CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Feb. 20, 2002

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2001-02 CPP Record: 19-4. CCAA Record: 15-3

2001-02 National Ranking: 2 (USA Today/ESPN). 2001-02 Regional Ranking: 1

 

Broncos To Host Final Two Regular-Season Games: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team will conclude the home portion of its 2001-02 season when the Broncos host Grand Canyon Friday on “Pack The Gym” night and UC San Diego on Saturday in what could be the final game in Kellogg Gym for seniors Lauri McIntosh, Burgundie Porter, Kim Kennedy, Margot Richards and Leah Whatley. Cal Poly Pomona could still host the NCAA Division II West Regionals, but the Broncos likely must win their final four games to do so.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona holds a 13-4 all-time edge over Grand Canyon, including a 57-56 victory in Phoenix. Aprile Powell (So., Santa Ana, Century HS) had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Broncos, while Anna James (Jr., Orangevale, Casa Roble HS) added 13 points. The Antelopes, who won their first two conference games last weekend, had a chance at upsetting the Broncos on Jan. 12, but a last-second shot attempt was no good. Cal Poly Pomona has a 3-0 advantage over UC San Diego, including a 76-73 victory in La Jolla on Jan. 11 that was the 150th for head coach Paul Thomas at Cal Poly Pomona. Salma Rasheed (So., Walnut, Walnut HS) had 15 points and six rebounds to lead the way, while Powell and Leah Whatley (Sr., Suisun, Tartleton State) scored 13 points each and James added 11 points. The Broncos trailed by as many as 14 points and, after taking the lead, had to hold off a late comeback bid by the Tritons.

 

About Last Week: The Broncos lost for the second time in their last three home games when they fell to UC Davis, 76-62, Saturday night in Kellogg Gym. It was the second time this season the Broncos lost to the Aggies and the defeat dropped the Broncos into a first-place tie with Cal State Bakersfield in the CCAA with third-place Sonoma State now just one game back. Cal Poly Pomona shot just 38 percent from the floor and also committed 24 turnovers. The Broncos led by eight points late in the first half and by seven points early in the second half, but the Aggies fought back and took control of the game down the stretch. A 3-pointer by Leah Whatley (Sr., Suisun, Tartleton State) gave the Broncos a 44-37 edge with 15:25 to play. It was her third 3-pointer of the half. UC Davis went on a 14-3 run to take a 51-47 advantage and the Broncos, although they tied the game at 51-51, never led again. UC Davis broke the game open with a 12-3 run in the final few minutes. Lauri McIntosh (Sr., Diamond Bar, Diamond Bar HS) and Burgundie Porter (Sr., San Dimas, San Dimas HS) scored 14 points each for the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona started the weekend with an 88-81 win over Chico State. McIntosh had a superb game for the Broncos, pouring in 33 points to go along with six rebounds. Porter also had a strong game with 18 points. Powell was the third Bronco to reach double figures with 11 points and seven rebounds.

 

Cream Of The Crop: The Broncos have dominated the CCAA in the past two-plus seasons. Cal Poly Pomona was 20-2 in conference last year and 19-1 two years ago, which adds up to a 39-3 conference record. The 15-3 start gives the Broncos a 54-6 record in their last 60 conference games. Cal Poly Pomona won the 1999-2000 crown by a whopping five games over UC Davis and was three games better than Cal State Bakersfield last year. Over the past three-plus seasons, since the CCAA was expanded, the Broncos are a conference-best 70-10.

 

We’re No. 1 (And No. 2): Cal Poly Pomona is the overwhelming choice to win its 18th CCAA crown. In preseason voting done by the conference coaches, the Broncos collected 11 first-place votes to easily outdistance No. 2 UC Davis. The Broncos slipped to No. 2 in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, but Cal Poly Pomona also remains first in the latest regional poll.

 

The Thomas Guide: Paul Thomas is in his eighth season as Cal Poly Pomona’s head coach. He has a current record of 159-63 at Cal Poly Pomona. He picked up his 150th career victory at Cal Poly Pomona on Jan. 11 when the Broncos defeated UC San Diego, 76-73, in La Jolla. Thomas has been named CCAA Coach of the Year three times and guided the Broncos into the postseason in five straight seasons. The Broncos have also won four CCAA titles during the Thomas years, including two straight, three in the past four years and four in the past five years.

