CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 8, 2005

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2004-05 CPP Record: 20-7. CCAA Record: 15-5

2004-05 National Ranking: 21

2004-05 Regional Seeding: 6

 

Broncos Hope To Add To Their Record Postseason Success: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team, the most successful NCAA Division II program, will make its 20th NCAA Division II playoff appearance this week when the No. 6 seed Broncos take on No. 3 Chico State in a first-round West Region game Friday at 12:30 p.m. The game between two nationally-ranked teams – Chico State is No. 17 and Cal Poly Pomona is No. 21 -- will be webcast on the Cal Poly Pomona athletic website at www.csupomona.edu/~athletic. The winner of the CPP-Chico State game will face the winner of the No. 2 Western Washington-No. 7 Cal State Dominguez Hills contest at 5 p.m. Saturday. The championship game is Monday at 7 p.m. All games involving the Broncos can be heard on the CPP athletic website. The first-round game will be the third meeting of the season between the conference’s top two teams this season. Chico State won the previous two games. The two teams also met in the playoffs last year and the Broncos prevailed in a first-round game, 74-70. Cal Poly Pomona will be making its eighth playoff appearance in the past nine years. Cal Poly Pomona is tied with North Dakota State for most national championships won with five and holds the Division II standard with 48 postseason wins. The Broncos are also 12-1 in their last 13 postseason games. Cal Poly Pomona is coming off another outstanding season. The Broncos reached the NCAA Division II West Region championship game at Seattle Pacific and became the only Division II program to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in the past five years. Cal Poly Pomona also posted playoff wins over Chico State and Cal State Bakersfield, giving the Broncos 48 postseason wins, which is the most among all Division II programs. The Broncos won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002. The Broncos have three starters returning, including Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona), the 2004 CCAA Player of the Year and the leading scorer in the NCAA Division II. Other starters back are Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS), a second-team All-CCAA forward in 2003, and Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS).

 

About Last Week: The Broncos completed their regular season with two more victories and finished one game behind California Collegiate Athletic Association champion Chico State. Cal Poly Pomona won another wild game with Cal State Dominguez Hills, knocking the Toros out of a share of the conference lead with an 81-78 win Wednesday night in Kellogg Gym. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) poured in a game-high 26 points, while Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had 19 points and 12 rebounds. Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS) had a career-high 18 points, including a key 3-pointer that stretched a one-point lead to four points in the final minute of play. The Broncos held a 57-43 lead with 11:38 to go, but the Toros tied the game at 69-69 with 2:58 to play. Allen hit a jumper and Perkins made two free throws to put the Broncos back ahead for good. The Broncos then honored seniors Allen, Britt Sumida (Sr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS) and Shyrah Thomas (Sr., Inglewood, San Francisco State) before Friday’s regular-season finale against Cal State Monterey Bay. Cal Poly Pomona got a 3-pointer from Sumida in the opening minute and led the rest of the way in an 82-67 win. Allen led the Broncos with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Fletcher had 13 points and five rebounds. Alexis Wilson (Jr., Wayzata, MN, Iowa State) had nine points and three rebounds.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 2-6 against the West Region playoff field and has faced five of the other seven teams. The Broncos are 0-1 against No. 1 Seattle Pacific, 0-1 against No. 2 Western Washington, 0-2 against No. 3 Chico State, 0-2 against No. 5 Cal State Bakersfield and 2-0 against No. 7 Cal State Dominguez Hills. Cal Poly Pomona is 13-8 all-time against first-round opponent Chico State and will be meeting the Wildcats in the first-round of the playoffs for a second straight year. Last year, the No. 3 Broncos beat the No. 6 Wildcats, 74-70, behind 30 points from Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona). The Broncos lost both meetings to the Wildcats this season, falling 68-62 on Jan. 14 in Chico and losing again, without Allen, 88-67, in Kellogg Gym on Feb. 19.

 

Pomona Is Title Town: Cal Poly Pomona basketball teams have won NCAA Division II West Region championships in three of the past four seasons. The Bronco women won regional titles in 2001 and 2002 on their way to national championships. The Bronco men captured the West Region title in 2003 and advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time since 1964. No other basketball program in the West Region can match that success over the past four years. Cal Poly Pomona, Western Washington, Seattle Pacific and Chico State are the only region schools to have both teams qualify for the playoffs.

