CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003-04 CPP Record: 12-5. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 8-4

2003-04 Regional Ranking: 5

 

Broncos Try To Build On An Encouraging Weekend: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball program, which has won two NCAA Division II championships in the past three years, will complete a two-week, four-game stretch against California Collegiate Athletic Association rivals Cal State Stanislaus and Cal State Bakersfield with home games this weekend. The Broncos will face Cal State Stanislaus on Friday on “Pack the Gym Night” in Kellogg Gym and then entertain CCAA co-leader Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday night. The Broncos swept Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State Stanislaus last weekend to move within one game of conference co-leaders Grand Canyon and Cal State Bakersfield. The Broncos recorded a weekend sweep in CCAA play for the first time this season. Cal Poly Pomona had split the previous four weekends of competition. 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 finally able to record a weekend sweep in California Collegiate Athletic Association play and it was a big one. The Broncos started the weekend with a big 71-64 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Friday night in Centennial Garden that briefly knocked the Roadrunners out of a share of first place. The Broncos shot just 28 percent in the first half, yet trailed by only five, 33-28 at halftime. Cal Poly Pomona jumped out to a 15-4 lead, but Cal State Bakersfield scored 13 straight points to overtake the Broncos. The Roadrunners hit a 3-pointer to open the second half and take an eight-point lead, but Cal Poly Pomona rallied and took the lead for good on a layup by Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas) with 4:14 to go. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) scored 10 points in the final five minutes to secure the win for the Broncos. Allen finished with 28 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Beachem had 21 points and 15 rebounds in a powerful double-double. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) added eight points and six rebounds. The Broncos owned a 43-35 rebounding edge and forced 27 turnovers. The Broncos also made 23 of 28 free-throw attempts. Cal Poly Pomona then completed the weekend sweep with a 90-73 win over Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday. The Broncos held a 44-36 lead at halftime, saw the lead get cut to four points early in the second half and then broke the game open. Allen had 31 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals, while Beachem added 19 points and nine rebounds. Jaida Williams (Sr., Opalocka, Fla., Barry University) had a career-high 16 points and five rebounds, while Fletcher had 10 points and six rebounds. The Broncos enjoyed a 34-25 rebounding advantage and forced 30 turnovers.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 14-6 all-time against Cal State Stanislaus, including the 90-73 win on Saturday. The Broncos 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 Cal Poly Pomona is 5-3 all-time against Cal State Bakersfield, including the 71-64 win Friday in Bakersfield. The Broncos dropped both games to the Roadrunners last 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.

 

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.

 

Allen Earns CCAA Player Of The Week Honors: Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) has been named the Wilson California Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 26 – Feb. 1. Allen received the award for the fourth time this season. For her latest honor, Allen averaged 29.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 5.0 steals in wins at Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State Stanislaus. Allen had 28 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and five steals in a 71-64 win over Cal State Bakersfield on Friday and then added 31 points, five steals, four rebounds and four assists in a 90-73 win at Cal State Stanislaus.

 

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 and steals, is third in field-goal percentage, 12th in free-throw shooting and 12th in rebounding. Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas) is 17th in scoring, ninth in rebounding, 17th in field-goal percentage, 20th in steals and 15th in blocks. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) is 30th in scoring, 18th in rebounding, eighth in free-throw percentage and 16th in blocks. Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) is sixth in steals and Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College) is 13th in assists and 12th in  steals. As a team, Cal Poly Pomona is second in scoring offense, ninth in scoring defense, second in rebounding, second 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 193-82 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 31 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; had 28 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and five steals against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 25.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 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 – 7 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-30-04).

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 16 points and had five rebounds against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; went scoreless with one rebound against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Has started eight times.

Season Highs: Points – 16 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04); Rebounds – 8 at San Francisco State (1-17-04); Assists – 3 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03).

Career Highs: Points – 16 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04); 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 Stanislaus on Saturday; went scoreless with one rebound against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.3 points, 1.7 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 21 points and a season-high 15 rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday; had 19 points and nine rebounds against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 12.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring and leads the team in rebounding. Also leads the team in blocked shots.

Season Highs: Points – 26 at UC San Diego (1-9-04); Rebounds – 15 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-30-04); Assists – 2 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-30-04), 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 10 points and six rebounds against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; had eight points and six rebounds against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Is third on the team in scoring and third in rebounding. Leads the team in free-throw percentage with 64 makes in 76 tries (.842).

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: Had three points, two rebounds and one assist against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; went scoreless against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

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 Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04), 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: Had four points, three rebounds and four assists against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; had four points, one rebound and one assist against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 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: Had six points and four rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday; went scoreless with three rebounds and two steals against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists 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 four points and three rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday; had three points, two assists and two steals against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 7.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 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: Went scoreless with one steal against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; DNP-CD against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 0.5 points, 0.5 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: Had four points, one rebound and one assist against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; went scoreless against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.2 points, 1.8 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 (2-3-04)

CCAA                                                    Overall

                                                W            L             Pct.                         W            L             Pct.

CS Bakersfield              9          3          .750                  13         4          .765

Grand Canyon               9          3          .750                  12         5          .706

Cal Poly Pomona          8          4          .667                  12         5          .706

Sonoma State               7          5          .583                  10         7          .588

CS Dominguez Hills      6          6          .500                  10         7          .588

Chico State                   6          6          .500                  10         7          .588

UC San Diego               6          6          .500                  10         7          .588

UC Davis                      6          6          .500                  11         7          .611

San Francisco State      5          7          .417                  9          8          .529

CS San Bernardino        4          8          .333                  7          10         .412

CS Stanislaus                3          9          .250                  6          11         .353

Cal State L.A.                3          9          .250                  4          13         .235