 

Three Tremendous Years … And Counting: The last three-plus seasons have been especially impressive for the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona is now 95-16 during that time span, including a remarkable 70-10 mark in the CCAA. Their record at home is even more amazing. The Broncos are 49-4 at home in the last three-plus seasons and have won 23 of their last 25 games at home.

 

McIntosh Is Marvelous: Lauri McIntosh (Sr., Diamond Bar, Diamond Bar HS), who was a Kodak All-American as a sophomore in 2000, is a Player of the Year candidate this season. McIntosh is second in the CCAA and second in the nation in scoring with a 23.3 points per game average. She also leads the conference in field-goal percentage by making 57.7 percent of her shots. She has been named CCAA Player of the Week three times this season, most recently after scoring 26 points and grabbing 13 rebounds against Cal State Dominguez Hills and scoring 25 points with 12 rebounds against Cal State L.A. Last weekend, she scored 33 points in the Broncos’ 88-81 win over Chico State. It was the fourth time this season McIntosh had scored 30 or more points. Earlier this season, McIntosh was the Most Outstanding Player of the CCAA/GNAC Classic in Kellogg Gym after scoring 30 points in a 76-71 win over Seattle Pacific on Dec. 28 and adding 25 points to lead the Broncos to an 85-65 win over Western Washington on Dec. 29. McIntosh broke Cal Poly Pomona’s single-game scoring record on Dec. 9 when she poured in 46 points against Cal State Bakersfield. The old record of 44 points was set by Niki Bracken in 1988. McIntosh also tied Bracken’s school record for most field goals in a game with 18. The 46 points also tied a CCAA record. McIntosh followed that up in her next game by tying a school and conference record after making all 11 of her field-goal attempts in a 99-66 win over Cal State L.A. She also equaled a career high with 16 rebounds in the season-opening win against Azusa Pacific. She just set a new career high with seven assists at Cal State L.A. on Feb. 9. McIntosh is quickly moving up the Cal Poly Pomona career scoring list. After starting the season ninth on the list, McIntosh is now third with 1,973 points. Next up is Jessica Eggleston (1994-98), who is second with 2,038 points.

 

The Return Of Aprile: The Broncos got a much-needed boost when Aprile Powell (So., Santa Ana, Century HS) returned to the lineup after missing six games following knee surgery and two more games while completing university academic requirements. Powell, a Kodak All-American last year as a freshman, has been in the starting lineup for the past 11 games. Powell had her most productive game of the season at Cal State San Bernardino on Jan. 26 when she set season highs for points (23) and rebounds (16). Earlier that week, Powell had 18 points, six rebounds and a career-high seven steals against the Coyotes. Powell has led the Broncos in scoring three times this season. She contributed 18 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes in the Broncos’ season opener against Azusa Pacific on Nov. 24 and then underwent surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus on Nov. 27. Powell returned for the CCAA/GNAC Classic and scored just one point in the Broncos’ 76-71 win over Seattle Pacific. She had 12 points, three rebounds and three steals the following night in a win over Western Washington. She is second on the team in scoring (13.5 points per game) and second in rebounding (7.5 per game). Powell completed one of the best freshman seasons in the program’s storied history last year. She was a Kodak All-American, the Most Outstanding Player in both the NCAA Division II West Region and Elite Eight Tournaments and led the Broncos in scoring (16.8 points per game) and rebounding (10.4 per game).

 

Who’s New: The Broncos have welcomed five newcomers to the program, including two who played high school basketball locally. Christy Gardner (G, Ontario, Ontario HS) and Britt Sumida (G, Chino Hills, Ayala HS) are incoming freshmen to Cal Poly Pomona. Transfers Kiarra Drummond (F, Los Angeles, Univ. of Texas El Paso), Heather Reeder (G, Wenatche, Wa., University of Portland) and Leah Whatley (G, Suisun, Tarleton State) are also new to the program. A sixth player, Brandi Fletcher (Fr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS), is redshirting this season.

