Women's Basketball

CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

2004-05 CPP Record: 7-0. CCAA Record: 2-0

2004-05 National Ranking: 12

Broncos Will Take Unbeaten Record Into CCAA/GNAC Classic: After posting its seventh straight win this season, Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team will carry an unbeaten record into next week’s CCAA/GNAC Classic, hosted this year by Seattle Pacific. The tourney will have big NCAA Division II West Region implications. Teams that have gone undefeated in the tournament have hosted the West Regional the past three seasons – Cal Poly Pomona in 2002 and Seattle Pacific the previous two seasons. The Broncos will carry a national ranking of No. 12 into their matchup on Wednesday, Dec. 29 against Western Washington. The Broncos will then face No. 4 Seattle Pacific on Thursday in a rematch of the 2004 NCAA Division II West Regional championship game won by the Falcons, 80-63. That loss snapped a nation’s best 12-game playoff winning streak by the Broncos that included their national championship runs in 2001 and 2002. The Broncos are coming off a 77-57 victory over Grand Canyon last Tuesday. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) led three Broncos in double figures with 21 points in just 25 minutes of action. 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. Cal Poly Pomona remains tied with North Dakota State for most national championships won (5). 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 remained unbeaten and stretched their regular-season winning streak to 15 games with a 77-57 victory over Grand Canyon last Tuesday (Dec. 14) in Kellogg Gym. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) led three Broncos in double figures with 21 points in 25 efficient minutes. Allen made seven of nine field-goal attempts and six of eight free-throw tries. She also had three rebounds and four assists. Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had 12 points, two rebounds and two assists, while Lauren Stayton (Jr., Inglewood, Fresno State) had 11 points. Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS) had nine points and five assists, while Natasha Reed (Fr., San Francisco, Deer Valley HS) had a team-high nine rebounds to go along with six points. Cal Poly Pomona led by as many as 14 points in the first half before settling for a 34-24 halftime edge and the Broncos led by as many as 29 points in the second half.

Allen Shares CCAA Player Of The Week Honors: Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona), the reigning California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year, was named the Wilson CCAA Women’s Basketball Co-Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 6-12. Allen set a new Cal Poly Pomona and California Collegiate Athletic Association record by scoring 50 points to lead the Broncos past No. 9 Glenville State and also had 32 points to lead the Broncos past Northwest Nazarene. For the week, Allen averaged 41.0 points per game on 54.7 percent shooting. She also averaged 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 steals. She shared the honor with Chico State guard Kim Abts, who tied a conference record with 16 assists in one of the three Wildcat victories last week. Allen was honored for a second straight week. She also led the Broncos to a pair of conference victories for the week of Nov. 29 – Dec. 5. Allen scored 30 points in a 104-85 win over Sonoma State and then added 31 points and grabbed six rebounds in a 93-61 victory over San Francisco State. For the week, Allen averaged 30.5 points per game on 57.5 percent shooting (23-40). She also averaged 4.5 points, 4.0 steals and 2.5 assists for the week. Allen, who led the nation in scoring last season with 24.5 points per game, is averaging 31.4 points per game this season after seven games. She is shooting 54.9 percent from the field (79-144). Allen also leads the Broncos in rebounding (5.4 per game) and assists (2.9 per game).

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 8-3 all-time against Western Washington and beat the Vikings, 81-63, behind 26 points and 10 rebounds from Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) in the CCAA/GNAC Classic at Cal State L.A. The Broncos are 2-1 against the Vikings in the NCAA Division II playoffs, including victories in 2001 (91-85) and 2002 (71-70) on their way to NCAA Division II national championships. Cal Poly Pomona is 2-5 all-time against Seattle Pacific and lost twice to the Falcons last season. The Broncos fell, 79-78, in the CCAA/GNAC Classic at Cal State L.A. despite 32 points by Allen and then lost, 80-63, in the NCAA Division II West Regional championship game at Seattle Pacific. Marisa Lattin had 20 points to lead Cal Poly Pomona. The Broncos and Falcons are 1-1 in postseason action with both meetings coming in regional championship games. Cal Poly Pomona edged Seattle Pacific, 63-62, on Burgundie Porter’s last-second shot in 2002 on its way to a second-straight national title, while the Falcons won last season, 80-63.

