CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003-04 CPP Record: 6-1. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 2-0

 

Broncos Take A Break And Then Resume CCAA Schedule: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball program, which has won two NCAA Division II championships in the past three years, will have a lengthy break before resuming California Collegiate Athletic Association action with a pair of important home games on Jan. 2 and 3. The Broncos will face CCAA preseason favorite Chico State on Jan. 2 at 5:30 p.m. in Kellogg Gym and then face UC Davis, which will be heading for NCAA Division I next year, on Jan. 3 at 5:30 p.m. The Broncos will be coming off a split in the third annual CCAA-GNAC Classic at Cal State L.A. Cal Poly Pomona overpowered Western Washington, 81-63, and then dropped a tough 79-78 decision to Seattle Pacific. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) was named the tournament Most Valuable Player, while Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) was also named to the five-player all-tournament team. 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 split its two games in the third annual CCAA-GNAC Classic at Cal State L.A. The Broncos opened the tourney with an 81-63 victory over Western Washington on Friday that was accomplished thanks to a dominating performance in the second half. Cal Poly Pomona, which trailed by as many as eight points in the first half, outscored Western Washington, 42-19, in the second half. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) led the Broncos with 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and five steals. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had 20 points and nine rebounds and Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) had 12 points, including three 3-pointers. Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas) had nine points and four rebounds, while Marisa Lattin (Sr., Oceanside, El Camino HS) chipped in with 10 rebounds. A 3-pointer by Perkins gave the Broncos their first lead of the second half, 51-49 and the Broncos never trailed again. The game was tied at 55-55 before the Broncos went on a game-breaking 13-0 run. Western Washington cut the deficit to six points, 69-63, with 4:44 to go, but the Broncos scored the final 12 points of the game. Cal Poly Pomona then battled No. 9 Seattle Pacific to the wire before suffering their first loss of the season, 79-78, on Saturday. The Falcons won their 43rd  consecutive regular-season game. Allen had another spectacular game, pouring in a game-high 32 points, including 20 in the second half. Fletcher had another outstanding performance and scored a season-high 21 points with  seven rebounds. Jaida Williams (Sr., Opalocka, Fla., Barry University) had eight points, while Perkins had a game-high seven steals. Seattle Pacific held a 39-38 lead at halftime and built nine-point leads twice in the second half, the last time at 57-48 with 12:03 to go. Cal Poly Pomona, though, went on a big run and took a 64-62 edge with 5:41 left on a basket by Fletcher. Two straight baskets by Allen and two free throws by Fletcher gave the Broncos a 74-70 lead with 2:31 remaining, but the Falcons scored the next five points to regain the lead. Allen scored baskets twice down the stretch to give the Broncos one-point leads, the last time, 78-77, with 28 seconds to go.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 11-5 all-time against Chico State and the two programs split a pair of games last season. The Broncos won the first meeting, 66-62, in Chico on Jan. 10 behind 22 points and seven rebounds from Alicia Hernandez. Chico State, though, won the rematch in Kellogg Gym, 93-73, on Feb. 15. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had 22 points and Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College) had nine rebounds. Chico State is the preseason CCAA favorite. Cal Poly Pomona is 16-12 all-time against UC Davis and split games with the Aggies last season. UC Davis won the first meeting in Davis on Jan. 11, 86-78. Hernandez had 26 points for the Broncos, while Fletcher had seven rebounds. Cal Poly Pomona won the second meeting in Kellogg Gym, 96-87, on Feb. 14 behind a career-high 38 points and 13 rebounds from Marisa Lattin (Sr., Oceanside, El Camino HS).

 

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.

 

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 187-78 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 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 32 points, seven rebounds and three steals against Seattle Pacific on Saturday; had 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and five steals against Western Washington on Friday. Was named the CCAA-GNAC Classic Most Valuable Player.

2003-04: Averaging 26.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Leads the team in scoring, rebounding and steals and is second in assists.

Season Highs: Points – 35 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03); 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: Had two points, two rebounds and one assist against Western Washington on Friday; had two points and one steal against Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

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. 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 eight points and two rebounds against Seattle Pacific on Saturday; had four points and four rebounds against Western Washington on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 8 vs. Seattle Pacific (12-20-03); 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 two points and season-high five rebounds against Seattle Pacific on Saturday; had one point and one rebound against Western Washington on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game. Made her Cal Poly Pomona debut against Abilene Christian on Nov. 22.

Season Highs: Points – 5 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 5 vs. Seattle Pacific (12-20-03); Assists – 0.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: Had nine points and four rebounds against Western Washington on Friday; went scoreless with two rebounds and two blocks against Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 9.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring and rebounding. Leads the team in blocked shots.

Season Highs: Points – 21 vs. Abilene Christian (11-21-03); Rebounds – 11 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 2 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 season-high 21 points and seven rebounds against Seattle Pacific on Saturday; had 20 points and nine rebounds against Western Washington on Friday. Was named to the five-player All-Tournament team at the CCAA-GNAC Classic.

2003-04: Averaging 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Is third on the team in scoring and fourth in rebounding. Leads the team in free-throw percentage with 30 makes in 36 tries (.833).

Season Highs: Points – 21 vs. Seattle Pacific (12-20-03); Rebounds – 9 vs. Western Washington (12-19-03); 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 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 rebound in two minutes against Western Washington on Friday; went scoreless in three minutes against Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.3 points and 0.7 rebounds 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 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 four points, three rebounds and season-high six assists against Seattle Pacific on Saturday; had three points, three rebounds and two assists against Western Washington on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 6.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Is fifth on the team in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 10 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03); Rebounds – 6 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03); Assists – 6 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 two points and a season-high 10 rebounds against Western Washington on Friday; had three points and four rebounds against Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 3.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Is third on the team in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 11 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-13-03); Rebounds – 10 vs. Western Washington (12-19-03); 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 12 points, three rebounds, one assist and two steals against Western Washington on Friday; had two points, three rebounds and seven steals against Seattle Pacific on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Is fourth on the team in scoring, tied for second in assists and second in steals.

Season Highs: Points – 17 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-13-03); Rebounds – 6 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 4 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03).

Career Highs: Points – 17 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-13-03); Rebounds – 7 vs. Westminster College (12-21-02); Assists – 4 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03).

 

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

Last Week: DNP-CD in both games last week.

2003-04: Averaging 0.7 points, 0.0 rebounds, 0.0 assists per game. Made her Cal Poly Pomona debut against Azusa Pacific on Nov. 22.

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

Career Highs: First year with Bronco.

 

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

Last Week: Had four points and one rebound against Seattle Pacific on Saturday; had two points and two rebounds against Western Washington on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.1 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).