 

Program History: The Broncos’ fourth national championship in 2000-01 just added to the program’s rich women’s basketball history. Cal Poly Pomona has also reached the national title game seven times, has four national Player of the Year winners (Jackie White, 1983; Vickie Mitchell, 1986; Debra Larsen, 1987 and Cathy Gooden, 1989), four Most Outstanding Players in the NCAA Tournament (Jackie White, 1982; Vickie Mitchell, 1985; Debra Larsen, 1986; Aprile Powell, 2001), 29 All-American awards earned by 19 different players, 17 NCAA postseason appearances, 17 CCAA titles, 9 CCAA Player of the Year awards and 41 postseason victories.

 

A Little Of This, A Little Of That: To say Cal Poly Pomona has had to battle more than its fair share of injuries and illness would be an understatement. Nine players have started at least one game for the Broncos this season and only guard Leah Whatley (Sr., Suisun, Tartleton State) has started all 23 games. On their way to winning the national championship last season, the Broncos had four players start all 30 games and one start 25. … The most serious injury was a season-ending knee injury to Anna James (Jr., Orangevale, Casa Roble HS). James, the Broncos’ all-time leader in 3-pointers, was third on the team in scoring (11.5 points per game). …  Burgundie Porter continues to shine for the Broncos, both offensively and defensively. Porter is fourth on the team in scoring (10.8 points per game) and leads the Broncos in steals (49, 2.1 per game). She is also tied for the team lead in assists (75, 3.3 per game). Porter set a new career high earlier this season against Cal State Dominguez Hills with seven steals. Porter, whose last-second shot beat Seattle Pacific in the NCAA Division II West Regional final, hit the go-ahead 3-pointer against the Falcons with 1:53 left in the Broncos’ 76-71 victory in the rematch in the CCAA/GNAC Classic. … Cal Poly Pomona leads the CCAA and is second in the nation in scoring (83.0 points per game). … In 23 games this season, Cal Poly Pomona has outrebounded its opponents, 972-832 … Lauri McIntosh leads the team with 175 rebounds (8.3 per game). … Cal Poly Pomona has forced 486 turnovers in its first 23 games and made 265 steals.

 

Coach’s Corner: (About last week): “I believe our inconsistent play caught up to us. You have a team like Davis that has the size to be as physical as we like to be at times, I think that had a lot to do with it. They just outplayed us and outhustled us on our own floor. If that’s not a wakeup call, I don’t know what will be. I think the warning signs have been there the past couple of weeks. We haven’t put together strings of good possessions and I think that’s where our problems have come from. It’s not so much we have one turnover sandwiched in between three or four good possessions on offense. It’s more like we have three good possessions and the next three are bad possessions. That’s really been obvious on the defensive end. We haven’t put together quality defensive stops for a long period of time. You can’t give up layups on three consecutive possessions and an open 10-footer and that’s what we’ve been doing.”

(About the team having to respond again to a loss): “I do not think we are beyond repair. I don’t think that at all. We still control our own destiny. If we win out, we’re hosting. Where we had the gap increase (between No. 1 and the rest of the region) on Friday night, it decreased on Saturday. Our margin of being No. 1 now is very slim. We need to win the rest of our games now unless other teams lose, which could happen.”

(About the last two regular-season home games coming up): “We’re excited, but we’re also a little bit sad because you know Kim (Kennedy) and Lauri (McIntosh) and Burgundie (Porter), who have been here for four years will be playing their last home games, as will Margot (Richards) and Leah (Whatley). But I don’t think that will be our focus. The focus is to win these two games. As far as hosting, we have to win out. We have to start by winning these two games at home. I think that’s what will be on our minds.”

 

n      Head Coach Paul Thomas

 

PLAYER NOTES

 

 

4                    KIARRA DRUMMOND (F, Jr., Los Angeles, University Texas, El Paso)

Last Weekend: DNP-CD in both games.

2001-02: Averaging 1.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists. Had nine points and six rebounds in win at Cal State Stanislaus (12-8-01).

Season Highs: Points – 9 at CS Stanislaus (12-8-01); Rebounds – 8 vs. Cal State L.A. (12-14-01); Assists – 2 at CS Stanislaus (12-8-01).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

BRITT SUMIDA (G, Fr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS)

Last Weekend: DNP-CD in both games.

