CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003-04 CPP Record: 10-5. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 6-4

2003-04 Regional Ranking: 5

 

Broncos Hit The Road For Important Swing: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball program, which has won two NCAA Division II championships in the past three years, will face one of the most daunting road trips in the California Collegiate Athletic Association this week. The Broncos will face CCAA co-leader Cal State Bakersfield on Friday night and then travel to Turlock to meet Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday night. Cal Poly Pomona, after its fourth consecutive weekend split, finds itself tied for third place in the conference with UC Davis. The Broncos are two games behind co-leaders Cal State Bakersfield and Grand Canyon. This week begins an unusual two-week stretch of games for the Broncos. After facing Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State Stanislaus on the road, the Broncos will host both teams in reverse order next week. Cal Poly Pomona will host Cal State Stanislaus on Pack the Gym Night in Kellogg Gym on Friday, Feb. 6 and entertain Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, Feb. 7. Cal Poly Pomona is tied with North Dakota State for most national championships won in Division II (5) and for most postseason wins (46) in Division II. The Broncos have three starters returning from last year’s team, including second-team All-CCAA forward Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS), four-year standout Marisa Lattin (Sr., Oceanside, El Camino HS) and second-year guard Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College). Seven players in all return from last year’s squad.

 

About Last Week: Cal Poly Pomona was forced to settle for yet another weekend split after losing to Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday for the first time in 15 meetings. The Broncos opened the weekend with a narrow 75-73 victory over Cal State L.A. in a contest that went down to the wire. Cal Poly Pomona opened a 41-31 halftime lead, only to see the Golden Eagles surge in the second half and grab a 58-51 advantage. The game was tied at 69-69 when Cal State L.A.’s Jacquelyn Tennies hit a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left. The Broncos countered with a Candice Allen layup with 30 seconds to go. Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College) then made a clean steal and rebounded her own missed layup to give the Broncos the lead. Swanson-Cades then made another steal, leading to a free-throw attempt for Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS). Fletcher missed the front end of a 1-and-1, but ran down the rebound and was fouled again. This time, Fletcher made both attempts to give the Broncos a 75-72 lead with four seconds left. Cal State L.A. inbounded the ball and was only able to get a desperation 3-point attempt by Tennies just past the midcourt line and right before the buzzer. The shot fell way short, but the referees called a foul on Jaida Williams (Sr., Opalocka, Fla., Barry University) and awarded Tennies three free throws. She made the first, but missed the second. She then missed the third on purpose, but time ran out as the teams battled for the rebound. Fletcher had 22 points and nine rebounds to lead the Broncos, while Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas) had 16 points and nine rebounds. Swanson-Cades had a season-high 13 points and nine rebounds, while Allen was held to a season-low 11 points. She also had six rebounds and four assists. Cal Poly Pomona was then held to 32 percent shooting by Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday night and lost to the Toros, 71-59. The Broncos trailed, 37-30, at halftime and surrendered the first 10 points of the second half. Cal State Dominguez Hills led by double-digit margins the rest of the way. Fletcher had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Broncos, while Allen and Williams had 12 points each. Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) had 11 points.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 4-3 all-time against Cal State Bakersfield, but dropped both games to the Roadrunners season. Cal Poly Pomona dropped a heartbreaking 92-90 overtime decision to the Roadrunners in Kellogg Gym. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had 22 points to lead the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona then ended its 2002-03 season with a 98-91 loss to Cal State Bakersfield at Centennial Garden. Alicia Hernandez had 30 points for the Broncos in that one. Cal Poly Pomona 13-6 all-time against Cal State Stanislaus, but lost both games to the Warriors last season. The Warriors posted a 72-69 win in Kellogg Gym. Fletcher had 22 points for the Broncos. Cal State Stanislaus won again in Turlock, 90-73. Monica Armstrong led the Broncos with 16 points in that one.

 

Let Us Introduce Ourselves: Cal Poly Pomona has several new players on its roster, including a pair of student-athletes from Division I programs. The Broncos welcome local high-school star Candice Allen (G, Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona), who played at Ayala High School and Keila Beachem (F, Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas), who started nine games for the Jayhawks last season. Khiara Ferguson (Fr., Gardena, Bishop Montgomery HS) is a top freshman newcomer.

 

Pomona Is Title Town: Cal Poly Pomona basketball teams have won regional basketball championships three straight seasons. The Bronco women won regional titles in 2001 and 2002 on their way to NCAA Division II championships. The Bronco men captured the regional title in 2003 on their way to the Elite Eight. No other basketball program in the West Region can match that success.

 

In The Conference: Several Broncos are among the California Collegiate Athletic Association statistical leaders. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) leads the conference in scoring, is second in field-goal percentage, third in steals, 11th in free-and 13th in rebounding. Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas) is 12th in rebounding and 15th in blocks. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) is sixth in free-throw percentage and 20th in rebounding, Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) is tied for fifth in steals and tied for 11th in free-throw percentage and Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College) is 13th in steals. As a team, Cal Poly Pomona is third in scoring offense, 11th in scoring defense, fourth in rebounding, third in steals, third in turnover margin and first in offensive rebounding.

