SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - A trio of road games against Pac-12 opponents in Arizona, Washington, and Oregon highlight this week's action in West Coast Conference women's basketball.
Fast Facts
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Lucy Cochrane of Portland leads the nation in blocked shots per game (5). She is the only Division I player to have double-digit blocks on the season.
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Jasmine Gayles of San Francisco ranks sixth in the NCAA in points (68) and is No. 24 in scoring average (22.7 ppg).
Gonzaga is currently on a 21 home game winning streak, which ranks third in the country only behind UNLV (24) and South Carolina (43).
Five Zags are averaging double digits in scoring including Kaylynne Truong (16), Yvonne Ejim (19) Kayleigh Truong (15), Eliza Hollingsworth (10.7), and Brynna Maxwell (10.7).
Ejim joins an elite group having surpassed both the 1,000-point and 500-rebound career milestones last week.
Kaylynne Truong was one of 20 point guards in the country named to the Nancy Lieberman Award watch list. Brynna Maxwell was also one of 20 shooting guards in the country named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award watch list.
Lisa Fortier was recently named to the 2024 Kathy Delaney-Smith Coach of the Year Award preseason watch list. This year's watch list includes coaches from 16 conferences.
Ejim, Maxwell, and Kaylynne Truong were named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Becky Hammon Player of the Year Award. Gonzaga is the only team with multiple players on the watch list and becomes the first team to ever place three players on a single list.
Portland head coach Michael Meek has reached at least 20 wins three of the past four seasons and brings four of five starters back from last year in Maisie Burnham, Emme Shearer, Lucy Cochrane, and McKelle Meek.
Micheal Meek and McKelle Meek are one of the few father-daughter duos in NCAA women's basketball.
Portland hit 10 3-pointers in their season opener, the most they've had in a season opener. It was also the most made threes of any WCC team in their respective season openers.
NCAA.com had an article "10 Best Rim Protectors in Women's College Basketball Ahead of the 2023-24 Season" written in October that featured Lucy Cochrane of Portland No. 4. on their list.
Three Tigers are averaging double figures in points. Liz Smith leads with 18.5 points per game while Cecilia Holmberg is at 13.0 and Elizabeth Elliott is tallying 11.0 points per game.
Pacific leads the Conference in defensive rebounds with 33.0 per game.
The Tigers are ranked top three in scoring margin (14.5, second), scoring defense (55.5 per game, second), free throw percentage (76.5%, third), combined rebounds (84, third), blocks (10, third) and assists (40, third).
Kasey Neubert is already off to a hot start, tallying back-to-back double doubles while Harsimran Kaur is off to a very efficient start from the field, scoring in double figures in both games and leading the WCC in field goal percentage at 71.4 percent.
On defense, the Toreros are allowing just 40.5 points per game from the field which ranks in the top 10 nationally and are holding opponents to just 23 percent from the field which is fifth nationally.
Neubert stands eight rebounds away from 600 in her career.
Saint Mary's first-year head coach Jeff Cammon earned his first win of the season against UC San Diego in the Gaels home opener. Ali Bamberger crossed the 1,000-point mark in her career in the contest.
For Santa Clara, Tess Heal is the leading scorer, averagin 17.0 ppg. Olivia Pollerd is second with 9.0 ppg and has added 4.0 rpg. Marya Hudgins' 7.3 rpg lead the team and Keeley Frawley is second with 5.3 rpg.
The Broncos have seven international players on the roster. Keeley Frawley, Olivia Pollerd, Lara Edmanson, Jayde Cadee, and Tess Heal are from Australia while Georgia Gringoropoulou and Rafailia Stergaki are from Greece.
Jasmine Gayles of San Francisco reached double figures for the third-straight game. The Dons had four players finish in double figures at Arizona State led by Cami Fulcher's career-high 18 points.
Nevada transfer Da'Ja Hamilton and Amaya Oliver are averaging double figures for LMU. Hamilton leads the Lions with 12.5 ppg while Oliver is averaging 11.0 points.
Defense has been Pepperdine's calling card as of late. The Waves rank second in the WCC in scoring defense (52.3 ppg), and third in defensive field goal percentage (30.9%) and defensive three-point field goal percentage (23.3%).
Pepperdine's 39.6% clip from thre is the second-best in the league, thanks to Jane Nwaba (50.0 3FG%) and Addi Melone (41.7 3FG%).
Over the first week of the season, transfer Myra Gordon has led the Waves with 12.3 ppg, which ranks 12th in the WCC. She has finished in double figures in both games against Division I opponents, and has recorded career-high in scoring (17 points), assists (five), and steals (five) in her first three games as a Wave.