WBK | Five Gaels Land On All-West Coast Conference Teams
2/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SAN BRUNO, Calif. — The Saint Mary's women's basketball team was well-represented Tuesday in the 2017 All-West Coast Conference teams, as five Gaels received recognition, including Stella Beck being named to the All-WCC first team.
Beck joined Sydney Raggio (second team), Megan McKay (honorable mention) and Carly Turner (honorable mention) on the All-WCC teams. Jasmine Forcadilla was named to the WCC all-freshmen team. It is the 11th straight season that Saint Mary's has had an All-WCC first team player. It is the sixth year in the last eight SMC has had a freshman on the WCC All-Freshmen team.
We're very proud of all of our players, and then you add Stella and (Devon Brookshire) on the All-Academic (First Team) and I think we represent Saint Mary's College very well."
Beck has led Saint Mary's in scoring nearly all season long at 13.9 points per game, 14.2 in conference play. She's posted double-figure scoring in 22 of 27 games played. She boasts the best field-goal percentage in the entire conference at 55.6 percent. She is among the WCC's top-20 in scoring (eighth), rebounding (t-17th, 5.4 rpg), field goal percentage, assists (12th, 3.2 apg), steals (t-10th, 1.6 spg) and assists-to-turnovers ratio (10th, 1.06).
Raggio was one of the conference's most consistent players all year long, averaging 9.9 ppg, 7.5 rebounds per game and 1.9 assists per game. She logged four double-doubles, including three in conference play. She also recorded 23 blocks and 10 steals during the regular season. Raggio was named to the WCC all-freshmen team in 2015-16.
McKay led the conference in field-goal percentage for most of the season. Entering the WCC Tournament, she trails only Beck by two-tenths of a percentage at 55.4 percent. She's recorded eight double-doubles this season and set new career highs in points (25, Nov. 25 vs. Boise State) and rebounds (16, twice).
Turner splashed onto the scene in 2016-17 with a career-high 21 points in the season opener versus Cal. She would later top that with 25 points on Jan. 7 versus San Francisco, as she became one of the Gaels' go-to scorers this year. Turner is one of the WCC's best 3-point shooters at 36.6 percent (seventh). She has also stayed among the conference's leading blockers this year with 24 rejections.
Forcadilla made her collegiate debut this season after redshirting last year. She played a key role off the bench substituting at the point guard position. She played in 27 of the Gaels' 29 games, averaging 14.3 minutes per game. She handed out 52 assists and grabbed seven steals while averaging 3.4 points per game. She scored a season-best 11 points on Feb. 4 versus San Diego in the Gaels' come-from-behind win.
One, I believe we do an incredible job of identifying talent," said Thomas about the string of Saint Mary's freshmen recognized by the WCC. "And two, I think we do an even better job, the coaching staff – Tracy (Sanders), Allyson (Fasnacht) and Lisa (O'Meara) – of developing that talent. That's who's spending all the time with them."
Saint Mary's begins play in the 2017 West Coast Conference Tournament as the No. 3 seed at 6 p.m. Thursday versus No. 6 seed and rival Santa Clara. The Gaels defeated the Broncos 73-58 in both teams' regular season finale on Saturday. Thursday's quarterfinal game can be watched live on the Gaels' Gameday Central page.
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