 

Broncos Picked To Finish Second In CCAA: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball program, which has won a record 18 California Collegiate Athletic Association championships, has been picked to finish second in the conference this season in voting by the conference coaches. Chico State, which finished second last season and has three starters returning, has been tabbed as the conference favorite. Defending conference champion Cal State Bakersfield was picked third and Cal State Stanislaus is fourth.

 

Where We Left Off: The Broncos lost its final two road games at Cal State Stanislaus and Cal State Bakersfield and finished the 2002-03 season with a 13-14 overall record. It was only the second time in the program’s history that Cal Poly Pomona had a non-winning record. The Broncos were unsuccessful in their bid for a first-ever third consecutive NCAA Division II championship. When Cal Poly Pomona won national titles in 2000-01 and 2001-02, it marked the second time in the program’s history that the Broncos had won back-to-back championships. Previously, Cal Poly Pomona had won consecutive titles in 1985 and 1986. The Broncos also saw their three-year reign atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association come to an end with a sixth-place finish. The Broncos, who have won 18 CCAA titles, had won five titles in the previous six years.

 

The Thomas Guide: Paul Thomas is in his 10th 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 191-82 at Cal Poly Pomona and has guided the Broncos into the postseason in six out of the past seven seasons. The Broncos have also won five CCAA titles during the Thomas years, including three in the past four seasons.

 

How About Those Rings: You’d be hard-pressed to find a more star-studded coaching staff in the NCAA Division II than the one at Cal Poly Pomona. 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 Heather Jacobsen has a pair of national championship rings she earned while part of the coaching staff in 2001 and 2002. Jacobsen also played for the Broncos and was a three-sport standout in high school, competing in basketball, volleyball and track and field. 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’ back-to-back national championships in 2001 and 2002 have just added to the program’s rich women’s basketball history. The Broncos are tied with North Dakota State for the most postseason victories (46) in NCAA Division II and most national championships (5).  Their 18 NCAA postseason appearances are second overall to Bentley and the .780 postseason winning percentage is second to North Dakota State’s .804. 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), 35 All-America awards earned by 20 different players, 18 CCAA titles and 9 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 12 points, six rebounds and one assist against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; had a season-low 11 points, six rebounds and four assists against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 24.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Leads the team in scoring, rebounding and steals and is second in assists. Leads the NCAA Division II in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 40 vs. UC Davis (1-3-04); Rebounds – 11 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 5 vs. Western Washington (12-19-03), Abilene Christian (11-21-03).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: DNP-CD and is sidelined indefinitely with an injured foot.

2003-04: Averaging 3.1 points, 0.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Hit go-ahead 3-pointer in second half in win over Azusa Pacific and hit a career-high three 3-pointers in win over Pt. Loma Nazarene.

Season Highs: Points – 11 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 2 vs. Western Washington (12-19-03), vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Assists – 2 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03).

Career Highs: Points – 11 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 3 vs. UC San Diego (2-21-03), Assists – 3 vs. UC San Diego (2-21-03), at UC San Diego (1-18-03).

 

14        LEANNE JENKINS (G, Fr., Selma, Selma HS)

Last Week: DNP-CD. Will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

2003-04: Averaging 5.5 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.0 assist per game.

Season Highs: Points – 6 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03); Rebounds – 2 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03); Assists – 1 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03), vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

21        JAIDA WILLIAMS (F, Sr. Opalocka, Fla., Barry University)

Last Week: Scored a career-high 12 points and had five rebounds against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; had eight points and six rebounds against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. Has started eight times.

Season Highs: Points – 12 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04); Rebounds – 8 at San Francisco State (1-17-04); Assists – 3 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03).

Career Highs: Points – 12 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04); Rebounds – 9 at Azusa Pacific (11-23-02); Assists – 3 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03).

 

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

Last Week: Went scoreless with one rebound against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; went scoreless in eight minutes against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. Made her Cal Poly Pomona debut against Abilene Christian on Nov. 22.

Season Highs: Points – 6 vs. Chico State (1-2-04); Rebounds – 5 vs. Seattle Pacific (12-20-03); Assists – 1 at UC San Diego (1-9-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

23        KEILA BEACHEM (F, Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas)

Last Week: Had 16 points, nine rebounds and two assists against Cal State L.A. on Friday; had three points and six rebounds against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring and leads the team in rebounding. Tied for the team lead in blocked shots with nine.

Season Highs: Points – 26 at UC San Diego (1-9-04); Rebounds – 12 at Grand Canyon (1-10-04); Assists – 2 vs. Cal State LA (1-23-04), vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-13-03), at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03), vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03), vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03)

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: Had 22 points and nine rebounds against Cal State L.A. on Friday; had 17 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and one assist against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Is third on the team in scoring and third in rebounding. Leads the team in free-throw percentage with 62 makes in 74 tries (.838).

