CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003-04 CPP Record: 15-6. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 11-5

2003-04 Regional Ranking: 5

 

Broncos Return Home For Big CCAA Contests: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball program, which has won two NCAA Division II championships in the past three years, will play four of its last six regular-season games in Kellogg Gym, beginning this weekend against a pair of Northern California rivals. The Broncos will face San Francisco State on Friday night and will look to avenge an early-season loss to the Gators in San Francisco. Then, the Broncos will host regionally-ranked Sonoma State on Saturday night in a showdown with major postseason implications. Cal Poly Pomona is currently tied for second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with Grand Canyon, two games behind first-place Cal State Bakersfield. Sonoma State and Chico State are one game behind the Broncos and Antelopes. 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 bounced back nicely from its loss to Cal State Bakersfield on Feb. 7 and recorded road victories over Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A. The Broncos avenged a loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills in Kellogg Gym on Jan. 24 by beating the Toros, 77-66, Friday night in the Torodome. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona), the leading scorer in NCAA Division II, poured in a game-high 29 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists. Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas) and Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had 12 points and seven rebounds each. Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) had six points and a career-high 10 rebounds. The Broncos held a 43-30 rebounding edge and made 24 of 34 free-throw attempts. The Broncos scored the first six points of the game and never trailed. The Broncos led by as many as 11 points in the first half before settling for a 33-27 halftime lead and then led by as many as 15 points in the second half. Cal Poly Pomona did much the same thing the next night against Cal State L.A., jumping out to a 15-5 lead in the first six minutes of the game. Cal State L.A. got to within three points, 21-18, but the Broncos held a 39-30 lead at halftime. The Golden Eagles got to within three points again in the second half, 52-49, with 12:33 remaining, but the Broncos went on a 12-2 run and led by double-digit margins the rest of the way. Allen had a game-high 27 points and eight rebounds to lead the Broncos, while Marisa Lattin (Sr., Oceanside, El Camino HS) had 15 points and four rebounds. Beachem had 12 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and three steals, while Fletcher had 11 points and eight rebounds. Cal Poly Pomona enjoyed a 46-24 rebounding edge and forced 21 turnovers.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 24-1 all-time against San Francisco State, but the Gators beat the Broncos for the first time ever on Jan. 17 in San Francisco, 59-57, on a buzzer-beater by DeAnn Butler. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) had tied the game just six seconds earlier on a layup. Cristal Fernandez had 18 points to lead the Gators, while Allen had 17 points and Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) had 16 points for the Broncos. The Broncos committed 31 turnovers in the game. The Broncos won both contests last season, 88-66, in Kellogg Gym behind 24 points and 10 rebounds from Alicia Hernandez and 75-64 in San Francisco behind 17 points and six rebounds from Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS). Cal Poly Pomona is 12-5 all-time against Sonoma State, including an 83-77 win in Rohnert Park on Jan. 16. Allen poured in a game-high 31 points to lead the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona also won both games last season, 65-62 in Kellogg Gym behind 17 points from Fletcher and 53-52 in Rohnert Park behind 25 points and eight rebounds from Fletcher, including the game-winning basket with five seconds remaining.

 

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 19th in scoring, seventh in rebounding, ninth in steals and 16th in field-goal percentage. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) is 29th in scoring and 17th in rebounding. Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) is sixth in steals and Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College) is 15th in assists and 18th in  steals. As a team, Cal Poly Pomona is first in scoring offense, first in rebounding and eighth in scoring defense.

 

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 196-83 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 29 points, six rebounds and three assists against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday; had 27 points, eight rebounds and two assists against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 25.3 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: Had one point against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday; went scoreless against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.2 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.7 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 eight points, one rebound and one assist against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday; had four points and six rebounds against Cal State L.A. 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 Dominguez Hills on Friday; went scoreless against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.1 points, 1.5 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 12 points, eight rebounds, and three steals against Cal State L.A. on Saturday; had 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring and leads the team in rebounding, and is tied for the team lead in blocked shots.

Season Highs: Points – 26 at UC San Diego (1-9-04); Rebounds – 15 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-30-04); Assists – 4 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-13-04)

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: Had 12 points and seven rebounds against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday; had 11 points, eight rebounds and one assist against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. Is third on the team in scoring and rebounding, and second on team in free-throw percentage with 79 makes in 97 tries (.814).

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: Had one point against Cal State L.A. on Saturday; went scoreless against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.2 points, 0.7 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 five points, six rebounds and three assists against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday; had four points, four rebounds and four assists against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.9 points, 3.5 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 15 points and four rebounds against Cal State L.A. on Saturday; had four points and two rebounds against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 8.9 points, 4.4 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 six points and a career-high 10 rebounds against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday; had five points, five rebounds and one assist against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 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 – 10 at Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-13-04); Assists – 5 vs. Chico State (1-2-04).

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. Chico State (1-2-04).

 

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

Last Week: Went scoreless against Cal State L.A. on Saturday; DNP-CD against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 0.4 points, 0.4 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 two points and one rebound against Cal State L.A. on Saturday; went scoreless against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.1 points, 1.7 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 (2-17-04)

CCAA                                                    Overall

                                                W            L             Pct.                         W            L             Pct.

CS Bakersfield              13         3          .813                  17         4          .810

Cal Poly Pomona          11         5          .688                  15         6          .714

Grand Canyon               11         5          .688                  14         7          .667

Chico State                   10         6          .625                  14         7          .667

Sonoma State               10         6          .625                  13         8          .619

UC San Diego               8          8          .500                  12         9          .571

UC Davis                      8          8          .500                  13         9          .591

CS Dominguez Hills      6          10         .375                  10         11         .476

San Francisco State      6          10         .375                  10         11         .476

CS San Bernardino        5          11         .313                  8          13         .381

CS Stanislaus                4          12         .250                  7          14         .333

Cal State L.A.                4          12         .250                  5          16         .238