 

Allen, Nation’s Leading Scorer Again, Makes Triumphant Return: Kodak All-American Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona), the reigning California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year, returned after missing 2 ½ games with an injured shoulder, and helped the Broncos win their final three games of the regular season. She made her return and helped the Broncos beat Cal State San Bernardino, 55-51, on Feb. 26. She had a game-high 18 points in that contest and then poured in 26 points to lead the Broncos to a big win over Cal State Dominguez Hills last Wednesday. Allen suffered the injury in the first half of the Broncos’ game against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday, Feb. 18. She missed games against Chico State and UC San Diego, both losses for the Broncos. After leading the nation in scoring last season by averaging 24.5 points per game, Allen is leading the NCAA Division II in scoring again this year at 28.3 points per game. Allen is shooting 48.2 percent from the field (238-494) and has knocked down 48 percent of her 3-point attempts (46-96). She has also made 186 of 224 free-throw tries. She leads the CCAA in 3-point field-goal percentage (47.9 percent) and is second in free-throw percentage (83.0 percent) and steals (3.0). Allen set a new Cal Poly Pomona and CCAA single-game scoring record when she poured in 50 points against Glenville State on Dec. 11. She also has a 45-point game at Cal State Stanislaus, a 39-point effort at San Francisco State and 38 points at Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills. She has been named the CCAA Player of the Week three times this season. She was honored for the week of Jan. 24-30 after lifting the Broncos to wins at Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Monterey Bay. She had 38 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Broncos past the Toros and she had 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists against the Otters. She was also honored for the week of Dec. 6-12 when she shared the award with Chico State’s Kim Abts. Allen had a CCAA-record 50 points against Glenville State and 32 points against Northwest Nazarene. She also won the award for the week of Nov. 29 – Dec. 5. She had 30 points in a 104-85 win over Sonoma State and then added 31 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Broncos past San Francisco State, 93-61.

 

Allen Is Named West Region’s Player Of The Year: Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) and four other players were named to the 2004-05 Daktronics NCAA Division II West Region women’s basketball all-star team, it was announced Monday. The team is selected by the sports information directors at the region’s schools that sponsor women’s basketball. Allen, who leads all divisions of the NCAA in scoring with 28.3 points per game, was selected as the region’s Player of the Year. She was joined on the first team by Kim Abts of Chico State, Katie McElree of Cal State Bakersfield, Cody Burgess of Alaska Fairbanks and Martina Kartikova of Saint Martin’s. Allen was the top vote-getter for the second straight year. Allen and the other first-team selections will now be listed on the Daktronics All-American national ballot.

 

Let Us Introduce Ourselves: Cal Poly Pomona has several new players on its roster, including six freshmen. Sahfiya Brown (Fr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS), Ashley Moody (Fr., Carson, King Drew HS), Unique Anderson (Fr., Lake Elsinore, Temescal Canyon HS), Sasha Goldkorn (Fr., Moreno Valley, Canyon Springs HS), Porsche’ Kirksey (Fr., Gardena, Junipero Serra HS) and Natasha Reed (Fr., San Francisco, Deer Valley HS) give the Broncos one of their best and deepest freshman classes in several years. Shyrah Thomas (Sr., Inglewood, San Francisco State) joins the active roster after being a redshirt last season.

 

Look Who’s Back: Leading the list of talented players returning for the Broncos is the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year, Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona). Allen led the NCAA Division II in scoring with a 24.5 points per game average. She was also second on the team in rebounding with 6.1 per game and second in assists with 2.9 per game. Allen also led the team in steals with 77 or 2.6 per game. Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS), who was third on the team in scoring last year with 10.2 points per game, is back and so is starting guard Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS), who averaged 6.7 points per game. Britt Sumida (Sr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS), one of the leaders of the team, is another key returner, Alexis Wilson (Jr., Wayzata, MN, Wayzata HS) is back for her third year and Khiara Ferguson (So., Gardena, Bishop Montgomery HS) and Ge’Yanni Polk (So., San Leandro, San Lorenzo HS) return for their second seasons with the Broncos.

 

Where We Left Off: The Broncos completed another successful season in 2003-04 with a 23-7 overall record and a spot in the NCAA Division II West Region championship game. Cal Poly Pomona reached the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in the past five seasons, a total unmatched by any other Division II program. Included in that run, of course, are national championships in 2001 and 2002. Cal Poly Pomona was 17-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and finished second. The Broncos, the No. 3 seed in the West Region, won its first-round game against No. 6 Chico State, 74-70. Cal Poly Pomona got 30 points and six assists from Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) and 10 points and 17 rebounds from Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas). The Broncos then rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to beat Cal State Bakersfield, 87-84, in the second round. Beachem had a huge game with 28 points and 20 rebounds, while Allen contributed 26 points. After the Roadrunners took an 84-83 lead on a pair of free throws with five seconds left, Allen was inexplicably fouled while trying to catch an inbounds pass. She hit both free throws to give the Broncos an 85-84 lead and then, after a Cal State Bakersfield turnover, was fouled hard from behind, but picked herself up to hit two more free throws with one second left to account for the final margin. Cal Poly Pomona then fell to undefeated tourney host Seattle Pacific, 80-63, in the championship game. The Broncos shot just 33 percent. Marisa Lattin capped her Cal Poly Pomona career with a team-high 20 points.