2001-02: Averaging 1.0 point, 0.0 rebounds, 0.0 assists. Has appeared in five games and played a total of nine minutes.

Season Highs: Points – 2 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (1-23-02), vs. Azusa Pacific (11-24-01), vs. Cal State L.A. (12-14-01).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

LEAH WHATLEY (G, Sr., Suisun, Tarleton State)

Last Weekend: Had two points, three assists and four steals against Chico State on Friday; had nine points – on three 3-pointers – four assists and three steals on Saturday against UC Davis.

2001-02: Averaging 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Is tied for the team lead in assists with 75. Only Cal Poly Pomona player to start all 23 games.

Season Highs: Points – 17 vs. CS Dominguez Hills (12-15-01); Rebounds – 7 vs. Cal State L.A. (12-14-01); Assists – 8 at Cal State L.A. (2-9-02).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

SALMA RASHEED (F, So., Walnut, Walnut HS)

Last Weekend: Had five points and five rebounds in 10 minutes against Chico State on Friday; had two points and five points in 13 minutes against UC Davis on Saturday.

2001-02: Averaging 6.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Has appeared in all 23 games this season and started three times.

Season Highs: Points – 15 at UC San Diego (1-11-02); Rebounds – 6 at UC San Diego (1-11-02), vs. Cal State L.A. (12-14-01). Assists – 2 at Chico State (1-5-02).

Career Highs: Points – 15 at UC San Diego (1-11-02), vs. UC San Diego (1-12-01); Rebounds – 8 vs. UC Davis (1-19-01), vs. CS San Bernardino (1-24-01); Assists – 2 at Chico State (1-5-02), at Grand Canyon (3-2-01).

 

BURGUNDIE PORTER (G, Sr., San Dimas, San Dimas HS)

Last Weekend: Had 18 points, four rebounds and three assists Friday against Chico State; had 14 points, three rebounds and three assists Saturday against UC Davis.

2001-02: Averaging 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Has reached double figures in 13 of 23 games; had a career-high seven steals vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (12-15-01). Tied for the team lead in assists with 75.

Season Highs: Points – 21 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-24-01); Rebounds – 10 vs. Seattle Pacific (12-28-01). Assists – 7 vs. West Florida (11-30-01).

Career Highs: Points – 23 vs. Chico State (2-11-00); Rebounds – 11 vs. CS Bakersfield (12-15-01). Assists – 7 vs. West Florida (11-30-01).

 

CHRISTY GARDNER (G, Fr., Ontario, Ontario HS):

Last Weekend: Went scoreless with one steal against Chico State on Friday; went scoreless in five minutes against UC Davis on Saturday.

2001-02: Averaging 1.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Appeared in 22 games this season.

Season Highs: Points – 6 vs. CS Stanislaus (2-1-02), at CS Stanislaus (12-8-01); Rebounds – 5 at CS Bakersfield (12-9-01); Assists – 3 at CS Bakersfield (12-9-01).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

LAURI MCINTOSH (F, Sr., Diamond Bar, Diamond Bar HS):

Last Weekend: Poured in a game-high 33 points with six rebounds and five assists against Chico State on Friday; had 14 points, six rebounds, one assist and four steals against UC Davis on Saturday.

2001-02: Is second in the CCAA and second in the NCAA Division II in scoring with 23.3 points per game and is shooting a CCAA-best 57.7 percent. Also averaging team-best 8.3 rebounds per game. Is third on the team in assists (49, 2.3 per game). Set a new school record and tied CCAA mark with 46 points in win at Cal State Bakersfield (12-9-01). Tied school and CCAA record by making all 11 shots against Cal State L.A. (12-14-01).

Season Highs: Points – 46 at CS Bakersfield (12-9-01)* New School and CCAA Record; Rebounds – 16 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-24-01); Assists: 7 at Cal State L.A. (2-9-02)

Career Highs: Points – 46 at CS Bakersfield (12-09-01). Rebounds – 16 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-24-01), vs. Sonoma State (1-8-99); Assists – 7 at Cal State L.A. (2-9-02)

 

ANNA JAMES (G, Jr., Orangevale, Casa Roble HS)

Last Weekend: DNP – out for the season with a knee injury suffered against Cal State Bakersfield (2-2-02).

