CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003-04 CPP Record: 3-0. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 0-0

 

Broncos Begin CCAA Action In A Hurry: Although the 2003-04 season is only three games old, Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team will begin California Collegiate Athletic Association play on Tuesday with a contest at Cal State San Bernardino at 5:30 p.m. The two teams will then square off in a return matchup on Saturday, Dec. 13, in Kellogg Gym. The Broncos are off to a 3-0 start after an 80-56 win over Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday in Kellogg Gym. Cal Poly Pomona is 3-0 for the first time since the 2000-01 season when the Broncos won their first of two straight national championships. Cal Poly Pomona was only 1-3 to open the 2002-03 season and two of those defeats came against Cal State San Bernardino. Cal Poly Pomona is tied with North Dakota State for most national championships won in Division II (5) and still holds the record 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 rolled to an 80-56 victory over Pt. Loma Nazarene Saturday night in Kellogg Gym. The Broncos scored the first nine points of the game and held a 23-4 lead in the first 10 minutes of the contest. Cal Poly Pomona led by as many as 21 points in the first half before settling for a 38-19 halftime advantage. The Broncos then broke the game wide open in the second half and held a 40-point lead, 67-27, with 9:13 to go. Pt. Loma was able to trim the deficit to as low as 23 points late in the game. Cal Poly Pomona had a 47-27 rebounding edge and forced 22 turnovers. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) led 11 Cal Poly Pomona players in scoring with 20 points, while Britt Sumida (Jr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS) had a career-high 11 points. Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas) added nine points and five rebounds, while Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College) had seven points and four steals. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had seven rebounds for the Broncos, while Jaida Williams (Sr., Opalocki, Fla., Barry University) and Allen had six rebounds each. Allen and Swanson-Cades had four steals each.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 18-7 all-time against Cal State San Bernardino, but the Coyotes won both early-season contests last year. The Coyotes prevailed, 72-68, on Dec. 7 in Kellogg Gym and won, 71-67, in San Bernardino on Dec. 14. Prior to last season, the Broncos had won nine straight games against Cal State San Bernardino. The Coyotes were finished fifth in the CCAA last year with a 12-10 record. The Coyotes were 16-11 overall. So far this season, Cal State San Bernardino is 1-2. The Coyotes are coming off a 49-45 loss to Christian Heritage.

 

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.

 

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 184-77 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. And the newest assistant coach, Lauri McIntosh, has a pair of championship rings she won while playing for the Broncos. McIntosh finished her career after the 2002 title run and is completing her degree at Cal Poly Pomona. She was the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in 2002 and finished her career as the No. 2 scorer in Cal Poly Pomona history with 2,176 points.

 

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 have the most postseason victories (46) in NCAA Division II and are tied with North Dakota State for the 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), 30 All-American awards earned by 19 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 20 points, six rebounds, one assist and four steals against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 25.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Leads the team in scoring, rebounding and assists and is tied for the lead in steals.

Season Highs: Points – 35 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03); Rebounds – 11 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 5 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: Had a career-high 11 points, two rebounds and two assists against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Hit go-ahead 3-pointer in second half in win over Azusa Pacific and hit a career-high three 3-pointers against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

Season Highs: Points – 11 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 2 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. Is expected to 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. Is fifth on the team in scoring.

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 four points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 6 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03); Rebounds – 6 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Assists – 3 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03).

Career Highs: Points – 10 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-7-02); 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: Had season-high five points and four rebounds against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game. Made her Cal Poly Pomona debut on Friday against Abilene Christian on Nov. 22.

Season Highs: Points – 5 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 4 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Assists – 0.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: Had nine points, five rebounds and two assists against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring and second in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 21 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03); Rebounds – 11 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 2 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 six points and seven rebounds against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist per game. Is fourth on the team in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 9 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Rebounds – 7 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Assists – 3 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03).

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

 

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

Last Week: Had five points, two rebounds and one steal against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 3.0 points and 1.0 rebound per game. Made her Cal Poly Pomona debut on Saturday.

Season Highs: Points – 5 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 2 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos

 

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

Last Week: Had seven points, two rebounds and four steals against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 7.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Third on the team in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 9 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Rebounds – 3 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 2 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03).

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: Went scoreless in nine minutes against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 3.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Is third on the team in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 6 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Rebounds – 8 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 2 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03) .

Career Highs: Points – 38 vs. UC Davis (2-14-03);  Rebounds – 13 vs. UC Davis (2-14-03); Assists – 3 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 five points, five rebounds and three assists against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Is third on the team in steals with eight.

Season Highs: Points – 5 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03); Rebounds – 6 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 2 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03).

Career Highs: Points – 10 at Cal State Stanislaus (3-7-03); Rebounds – 7 vs. Westminster College (12-21-02); Assists – 3 at Cal State Bakersfield (3-8-03), at San Francisco State (2-28-03), vs. Western Washington (12-28-03).

 

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

Last Week: Had two points against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.0 point, 0.0 rebounds, 0.0 assists per game. Made her Cal Poly Pomona debut against Azusa Pacific.

Season Highs: None.

Career Highs: First year with Bronco.

 

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

Last Week: Had a career-high six points and one assist against Pt. Loma Nazarene on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 6 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 3 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03); Assists – 1 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03).

Career Highs: Points – 6 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 4 at Western Washington (12-28-02); Assists – 1 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03), vs. Cal State L.A. (2-7-03).