PacWest Weekly Awards (Feb. 9)

LONG BEACH, CA – Capping a Southern California road trip with an impressive eight 3-pointers made in an overtime win at Biola, Menlo Women's Basketball graduate student guard Laila Saenz earned the honor of Pacific West Conference Player of the Week.

Eight 3-Pointers From Saenz Represent Most By A PacWest Competitor In Nearly Three Years
Leading up to her milestone performance over the weekend, Saenz first knocked down four 3-pointers as part of her team-high 16 points with five rebounds, and four steals on Feb. 3 versus Concordia. Two days later on Feb. 5 at Point Loma, the Nampa, ID native scored in double figures once again with 11 points including two more 3-pointers.

Then, as part of a career-high 26 points, eight rebounds, and four steals against Biola on Feb. 7, Saenz made her first four triples attempted, nailed a game-tying 3-pointer from near half court with five seconds left to send the game into overtime, and ultimately her eighth make from long range during the Oaks' winning momentum shift early in the extra frame. The eight 3-pointers were the most by a PacWest competitor since Hawaii Pacific's Allison Ross hit that mark on Feb. 25, 2023 ironically also versus Biola.

Through the three-game week, Saenz averaged 17.6 points, 4.6 triples made, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game to now lead the conference (would be third in NCAA Division II if met attempts minimum) in three-point field goal percentage (.458), rank fourth in 3-pointers made per game (2.1), and rank top 20 in points (10.8) and steals (1.7) per game.

Up Next
Menlo is set to rematch the same Biola team Saenz just dropped her career-high against this Saturday, Feb. 14.