WEEK'S RECAP
Conference play began this week, with eight of the nine teams opening league play on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Utah and No. 21/22 Wyoming won their first conference road games of the season, defeating Air Force (60-50) and New Mexico (58-52), respectively. UNLV held off Colorado State (57-55) at home, while TCU cruised by San Diego State (86-63).
TV TIDBITS
The Mountain West Conference has 32 games on regional and national television this season. Twenty-five games will be shown on the MountainWest Sports Network - The Mtn., and nine games broadcast live nationally on CSTV: College Sports Television and VERSUS.
The TCU at Wyoming match-up on January 12 will be televised live on The Mtn. beginning at 1 p.m. MT. The TCU at New Mexico game on January 15 will also be televised live at 6:30 p.m. MT on The Mtn.
1,000+ THIS SEASON
Seven active MWC student-athletes have already reached the 1,000+ point mark this season. New Mexico's Dionne Marsh broke the 1,000-point barrier against Siena on Nov. 25, 2006, earning 1,006 points in 69 games, making her the second-fastest player in MWC history to reach 1,000 points (1,595 total points). Utah's Kim Smith tallied 1,000 points in only 61 games. Wyoming's Hanna Zavecz (1,526), UNLV's Sequoia Holmes (1,217), BYU's Mallary Gillespie-Carling (1,172), TCU's Adrianne Ross (1,159 as a member of the MWC) and Colorado State's Sara Hunter (1,031) have each reached the milestone. Air Force's Alecia Steele reached 1,000+ career points, becoming only the second Air Force player in DI history to achieve the milestone (1,110 career points).
IN THE POLLS
Wyoming is nationally ranked for the sixth consecutive week. The Cowgirls are ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press poll and No. 22 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll. Utah is receiving votes in both polls.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Wyoming is currently riding a 14-game home win streak, good enough to rank fifth in the nation. The Lobos have also captured 40 of 43 league victories at The Pit dating back to Jan. 17, 2002. Conference foe TCU also is enjoying its home court, winning 28 of its last 30 contests in the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
FIRST IN THE NATION
The MWC holds the top spot in two national rankings this week. New Mexico's Amy Beggin ranks No. 1 in the nation for her assist/turnover ratio (3.33), while TCU's Emily Carter ranks first for her free-throw percentage (94.6).
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
The MWC finished its non-conference season with a 65-51 (.560) record. In the nine-year history of the MWC, the league has never finished below .500. This season, the MWC has a 4-1 record vs. the Big Ten, including Wyoming's win over then-#25 Wisconsin. MWC teams are 4-1 vs. the Atlantic-10, bolstered by UNLV's win over #16/#14 George Washington. TCU, Utah and Wyoming have also knocked off Big 12 opponents #20/#23 Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Kansas State, respectively.
ATTENDANCE LEADERS
Five MWC teams are averaging attendance figures above 1,000. New Mexico leads the way, averaging 8,088 fans. Wyoming is drawing 3,687 fans per game, while TCU has welcomed 2,136 fans per game to the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum this season. After its record crowd of 5,271 vs. Connecticut, San Diego State is averaging 1,508 fans. Utah is also averaging 1,066 fans per game.
COACHES CORNER
MWC coaches have a combined record of 1,605-964 (.625) at their respective schools. Utah Head Coach Elaine Elliott captured her 500th career win in the Utes' 73-57 victory at Colorado State in last season. Elliott became the 32nd NCAA Division I women's coach ever to reach the 500-win milestone and is one of only 24 active coaches in Division I with 500 or more victories. New Mexico Head Coach Don Flanagan earned his 250th career win last season against Colorado State, while San Diego State Head Coach Beth Burns reached the same feat this season vs. Southern Utah on Nov. 20.