2001-02: Averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game. Was third on the team in scoring. Reached double figures in 12 of 19 games.

Season Highs: Points – 20 at Chico State (1-5-02), at CS Stanislaus (12-8-01); Rebounds – 6 at CS Bakersfield (12-9-01); Assists – 6 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-24-01).

Career Highs: Points – 26 at Azusa Pacific (11-21-00); Rebounds – 12 at CS Dominguez Hills (1-6-01); Assists – 6 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-24-01).

 

KIM KENNEDY (G, Sr., Walnut Creek, Carondelet HS)

Last Weekend: Had one point, two rebounds and one assist against Chico State on Friday; went scoreless with three rebounds and one assist against UC Davis on Saturday.

2001-02: Averaging 1.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Has appeared in 22 of 23 games this season, averaging 16.6 minutes per game.

Season Highs: Points – 6 at CS Stanislaus; Rebounds – 5 vs. CS Bakersfield (2-2-02). Assists – 4 at Cal State San Bernardino (1-26-02).

Career Highs: Points – 10 at San Francisco State (2-20-99); Rebounds – 6 vs. Grand Canyon (1-13-01); Assists – 8 at Tusculum College (11-27-99).

 

HEATHER REEDER (G, Jr., Wenatchee, WA, University of Portland)

Last Weekend: Had four points and three rebounds against Chico State on Friday; had three points and four rebounds against UC Davis on Saturday.

2001-02: Averaging 3.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Has appeared in all 23 games this season.

Season Highs: Points - 13 at Cal State San Bernardino (1-26-02); Rebounds – 6 at CS Stanislaus (12-8-01); Assists: 2 (Three times, most recent vs. Western Washington, 12-29-01).

Career Highs: First season with Broncos.

 

MARISA LATTIN (F, So., Oceanside, El Camino HS)

Last Weekend: Scored nine points with season-high seven rebounds against Chico State on Friday; had six points and six rebounds against UC Davis on Saturday.

2001-02: Averaging 3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Appeared in all 23 games this season and started five times.

Season Highs: Points – 13 Cal State L.A. (2-9-02); Rebounds – 7 vs. Chico State (2-15-02); Assists – 1 (10 times, most recent against UC Davis (2-16-02).

Career Highs: Points – 13 at Cal State L.A. (2-9-02); Rebounds – 8 vs. Sonoma State (2-18-00); Assists – 3 vs. Cal State L.A. (1-28-00).

 

MARGOT RICHARDS (G, Sr., Orangevale, Erskine College)

Last Weekend: Had eight points and six rebounds against UC Davis on Saturday; had five points and four rebounds against Chico State on Friday.

2001-02: Averaging 6.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Appeared in all 23 games and started 12 times.

Season Highs: Points – 14 against CS Bakersfield (2-2-02); Rebounds – 7 vs. West Florida (11-30-01); Assists – 2 (Five times, most recent at Grand Canyon (1-12-02).

Career Highs: Points – 16 at Azusa Pacific (11-21-00); Rebounds – 7 vs. West Florida (11-30-01); Assists – 2 (Nine times, most recent vs. Western Washington, 12-29-01).

 

APRILE POWELL (C, So., Santa Ana, Century HS)

Last Weekend: Had 11 points and seven rebounds against Chico State on Friday; had six points and three rebounds against UC Davis on Saturday.

2001-02: Averaging 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. The returning All-American and Elite Eight Most Outstanding Player in 2000-01 has appeared in 15 games this season and started the last 11. Is second on the team in scoring and rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 23 at CS San Bernardino (1-26-02); Rebounds – 16 at CS San Bernardino (1-26-02); Assists – 3 at Cal State L.A. (2-9-02), at Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-8-02).

Career Highs: Points – 31 vs. Sonoma State (2-2-01); Rebounds – 18 vs. North Dakota (3-24-01); Assists – 3 at Cal State L.A. (2-9-02), at Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-8-02).