Tuesday, January 15, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington, which defeated Simon Fraser 59-57 Saturday to snap the Clan's eight-game win streak, moved up three slots and is ranked eighth in this week's USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 coaches' poll.

The Vikings are the top-ranked West Region team in the poll.  Simon Fraser fell from  seventh to 10th with its loss.  The CCAA's Chico State is ranked 13th and PacWest member Grand Canyon is ranked 18th.

Two other GNAC teams - Montana State Billings (44th overall) and Northwest Nazarene (45th overall) - were among "others receiving votes".

Ashland (Ohio) remained in the No. 1 position receiving all 31 first-place votes.

In this week's NCAA Division II national statistical report, Simon Fraser's Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe and Western Oregon's Mariah Durian are among the national leaders.

Raincock-Ekunwe tops Division II in field goal percentage, shooting 66.9 percent.  She also ranks second in rebounding, averaging 13.4 per game and is sixth in double-doubles with nine.

Both her field goal percentage  and rebound marks are on pace to set GNAC single season records.  She set the rebounding record last year averaging 13.3 per game. The field goal record of 61.3 was set by Vanessa Wyffels of Western Oregon during the 2007-08 season.

Durian leads Division II in free throw percentage converting on 93.8 percent of her attempts.  SFU's Erin Chambers ranks seventh in free throw percentage, making 91.3 percent.

Other Top 10 ranked players include Bobbi Knudsen of MSU Billings, Sasha King of Alaska Anchorage and Ally Schmitt of Central Washington.

Knudsen ranks third in assists (6.4) and assist/turnover ratio (2.71).  She had a school-record tying 13 assists last Saturday against Alaska Fairbanks.  King ranks fourth (6.4) and Schmitt ranks eighth (5.8) in assists.

In team categories, Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific are the top ranked teams.  The Yellowjackets are second in turnover margin (7.94) and third in both fewest turnovers (11.7) and assist/turnover ratio (1.27).  SPU ranks third in free throw percentage (79.6).  The Falcons also rank eighth in rebounding (10.5).

Simon Fraser ranks seventh in field goal percentage (45.9) and assists (18.3), eighth in scoring margin (19.5) and 10th in scoring defense (53.3).

Alaska Anchorage ranks fifth in free throw percentage (78.5), sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.19) and ninth in three-pointers made (8.8) and turnover margin (6.92).  Central Washington ranks fifth in three-pointers (9.0).

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Jan. 13):  Team (Top 30): Scoring Offense – 20. Northwest Nazarene 74.9; 22. Seattle Pacific 74.7. Scoring Defense – 10. Simon Fraser 53.3.  Scoring Margin – 8. Simon Fraser 19.5.  Field Goal PCT. – 7. Simon Fraser 45.9; 22. Seattle Pacific 43.9.  Free Throw PCT. – 3. Seattle Pacific 79.6; 5. Alaska Anchorage 78.5; 12. Northwest Nazarene 76.9.  Rebound Margin – 8. Seattle Pacific 10.5; 23. Northwest Nazarene 7.7. Three-Point FGs – 5. Central Washington 9.0; 9. Alaska Anchorage 8.8; 20. Simon Fraser 7.6.  Three-Point PCT. – 12. Seattle Pacific 38.1; 26. Western Oregon 35.8.  Assists – 7.  Simon Fraser 18.3; 16. Western Washington 17.3; 26. Alaska Anchorage 16.5.  Blocked Shots – 22. Simon Fraser 4.8. Fewest Turnovers – 3. Montana State Billings 11.7; 12. Alaska Anchorage 13.9.  Fewest Fouls – 11. Montana State Billings 13.2.  Assist Turnover Ratio – 3.   MSU Billings 1.27; 6. Alaska Anchorage 1.19; 15. Simon Fraser 1.11; 16. Western Washington 1.09.  Turnover Margin  - 2.  Montana State Billings 7.94; 9. Alaska Anchorage 6.92. Individuals (Top 30):   Rebounds – 2. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 13.4.  Assists – 3. Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB, 6.4; 4. Sasha King, UAA, 6.4; 8. Ally Schmitt, CWU, 5.8; 30. Kristina Collins, SFU., 4.9.  Blocked Shots – 18. Jasmine Parker, CWU, 2.15.  Steals – 27. Sasha King, UAA, 3.08.  Field Goal PCT. – 1. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 66.9.  Free Throw PCT. – 1.  Mariah Durian, WOU, 93.8; 7. Erin Chambers, SFU, 91.3; 12. Suzanna Ohlsen, SPU, 89.4.  Three-Pointers – 27. Jessica VanDyke, CWU, 2.69. Assist/Turnover Ratio – 3. Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB, 2.71; 21. Suzanna Ohlsen, SPU, 2.11.  Double-Doubles – 6. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 9; 25. Megan Hingston, NNU, 6.