CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003-04 CPP Record: 13-6. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 9-5

2003-04 Regional Ranking: 4

 

Broncos Try To Stay Alive In CCAA Title Chase: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball program, which has won two NCAA Division II championships in the past three years, will face a pair of Southern California rivals this week as the Broncos look to stay in the California Collegiate Athletic Association title chase. Cal Poly Pomona, after losing to Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday night, is currently in a third-place tie in the conference, two games behind the league-leading Roadrunners and one game behind second-place Grand Canyon. The Broncos will face Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday night in the Torodome and then complete the weekend on Saturday night against Cal State L.A. in Los Angeles. Cal Poly Pomona split games with the Toros and Golden Eagles earlier this season in Kellogg Gym. 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 enjoyed a lopsided victory on Friday night against Cal State Stanislaus, but fell to Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday night in the battle for first place in the CCAA. First, Cal Poly Pomona picked up its second win over Cal State Stanislaus in six days, rolling past the Warriors, 85-43. The Broncos forced 32 Cal State Stanislaus turnovers and limited the Warriors to just 36 percent shooting. Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas) had 22 points and eight rebounds to lead the Broncos, while Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) added 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) had 14 points and seven assists, while Marisa Lattin (Sr., Oceanside, El Camino HS) had 14 points, five rebounds and one assist. Jaida Williams (Sr., Opalocka, Fla., Barry University) had nine points and seven rebounds. Cal Poly Pomona, though, couldn’t complete the weekend sweep and fell to Cal State Bakersfield, 87-80, on Saturday. Allen had a game-high 34 points, including 25 in the second half, while Lattin and Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) had 11 points each. Beachem had eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The Broncos had a slim 26-24 edge on the boards, but committed 26 turnovers. The Roadrunners shot a sizzling 58.9 percent from the floor, including six of nine 3-point attempts. The game was tied at 61-61 with 9:17 to go after a layup by Allen, but the Roadrunners scored five straight points and led the rest of the way. A 3-pointer by Allen cut the deficit to 75-73 with 3:38 remaining, but Cal State Bakersfield then went on an 11-3 run to put the game away.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 45-8 all-time against Cal State Dominguez Hills, but had a 13-game winning streak against the Toros snapped earlier this season in Kellogg Gym. The Toros shot 57 percent, held the Broncos to 32 percent shooting and beat the Broncos, 71-59. Octavia Askew had 19 points and Zipporah Chase had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Toros, while Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona won both games last season, 66-55, in Kellogg Gym and 82-71 in Carson. Cal Poly Pomona is 58-4 all-time against Cal State L.A., including a 75-73 win in Kellogg Gym earlier this season. Monica Tokoro had 25 points for the Golden Eagles, while Fletcher had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Broncos. A pair of steals by Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College) in the final minute helped the Broncos rally from a late 72-69 deficit.

 

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 and the nation in scoring, is second in steals, second in field-goal percentage, 12th in rebounding and 10th in free-throw shooting percentage. Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas) is 17th in scoring, ninth in rebounding, 10th in steals and 13th in blocks. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) is 30th in scoring, 20th in rebounding, eighth in free-throw percentage and 19th in blocks. Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) is fifth in steals and 14th in free-throw shooting percentage and Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College) is 15th in assists and 16th in  steals. As a team, Cal Poly Pomona is second in scoring offense, eighth in scoring defense, first 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 194-83 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. 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 34 points and six rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday; had 14 points, three rebounds and seven assists against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 25.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Leads the team in scoring and steals and is second in rebounding and 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), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: Went scoreless with three rebounds against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; went scoreless against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.5 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.8 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), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04); 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: Had nine points and seven rebounds against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; had five points, one rebound and one assist against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.8 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 Friday; DNP-CD against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.2 points, 1.6 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 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and seven steals against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; had eight points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring and leads the team in rebounding. Also is second on 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 – 3 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04), vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-7-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: Had 16 points, four rebounds and a career-high four assists against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; had six points and five rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 10.5 points, 5.5 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 66 makes in 80 tries (.825).

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 – 4 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04).

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 – 4 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04).

 

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

Last Week: Went scoreless with one assist against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; DNP-CD against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.2 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.4 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 five points, three rebounds and one assist against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday; went scoreless with five rebounds and two assists against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. 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 14 points, five rebounds and one assist against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; had 11 points, two rebounds and two assists against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 8.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 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 11 points, two rebounds and two assists against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday; had four points, four rebounds and two assists against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 7.8 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 against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; DNP-CD against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

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 six points and three rebounds against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; went scoreless with one rebound against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 6 vs. Chico State (1-2-04), vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04); 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 (2-10-04)

CCAA                                                    Overall

                                                W            L             Pct.                         W            L             Pct.

CS Bakersfield              11         3          .786                  15         4          .789

Grand Canyon               10         4          .714                  13         6          .684

Cal Poly Pomona          9          5          .643                  13         6          .684

Sonoma State               9          5          .643                  12         7          .632

Chico State                   8          6          .571                  12         7          .632

UC Davis                      8          6          .571                  13         7          .650

UC San Diego               7          7          .500                  11         8          .579

CS Dominguez Hills      6          8          .429                  10         9          .526

San Francisco State      5          9          .357                  9          10         .474

CS San Bernardino        4          10         .286                  7          12         .368

CS Stanislaus                4          10         .286                  7          12         .368

Cal State L.A.                3          11         .214                  4          15         .211