 

The Thomas Guide: Paul Thomas is in his 11th season as Cal Poly Pomona’s head coach. Thomas was named the 2001-02 NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by the WBCA and by the Division II Bulletin. He was also the WBCA District 8 Coach of the Year and the CCAA Co-Coach of the Year. He has won four conference Coach of the Year awards. Thomas has a record of 224-91 at Cal Poly Pomona and has guided the Broncos into the postseason in eight out of the past nine seasons. Cal Poly Pomona has a 14-5 record in the NCAA Division II playoffs under Thomas and has won 12 of its last 13 postseason games. The Broncos have also won five CCAA titles during the Thomas years, including three in the past six seasons.

 

How About Those Rings: You’d be hard-pressed to find a more star-studded coaching staff in the NCAA Division II. Head Coach Paul Thomas has a pair of championship rings he earned while guiding the Broncos to back-to-back national titles in 2001 and 2002. He was named the 2001-02 NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association and the Division II Bulletin. Assistant coach Tasha Burnett has a championship ring she earned as a Bronco player in 2001. She tied an NCAA record by hitting all 11 of her field-goal attempts in a national quarterfinal victory over Pace University. She made the All-Elite Eight Tournament team.

 

Program History: The Broncos’ two postseason wins in 2004 and the back-to-back national championships in 2001 and 2002 have just added to the program’s rich history. The Broncos have the most postseason victories (48) in NCAA Division II and are tied with North Dakota State for the most national championships (5).  The Broncos have also reached the regional championship game in four of the past five years, which is more than any other Division II team. Their 20 NCAA postseason appearances are second overall to Bentley and the .774 postseason winning percentage leads all Division II programs. Cal Poly Pomona has also reached the national title game eight times, has five national Player of the Year winners (Jackie White, 1983; Vickie Mitchell, 1986; Debra Larsen, 1987; Cathy Gooden, 1989 and Lauri McIntosh, 2002; five Most Outstanding Players in the NCAA Tournament (Jackie White, 1982; Vickie Mitchell, 1985; Debra Larsen, 1986; Aprile Powell, 2001; Lauri McIntosh, 2002), 36 All-American awards earned by 20 different players, 18 CCAA titles and 10 CCAA Player of the Year awards. Counting the five SCCA titles the Broncos won before joining the CCAA, Cal Poly Pomona has captured 23 conference titles.

 

 

PLAYER NOTES

 

4          CANDICE ALLEN (G, Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona)

Last Week: Had 26 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and one steal against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday; had 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot and two steals against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 28.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Leads the NCAA Division II in scoring. Shooting 48.2 percent from the floor. Set new Cal Poly Pomona and CCAA single-game record with 50 points against Glenville State on Dec. 11. Tied CCAA single-game record for most free throws made (20) and attempted (23) against Cal State Stanislaus on Jan. 15. Also leads the team in assists and steals and is second in rebounding. Leads the conference in scoring and 3-point field goal percentage and is second in free-throw shooting percentage and steals.

Season Highs: Points – 50 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Rebounds – 15 vs. UC San Diego (1-22-05); Assists – 7 at Cal State Monterey Bay (1-29-05).

Career Highs: Points – 50 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Rebounds – 15 vs. UC San Diego (1-22-05); Assists – 7 at Cal State Monterey Bay (1-29-05), at Cal State Bakersfield (1-30-04), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04).

 

5          BRITT SUMIDA (G, Sr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS)

Last Week: Had three points on senior night against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday; DNP-(Knee) against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday.

2004-05: Averaging 2.2 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Is third on the team in assists and is third on the team in 3-point field goals made.

Season Highs: Points – 8 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 3 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Assists – 5 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 11 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 3 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04), vs. UC San Diego (2-21-03); Assists – 5 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

 

10        ASHLEY MOODY (G, Fr., Carson, King Drew HS)

Last Week: Had three points, one rebound and one steal against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday; had one point, one rebound, one assist, and one steal against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 16 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-18-05); Rebounds – 5 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-15-05); Assists – 4 vs. Cal State L.A. (2-12-05).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

14        NATASHA REED (F, Fr., San Francisco, Deer Valley HS)

Last Week: Had six points and three rebounds against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday; had one point, eight rebounds and one steal against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday.

