Simon Fraser 46.1; 8. Western Washington 44.5; 28. Seattle Pacific 43.2.  Free Throw PCT. – 1. Seattle Pacific 79.4; 5. Alaska Anchorage 76.7; 28. Northwest Nazarene 74.4.  Rebound Margin – 12. Seattle Pacific 8.1; 20. Northwest Nazarene 7.3. Three-Point FGs – 10. Central Washington 8.3; 11. Alaska Anchorage 8.1; 12. Simon Fraser 7.9.  Three-Point PCT. – 8. Seattle Pacific 37.8. Assists – 3.  Simon Fraser 18.4; 5. Western Washington 18.1.  Blocked Shots – 30. Simon Fraser 4.7. Fewest Turnovers – 2. Montana State Billings 11.4; 23. Alaska Anchorage 14.9.  Fewest Fouls – 10. Montana State Billings 13.4; 24. Simon Fraser 14.0.  Assist Turnover Ratio – 3.   MSU Billings 1.26; 8. Western Washington 1.15; 10. Simon Fraser 1.13; 22. Alaska Anchorage 1.03.  Turnover Margin  - 8.  Montana State Billings 6.83; 30. Northwest Nazarene 4.50. Individuals (Top 30):   Scoring – 18. Megan Hingston, NNU, 18.8. Rebounds – 5. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 12.8.  Assists – 2. Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB, 6.0; 4. Sasha King, UAA, 5.9; 16. Kristina Collins, SFU, 5.1. Blocked Shots – 11. Jasmine Parker, CWU, 2.55.   Field Goal PCT. – 1. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 66.0; 5. Britt Harris, WWU, 60.1.  Free Throw PCT. – 4. Erin Chambers, SFU, 90.3; 11. Suzanna Ohlsen, SPU, 88.7; 14. Aubree Callen, SPU, 87.9.  Three-Point PCT. – 7. Corinn Waltrip, WWU, 43.9. Three-Pointers – 24. Jessica VanDyke, CWU, 2.65. Assist/Turnover Ratio – 3. Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB, 2.56.  Double-Doubles – 6. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 12; 11. Megan Hingston, NNU, 11.  Triple-Doubles – 2. Trishi Williams, WWU, 1.