Theo Lawson | Argonaut
Idaho (19-8, 12-1)
Barring a complete meltdown in their last three games, the Idaho women’s basketball team should run away with the No. 1 seed and regular-season title, which would be the first and the last, for Idaho in the WAC. The top team in the conference continues to be tough on the road and a 68-54 win at Grand Canyon snapped the Antelopes’ 10-game home winning streak. Idaho closes out at home with Seattle U, Chicago State and Missouri-Kansas City. The Vandals would have to lose all three to drop down to second place.
Cal State-Bakersfield (16-9, 10-3)
Ninety-nine points later, the Roadrunners clinched their 10th win in conference play, beating last-place Chicago State. CSUB may have had a shot at Idaho, though a loss to Seattle a few weeks ago all but dissipated those hopes. The ‘Runners, who have won eight of their last nine games, still appear to be Idaho’s biggest threat in Las Vegas.
Seattle U (13-13, 8-5)
Coming off Thursday’s road loss to Grand Canyon, the Redhawks won’t have it any easier Saturday against Idaho, where they meet the Vandals at UI’s Memorial Gym — a place Idaho seems to play better than the Cowan Spectrum. The Redhawks topped the Vandals twice during the regular season a year ago, but Idaho has the 1-0 lead this season with a 77-59 victory at Seattle’s Connolly Center. The No. 3 seed may be in the balance, should the Redhawks drop to 8-6.
New Mexico State (10-16, 7-6)
The Aggies have by no means locked up a top-four seed, though consecutive wins at Chicago State and at home against UTPA have helped their case. If New Mexico State can gut out at least two more conference wins, it should be able to clinch the fourth seed — though a home test against CSUB and away game at Grand Canyon will both be tough challenges for leading scorer Danesia Williams and the Aggies.
Grand Canyon (17-8, 6-6)
Dropping to .500 with a 14-point loss to Idaho, the Antelopes proved they are indeed vulnerable in their home arena. A team that is ineligible for postseason play should be able to finish the regular season with nine or ten wins, and will likely grab a top-four regular-season finish.
Texas-Pan American (12-14, 6-7)
With just three games remaining, the Broncs would really have to scrap to manage a No. 1-4 seed. But UTPA’s play as of late may have all but erased that opportunity. The Broncs have lost five of their last six contests with their only win since January coming against winless Chicago State. Bakersfield, Utah Valley and Grand Canyon are all capable of beating this struggling UTPA squad and it looks like the Broncs will be stuck with the sixth or seventh seed.
Missouri-Kansas City (10-16, 6-7)
The Kangaroos gifted Utah Valley its third win of the conference season Saturday — a loss that may have all but confirmed a six seed for UMKC, considering who the ‘Roos end the regular season with. GCU, Seattle and Idaho are on tap, with the last two of those games coming on the road.
Utah Valley (6-20, 3-10)
A win against Kansas City may have provided the Wolverines with a boost of confidence, though the No. 7 seed is a lock for Utah Valley, who will look back at its regular season and find at least seven games that were lost by 10 points or less. This is a team that will have a hard time advancing past the first round of the conference tournament, but looking at a few of those close losses, the Wolverines can hang with their opponents every now and then.
Chicago State (3-23, 0-13)
The Cougars have one win against Division I opponents this season. That was on Dec. 20. Since then, Chicago State has come within 10 points of a conference opponent just once and has locked itself into the eighth seed and a likely first-round WAC tourney matchup with Idaho.