2004-05: Averaging 6.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Leads the team in rebounding and is fourth in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 16 at Cal State Monterey Bay (1-29-05); Rebounds – 13 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-18-05), at Sonoma State (2-05-05); Assists – 3 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

           

20        SHANIKA PERKINS (G, Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS)

Last Week: Had a career-high 18 points, five rebounds and one assist against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday; had four points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Is second on the team in 3-point field goals made (40), is second in assists and fifth in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 18 vs. CS Dominguez Hills (3-2-05); Rebounds – 10 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-18-05); Assists – 5 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04).

Career Highs: Points – 18 vs. CS Dominguez (3-2-05); Rebounds – 10 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-18-05), at Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-13-04); Assists – 5 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04), vs. Chico State (1-2-04).

 

21        SASHA GOLDKORN (G, Fr., Moreno Valley, Canyon Springs HS)

Last Week: Went scoreless in limited action against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday; DNP-CD against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday.

2004-05: Averaging 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 3 at UC San Diego (2-25-05), vs. Cal State L.A. (2-12-05), Grand Canyon (12-14-04); Rebounds – 1 vs. Cal State L.A. (2-12-05), vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04), vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04); Assists – 1 vs. Cal State L.A. (2-12-05), at San Francisco State (2-04-05), at Cal State Monterey Bay (1-29-05).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

22        KHIARA FERGUSON (C, So., Gardena, Bishop Montgomery HS)

Last Week: Had six points and three rebounds against Cal State Monterey on Friday; went scoreless in limited action against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday.

2004-05: Averaging 2.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 10 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (1-21-05); Rebounds – 7 vs. Chico State (2-19-05), vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Assists – 1 at UC San Diego (2-25-05), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-18-05), at San Francisco State (2-4-05), vs. UC San Diego (1-22-05), vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04).

Career Highs: Points – 10 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (1-21-05); Rebounds – 7 vs. Chico State (2-19-05), vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Assists – 1 (six times).

 

23        SHYRAH THOMAS (F, Sr., Inglewood, San Francisco State)

Last Week: Had six points, one rebound, two assists and six steals against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday; had four points, three rebounds and two assists against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 10 at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-26-05); Rebounds – 6 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-18-05), at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-26-05); Assists – 4 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-18-05).

            Career Highs: First year with Broncos

 

24        BRANDI FLETCHER (F, Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS)

Last Week: Had 19 points, 12 rebounds and one steal against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday; had 13 points, five rebounds, and three steals against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 11.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Is second on the team in scoring and third in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 25 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-11-05); Rebounds – 14 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-11-05) Assists – 3 at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-26-05), at Cal State Monterey Bay (1-29-05).

Career Highs: Points – 25 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-11-05), at Sonoma State (3-1-03); Rebounds – 14 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-11-05); Assists – 4 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04).

 

25        RACHEL GATDULA (G, So., Covina, St. Lucy’s Priory)

Last Week: Went scoreless in limited action against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday; DNP-CD against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday.

            2004-05: Averaging 0.9 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 5 at UC San Diego (2-25-05); Rebounds – 3 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-18-05); Assists – 1 at UC San Diego (2-25-05), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-18-05), at Cal State Bakersfield (1-08-05).

Career Highs: Points – 5 at UC San Diego (2-25-05), vs. Point Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds –3 v. Cal State Stanislaus (2-18-05); Assists – 2 vs. Grand Canyon (3-5-04), at Grand Canyon (1-10-04).

 

40        UNIQUE ANDERSON (G, Fr., Lake Elsinore, Temescal Canyon HS)

Last Week: Had eight points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday; had six points, a season-high nine rebounds and two assists against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 10 at UC San Diego (2-25-05); Rebounds – 9 vs. Cal State Monterey Bay (3-4-05); Assists – 5 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (3-2-05), at UC San Diego (2-25-05).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

42        GE’YANNI POLK (G, So., San Leandro, San Leandro HS)

Last Week: Had four points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday; DNP-CD against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday.

2004-05: Averaging 1.5 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 5 at UC San Diego (2-25-05); Rebounds – 4 at UC San Diego (2-25-05); Assists – 1 vs. Cal State Monterey Bay (3-4-05), at UC San Diego (2-25-05), vs. Cal State L.A. (2-12-05), vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04).

Career Highs: Points – 5 at UC San Diego (2-25-05); Rebounds – 4 at UC San Diego (2-25-05); Assists – 1 vs. Cal State Monterey Bay (3-4-05), at UC San Diego (2-25-05), vs. Cal State L.A. (2-12-05), vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04).

 

54        ALEXIS WILSON (F, Jr., Wayzata, MN, Wayzata HS)

Last Week: Had nine points, three rebounds and one steal against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday; had four points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Wednesday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 10 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (1-21-05); Rebounds – 10 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-11-05); Assists – 4 at San Francisco State (2-04-05).

Career Highs: Points – 10 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (1-21-05); Rebounds – 10 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-11-05); Assists –4 at San Francisco State (2-04-05).