The CBU Lancers are undefeated in the regular season. GCU was picked to finish sixth but is the No. 3 seed at the WAC tournament. And both teams are represented well in the WAC Hoops Digest All-Conference Awards.
We’ve reached #WACVegas week which means it’s time to unveil our awards for the 2020-21 campaign.
Co-Coaches of the Year
Jarrod Olson (CBU) & Molly Miller (GCU)
What Olson Did
CBU’s accomplishments in 2020-21 speak for themselves. It’s the second undefeated regular season conference championship in Olson’s tenure (’16-’17, PacWest, team went on and won the Conference Tournament). While in the midst of this campaign, Olson earned his 200th win as Lancers head coach and CBU holds the No. 1 seed at the WAC tournament. CBU will make a second WNIT appearance in three years under his tutelage.
What Miller Did
Stepping into a new program under normal circumstances (and jumping levels) isn’t easy. Molly Miller did so in the early stages of a pandemic and without the benefit of a 2020 recruiting class left behind by her predecessor. When camp opened, the Lopes had one returning starter in Laura Pierra and were picked sixth in preseason polls. As the dust settled in early March, her first team earned the 3-seed for this week’s WAC Tournament (two wins from 2nd after not playing Chicago State). They are among the national leaders in turnovers forced and steals per game in 2021.
Newcomer & Freshman of the Year
Katie Scott (GCU)
Scott, Missouri’s HS Player of the Year as a senior, made a splash in her first collegiate campaign as the league’s overall scoring leader. GCU’s freshman star also top-4 in scoring during WAC play. Scott has recorded nine games of twenty or more points (three during conference play) while leading the WAC in 3-point percentage and finishing second in free throw percentage.
Player of the Year
Ane Olaeta (CBU)
Behind every successful basketball team is a great point guard. Ane Olaeta fits the bill for CBU playing 71 percent of possible minutes and averaging 11.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 7.8 APG, and 1.9 SPG in just under 31 minutes per night in WAC play. Olaeta recorded a current season-high of 26 points on 11-18 FG’s (3-3 from beyond the arc) in the Lancers second win over Grand Canyon on February 20, securing a sole regular season title.
All-WAC First Team
Note…Player & Newcomer of the Year are automatically considered 1st Team selections
California Baptist University
Caitlyn Harper, Britney Thomas and Ane Olaeta
Utah Valley University
Josie Williams and Maria Carvalho
Grand Canyon University
Katie Scott, Laura Pierra and Tiarra Brown
New Mexico State University
Roderea Echols and Soufia Inoussa
Seattle University
McKenzi Williams and Bree Calhoun
UTRGV
Sarah Bershers and Amara Graham
Tarleton State
Melissa Escamilla and Iyanna Dorsey
All-WAC Second Team
California Baptist University
Taylor Wu and Sydney Palma
Utah Valley University
Nehaa Sohail
Grand Canyon University
Taylor Caldwell
New Mexico State University
Aalyiah Prince
Seattle University
Georgia Kehoe
UTRGV
Jordan Graham
Tarleton State
Emily Cunningham
Chicago State
Nadia Thurman-McKey
All-Newcomer Team
California Baptist University
Brittany Klaman and Nicole Avila-Ambrosi
Grand Canyon University
Katie Scott, Tiarra Brown and Ny’Dajah Jackson
Utah Valley University
Shay Fano and Kayla Anderson
New Mexico State
Molly Kaiser
Seattle University
Bree Calhoun
UTRGV
Jordan Lewis
Tarleton State
Marissa Escamilla, Emily Cunningham & Iyanna Dorsey
Chicago State
Nadia Thorman-McKey
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