ADA – The East Central University women's basketball team heads into the 2017-18 Great American Conference Championship tournament, March 1-4, as the No. 7 seed after finishing the regular season 10-16 overall and 9-13 in league play. The Tigers will face No. 2 Arkansas Tech, Thursday, March 1 at 2:15 p.m. at Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Okla.
2017-18 GAC Championship Tournament Home Page
The night before the tournament started, ECU saw two players honored by the GAC as members of the All-GAC teams. Senior
Devon Branch and junior
Lakin Preisner were both named to the All-GAC Honorable Mention team.
Branch, a two-time GAC Player of the Week in 2017-18, leads ECU with 14.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while adding 41 assists, 28 steals and 12 blocks. The Boerne, Texas, native is currently ranked No. 6 in the GAC in scoring (14.6) and No. 7 in free-throw percentage (83.1) and three-point field goals made (2.2). She is also ranked No. 62 in the NCAA in three-point field goals attempted (177) and No. 76 in free-throw percentage.
Preisner, who saw her season cut short due to an injury before the final week of action, averaged 13.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while adding 31 assists, 41 steals and nine blocks. The Americus, Kan., native has been the strongest at the free-throw line, ranking No. 1 in the NCAA and GAC with a 95.6 percentage. She is also ranked No. 6 in the GAC in three-point field goal percentage (39.1), No. 7 in steals (1.8) and No. 9 in defensive rebounds (4.8).
The Tigers have had 13 players named to the All-GAC teams, with four second team and nine honorable mentions.
Tiger Quick Hits
Tiger Quick Hits
• Senior
Devon Branch and junior
Lakin Preisner were named to the All-GAC Honorable Mention Team
• Branch was an All-GAC Second Team honoree in 2016-17
• The Tigers now have had 13 players named to the All-GAC Teams
• Four All-GAC Second Team picks • Nine All-GAC Honorable Mentions
• ECU has two players that are averaging 10.0-or-more points per game this season
• Sr.
Devon Branch: 14.6 ppg; 4.6 rpg; 41 A; 28 S; .335 (113-337) FG%; .316 (56-177) 3PT%
• Jr.
Lakin Preisner: 13.6 ppg; 6.2 rpg; 41 S; .425 (102-240) FG%, .391 (43-110) 3PT%; .953 (61-64) FT%
• In the last five games Sr.
Aaliyah Blakley and Jr.
Tia Williams have picked up their performances
• Blakley - Overall: 6.4 P; 5.8 R; 21 A; 3 B; 17 S / Last 5: 11.2 P; 9.2 R; 6 A; 1 B; 5 S
• Williams - Overall: 5.2 P; 2.0 R; 33 A; 7 B; 13 S / Last 5: 12.2 P; 2.2 R; 12 A; 4 B; 3 S
• Sr.
Devon Branch was named GAC Player of the Week for Dec. 4 and Feb. 19
• Feb. 19: Averaged 16.5 ppg; 3.0 rpg; .429 (9-21) FG%; .500 (3-6) 3PT FG%; 1.000 FT% (10-10)
• Dec. 9: Averaged 25.0 ppg; 10.0 rpg; .424 (14-33) FG%; .429 (9-21) 3PT FG%; .813 (13-16) FT%
• ECU is ranked No. 1 in free throw percentage in the GAC and No. 4 in the NCAA (81.0)
• ECU is ranked in the top-100 in seven NCAA Categories, with five of those in the top-25
•
Devon Branch is ranked in the Top-100 in two NCAA Categories
• No. 62 - 3-point field goals attempted (177)
• No. 76 - Free-throw percentage (83.1)
•
Lakin Preisner is ranked No. 1 in the NCAA and the GAC in Free Throw Percentage
• .956 (65-68) overall / .968 (61-63) GAC
• ECU trails the all-time series against ATU 8-15 overall and is 0-1 when playing in the GAC Tournament
• ECU's top performers vs. the Golden Suns in 2017-18
•
Devon Branch: 15.0 ppg; 4.5 rpg; 5 A; 4 S
•
Alexa Adair: 13.0 ppg; 4.0 rpg; 4 A; 2 S
• ATU's top performers vs. the Tigers in 2017-18
• Kylie Ladd: 14.0 ppg; 6.5 rpg; 5 A; 7 S
• Cheyenne North: 12.5 ppg; 13.0 rpg; 4 A; 1 B
• The Tigers in the 2016-17 GAC Championship Tournament
•
Devon Branch: 27 P; 7 R; 3 A; 1 B; 1 S
•
Alexa Adair: 27 P; 5 R; 6 A; 2 S
•
Tia Williams: 14 P; 11 R; 1 A
•
Aaliyah Blakley: 11 P; 16 R; 2 A; 1 S
•
Madison Nickens: 9 P; 4 R; 3 A; 2 S