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 and Lauren Stayton (Jr., Inglewood, Fresno State) returns after one year away from competition.

Look Who’s Back: Leading the list of talented players returning this year 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, while Allen had 16.

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 211-84 at Cal Poly Pomona and has guided the Broncos into the postseason in seven out of the past eight 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 five 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 19 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

2 SAHFIYA BROWN (F, Fr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS)

Last Week: DNP-CD. Is sidelined with a knee injury.

2004-05: Averaging 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 4 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04). Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

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

Last Week: Had 21 points, three rebounds and four assists against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 31.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Leads the team and CCAA in scoring. Shooting 54.9 percent from the floor. Set new Cal Poly Pomona and CCAA single-game record with 50 points against Glenville State on Dec. 11.

Season Highs: Points – 50 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Rebounds – 9 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Assists – 5 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 50 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Rebounds – 11 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 7 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: Went scoreless with one rebound and one assist against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Is second on the team in assists.

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 four points, one rebound and two assists against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.6 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 vs. San Francisco State (12-3-04); Rebounds – 3 vs. San Francisco State (12-3-04); Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

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

Last Week: Had six points and a season-high nine rebounds against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 7.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Is tied for the team high in rebounding and is fourth in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 10 vs. Northwest Nazarene (12-10-04), vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 9 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04); Assists – 3 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

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

Last Week: Had nine points, three rebounds and a season-high five assists against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 6.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Is tied for second on the team in assists and is fifth in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 12 vs. Northwest Nazarene (12-10-04); Rebounds – 5 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 5 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04).

Career Highs: Points – 17 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-13-03); Rebounds – 10 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: Had three points and one rebound against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 2.0 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 3 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04); Rebounds – 1 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04), vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04); Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

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

Last Week: Had two points and three rebounds against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 8 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Rebounds – 7 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Assists – 1 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04).

Career Highs: Points – 8 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Rebounds – 7 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Assists – 1 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at UC San Diego (1-9-04).

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

Last Week: Had three points, one rebound and one assist against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 1.0 point, 0.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 3 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04); Rebounds – 1 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04), vs. Northwest Nazarene (12-10-04); Assists – 1 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos

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

Last Week: Had 12 points, two rebounds and two assists against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 16 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Rebounds – 8 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04); Assists – 2 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04), Northwest Nazarene (12-10-04), vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

Career Highs: Points – 25 at Sonoma State (3-1-03); Rebounds – 10 at Chico State (2-28-04), vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04), vs. UC Davis (1-3-04), at Cal State L.A. (2-7-03); Assists – 4 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04).

32 LAUREN STAYTON (G, Jr., Inglewood, Fresno State)

Last Week: Had 11 points, two rebounds and one assist against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring and fourth in assists. Leads the team in steals with 20.

Season Highs: Points – 21 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 7 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 5 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

Career Highs: Points – 21 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 7 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 5 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

34 PORSCHE’ KIRKSEY (F, Fr., Gardena, Junipero Serra HS)

Last Week: Went scoreless with four rebounds against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 2.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 5 vs. Sonoma State (12-4-04); Rebounds – 7 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

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

Last Week: Went scoreless with two rebounds against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 2.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 6 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 2 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

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

Last Week: Had two points and one steal against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 1.8 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 4 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 2 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Assists – 1 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04).

Career Highs: Points – 4 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 2 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04), at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04); Assists – 1 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04).

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

Last Week: Had four points and four rebounds against Grand Canyon on Tuesday.

2004-05: Averaging 1.9 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04); Rebounds – 4 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04); Assists – 1 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 7 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04); Rebounds – 4 vs. Grand Canyon (12-14-04), vs. San Francisco State (2-20-04), at Sonoma State (1-16-04), at Western Washington (12-28-02); Assists – 3 at UC San Diego (1-9-04).