Season Highs: Points – 24 vs. UC Davis (1-3-04); Rebounds – 10 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04), vs.UC Davis (1-3-04); Assists – 3 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-13-03), vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03).

Career Highs: Points – 25 at Sonoma State (3-1-03); Rebounds – 10 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04), vs. UC Davis (1-3-04), at Cal State L.A. (2-7-03); Assists – 3 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-13-03), vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03), vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-7-02).

 

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

Last Week: Went scoreless with one assist against Cal State L.A. on Friday; went scoreless with one assist against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.3 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Made her Cal Poly Pomona debut against Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03).

Season Highs: Points – 5 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 2 at San Francisco State (1-17-04), at Sonoma State (1-16-04), at Grand Canyon (1-10-04), vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03). Assists – 2 at Grand Canyon (1-10-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos

 

32        TAMI SWANSON-CADES (G, Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College)

Last Week: Scored a season-high 13 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists against Cal State L.A. on Friday; had four points, three assists and three rebounds against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Is seventh on the team in scoring and leads the team in assists.

Season Highs: Points – 13 vs. Cal State L.A. (1-23-04); Rebounds – 9 vs. Cal State L.A. (1-23-04); Assists – 6 at San Francisco State (1-17-04), at Sonoma State (1-16-04), vs. UC Davis (1-3-04), vs. Seattle Pacific (12-20-03).

Career Highs: Points – 18 vs. Westminster College (12-21-02); Rebounds – 10 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (1-31-03); Assists – 8 vs. Chico State (2-15-03).

 

34        MARISA LATTIN (F, Sr., Oceanside, El Camino HS)

Last Week: DNP-CD. Is sidelined with an ankle sprain.

2003-04: Averaging 9.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Is fourth on the team in scoring and rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 36 vs. Chico State (1-2-04); Rebounds – 10 vs. Western Washington (12-19-03); Assists – 3 vs. UC Davis (1-3-04).

Career Highs: Points – 38 vs. UC Davis (2-14-03);  Rebounds – 13 vs. UC Davis (2-14-03); Assists – 3 vs. UC Davis (1-3-04), vs. UC San Diego (2-21-03), at Cal State San Bernardino (2-14-02), at San Francisco State (3-02-02) vs. Cal State L.A. (1-28-00).

 

40        SHANIKA PERKINS (G, So., Oakland, Oakland HS)

Last Week: Had 11 points, one rebound and one assist against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; had two points, three rebounds and two assists against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 8.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Is fifth on the team in scoring, third in assists and second in steals.

Season Highs: Points – 17 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-13-03); Rebounds – 7 at San Francisco State (1-17-04); Assists – 5 vs. Chico State (1-2-04).

Career Highs: Points – 17 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-13-03); Rebounds – 7 at San Francisco State (1-17-04), vs. Westminster College (12-21-02); Assists – 5 vs. Chico State (1-2-04).

 

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

Last Week: Scored a season-high three points and had two rebounds against Cal State L.A. on Friday; went scoreless with two rebounds against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 0.6 points, 0.6 rebounds, 0.0 assists per game. Made her Cal Poly Pomona debut against Azusa Pacific on Nov. 22.

Season Highs: Points – 3 vs. Cal State L.A. (1-23-04); Rebounds – 2 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04), vs. Cal State L.A. (1-23-04).

Career Highs: First year with Bronco.

 

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

Last Week: Went scoreless with three rebounds against Cal State L.A. on Friday; went scoreless with two rebounds and one assist against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 6 vs. Chico State (1-2-04), vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 4 at Sonoma State (1-16-04); Assists – 3 at UC San Diego (1-9-04).

Career Highs: Points – 6 vs. Chico State (1-2-04), vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 4 at Sonoma State (1-16-04), at Western Washington (12-28-02); Assists – 3 at UC San Diego (1-9-04).

 

 

 

 

 

2003-04 CCAA STANDINGS (1-24-04)

CCAA                                                    Overall

                                                W            L             Pct.                         W            L             Pct.

CS Bakersfield              8          2          .800                  12         3          .800

Grand Canyon               8          2          .800                  11         4          .733

Cal Poly Pomona          6          4          .600                  10         5          .667

UC Davis                      6          4          .600                  11         5          .688

CS Dominguez Hills      5          5          .500                  9          6          .600

UC San Diego               5          5          .500                  9          6          .600

San Francisco State      5          5          .500                  9          6          .600

Sonoma State               5          5          .500                  8          7          .533

Chico State                   4          6          .400                  8          7          .533

CS San Bernardino        4          6          .400                  7          8          .467

CS Stanislaus                2          8          .200                  5          10         .333

Cal State L.A.                2          8          .200                  3          12         .200