Tuesday, February 5, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. - Western Washington and Simon Fraser each climbed one position and are ranked fourth and 12th, respectively, in this week's USA Today Sports NCAA Division II women's basketball poll.

Two other West Region teams are ranked in the Top 25 - Chico State (11th) and Grand Canyon (13th).  Northwest Nazarene (28th) and MSU Billings (40th) are among "others receiving votes" in the poll.

Western Washington (17-2, 11-0), which has won 11 straight, squares off against Simon Fraser (16-3, 9-2) in a GNAC game Saturday at Burnaby.  Meanwhile both Northwest Nazarene (15-3, 7-3) and MSU Billings (14-5, 8-3) hit the road for a pair of away games. 

The Crusaders visit Saint Martin's Thursday and Western Oregon Saturday, while MSUB visits Alaska Fairbanks Thursday and Alaska Anchorage Saturday.

In this week's NCAA Division II national statistical report, Simon Fraser's Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe is the national leader in field goal percentage  and ranks third in rebounding.

Raincock-Ekunwe had 33 rebounds in two games last week to raise her season average to 13.0.  She did join the 1,000-rebound club increasing her career total to 1,013 including her freshman season prior to the Clan joining the conference.  Her GNAC total is 901 which ranks fifth in conference history. 

She is shooting 66.3 percent from the floor which is on pace to smash the GNAC single-season record of 61.3 set by Vanessa Wyffels of Western Oregon during the 2007-08 season.  Raincock-Ekunwe, who also ranks sixth nationally in double-doubles with 12, set the GNAC single-season rebound record last year averaging 13.3 per game.

Nine other GNAC players rank in the Top 10 in a statistical category, including Mariah Durian of Western Oregon who continues to lead the nation in free throw percentage, shooting 94.6 percent.  Also in the Top 10 from the charity line are Chelsie Luke of Northwest Nazarene (7th, 90.4); Erin Chambers of Simon Fraser (8th, 89.7) and Suzanna Ohlsen of Seattle Pacific (9th, 89.3).

Bobbi Knudsen of Montana State Billings and Sasha King of Alaska Anchorage rank third (6.2) and fifth (5.9), respectively, in assists.  Britt Harris of Western Washington is fourth in field goal percentage (60.4).  Jasmine Parker of Central Washington is 10th in blocked shots (2.56), while Trishi Williams of Western Washington is tied for second in triple-doubles with one.

Sade Jackson of Adelphi is the only player in Division II with more than one triple-double and she has three.  Williams had her triple-double (11 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists), the first by a WWU player since the 1994-95 season, last Saturday in a 83-72 win over Alaska Anchorage.

NATIONAL STATISTICS (Through Feb. 3):  Team (Top 30): Scoring Offense – 27. Northwest Nazarene 72.9; 29. Western Washington 72.4. Scoring Defense – 20. Simon Fraser 54.7.  Scoring Margin – 11. Simon Fraser 17.6; 26. Western Washington 12.5; 30. Northwest Nazarene 11.7.  Field Goal PCT. – 4. Simon Fraser 46.2; 8. Western Washington 44.9.  Free Throw PCT. – 1. Seattle Pacific 79.4; 20. Alaska Anchorage 75.1; 29. Northwest Nazarene 74.4.  Rebound Margin – 15. Seattle Pacific 8.4; 21. Northwest Nazarene 7.4. Three-Point FGs – 8. Central Washington 8.6; 11. Alaska Anchorage 8.1; 13. Simon Fraser 7.8.  Three-Point PCT. – 7. Seattle Pacific 37.8; 22. Central Washington 35.8.  Assists – 3.  Simon Fraser 18.4; 6. Western Washington 18.3.  Blocked Shots – 26. Simon Fraser 4.7. Fewest Turnovers – 2. Montana State Billings 11.6.  Fewest Fouls – 9. Montana State Billings 13.2; 28. Simon Fraser 14.0.  Assist Turnover Ratio – 3.   MSU Billings 1.26; 6. Western Washington 1.17; 12. Simon Fraser 1.12.  Turnover Margin  - 5.  Montana State Billings 7.33. Individuals (Top 30):   Scoring – 30. Megan Hingston, NNU, 18.1. Rebounds – 3. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 13.0.  Assists – 3. Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB, 6.2; 5. Sasha King, UAA, 5.9; 19. Kristina Collins, SFU, 5.1; 27. Ally Schmitt, CWU, 4.9.   Blocked Shots – 10. Jasmine Parker, CWU, 2.56.   Field Goal PCT. – 1. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 66.3; 4. Britt Harris, WWU, 60.4.  Free Throw PCT. – 1.  Mariah Durian, WOU, 94.6; 7. Chelsie Luke, NNU, 90.4;  8. Erin Chambers, SFU, 89.7; 9. Suzanna Ohlsen, SPU, 89.3; 20. Aubree Callen, SPU, 88.0.  Three-Point PCT. – 12. Corinn Waltrip, WWU, 42.9. Three-Pointers – 20. Jessica VanDyke, CWU, 2.72. Assist/Turnover Ratio – 3. Bobbi Knudsen, MSUB, 2.55.  Double-Doubles – 6. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe, SFU, 12; 18. Megan Hingston, NNU, 9.  Triple-Doubles – 2. Trishi Williams, WWU, 1.