CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003-04 CPP Record: 9-4. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 5-3

 

Broncos Return Home For Key Games This Weekend: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball program, which has won two NCAA Division II championships in the past three years, will begin what looms as an important stretch of games this weekend against a pair of Southern California rivals. The Broncos will host Cal State L.A. on Friday and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday. Cal Poly Pomona enters this weekend in a third-place tie in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, two games back of first-place Grand Canyon and one game back of Cal State Bakersfield. The Broncos split a Northern California trip last week, knocking Sonoma State out of a share of the conference lead on Friday, but losing for the first-time ever to San Francisco State on Saturday. After sweeping Cal State San Bernardino to begin conference play, the Broncos have split their last three conference weekend doubleheaders. 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 had to settle for another weekend split after losing to San Francisco State for the first time in 25 career meetings. The weekend started off on a promising note for the Broncos, at least on the scoreboard. Cal Poly Pomona knocked off Sonoma State, one of the three conference leaders entering the weekend, 83-77, on Friday, but it came at a heavy price. Marisa Lattin (Sr., Oceanside, El Camino HS) suffered a severely sprained ankle in the second half and missed the remainder of the contest and all of Saturday’s game against San Francisco State. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) led the Broncos against Sonoma State, pouring in a game-high 31 points, including 17 in the final eight minutes of the game. Lattin had 13 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes before suffering her ankle injury and Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had 10 points, five rebounds and four steals. Jaida Williams (Sr., Opalocka, Fla., Barry University) had eight points and seven rebounds, while Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College) had five points and six assists. The Broncos took the lead for good on a pair of free throws by Lattin with 10:33 to go, but the Broncos didn’t put the game away until two free throws by Swanson-Cades with one minute remaining that boosted the Bronco lead to 75-70. Cal Poly Pomona then struggled in its stunning 59-57 loss to San Francisco State on Saturday. A buzzer-beater by San Francisco State’s DeAnna Butler provided the Gators with the victory. Allen had tied the game for the Broncos with a layup six seconds earlier. The Broncos shot just 34.6 percent from the floor and committed 31 turnovers. Cal Poly Pomona owned a 46-31 edge on the boards, but that wasn’t enough to overcome all the mistakes. Allen had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Broncos, while Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) had 16 points and seven rebounds. The Gators jumped out to a 17-2 lead, but the Broncos rallied back to tie the game at 20-20. San Francisco State led 34-28 at halftime and led the entire second half until Allen’s lay-up tied it with six seconds to go.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 57-4 all-time against Cal State L.A. and the two programs split games a year ago. The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 43-18 halftime lead and rolled to a 75-55 win over the Broncos in Kellogg Gym on Jan. 4. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had 11 points and nine rebounds for the Broncos. The Broncos won the rematch in Los Angeles, 77-70, behind 21 points from Alicia Hernandez and 10 rebounds from Christy Gardner. Cal Poly Pomona is 45-7 all-time against Cal State Dominguez Hills and swept both games last season. The Broncos won in Kellogg Gym, 66-55, on Jan. 3 behind 17 points from Anna James. The Broncos also won at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Feb. 8, 82-71, behind 22 points from Fletcher.

 

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.

 

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, is second in field-goal percentage, tied for second in steals, 11th in free-throw percentage and 13th in rebounding. Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas) is 24th in scoring and 15th in rebounding. Brandi Fletcher (So., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) is fifth in free-throw percentage, Shanika Perkins (So., Oakland, Oakland HS) is tied for second in steals and ninth in free-throw percentage and Tami Swanson-Cades (Sr., Nevada City, Sierra College) is tied for 11th in steals. As a team, Cal Poly Pomona is second in scoring offense, 11th in scoring defense, fourth in rebounding, second in steals, third in turnover margin and first in offensive rebounding.

 

The Amazing Candice Allen: First-year player Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) has established herself as an All-America candidate. Allen is the leading scorer in the NCAA Division II with a 26.6 points per game average. She has scored more than 30 points four times and has scored 20 or more points in 11 of the Broncos’ 13 games. She scored a season-high 40 points against UC Davis on Jan. 3 that helped earn her CCAA Player of the Week honors for the third time this season. She opened the season with a 35-point outburst in an 86-74 win over Abilene Christian and she also had 32 points in a 79-78 loss to Seattle Pacific on Dec. 20. She added a team-high 31 points to lead the Broncos past Sonoma State on Friday. Allen had 17 of those points in the final eight minutes of the game. She was named the MVP of the third annual CCAA-GNAC Classic.

 

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 190-81 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 and three assists against Sonoma State on Friday; had 17 points and nine rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 26.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Leads the team in scoring, rebounding and steals and is tied for 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 – 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: 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: Had nine points and eight rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday; had eight points and seven rebounds against Sonoma State on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Has started eight times.

Season Highs: Points – 9 at San Francisco State (1-17-04); Rebounds – 8 at San Francisco State (1-17-04); 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 three rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday; had one point and two rebounds against Sonoma State on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.8 points, 2.0 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: DNP-CD.

2003-04: Averaging 12.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring and second in rebounding. Leads the team in blocked shots with eight.

Season Highs: Points – 26 at UC San Diego (1-9-04); Rebounds – 12 at Grand Canyon (1-10-04); 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 10 points, five rebounds and four steals against Sonoma State on Friday; had nine points and eight rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 9.3 points, 5.0 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 53 makes in 62 tries (.855).

Season Highs: Points – 24 vs. UC Davis (1-3-04); Rebounds – 10 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. 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 four points and two rebounds against Sonoma State on Friday; went scoreless with two rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.5 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.2 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 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 and six assists against Sonoma State on Friday; had two points, four rebounds and six assists against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Is sixth on the team in scoring and leads the team in assists.

Season Highs: Points – 10 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03); Rebounds – 7 vs. UC Davis (1-3-04); 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 13 points and six rebounds against Sonoma State on Friday; DNP-CD against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 9.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Is fourth on the team in scoring and tied for third in 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 16 points and seven rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday; had seven points and three rebounds against Sonoma State on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Is fifth on the team in scoring, tied for second in assists and tied for the team lead 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 in five minutes against San Francisco State on Saturday; DNP-CD against Sonoma State on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 0.3 points, 0.1 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); Rebounds – 1 vs. Chico State (1-2-04).

Career Highs: First year with Bronco.

 

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

Last Week: Had four points and four rebounds against Sonoma State on Friday; had two points and one rebound against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.5 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 (1-20-04)

CCAA                                                    Overall

                                                W            L             Pct.                         W            L             Pct.

Grand Canyon               7          1          .875                  10         3          .769

CS Bakersfield              6          2          .750                  10         3          .769

Cal Poly Pomona          5          3          .625                  9          4          .692

Sonoma State               5          3          .625                  8          5          .615

UC San Diego               4          4          .500                  8          5          .615

San Francisco State      4          4          .500                  8          5          .615

UC Davis                      4          4          .500                  9          5          .643

CS Dominguez Hills      3          5          .375                  7          6          .538

Chico State                   3          5          .375                  7          6          .538

CS San Bernardino        3          5          .375                  6          7          .462

CS Stanislaus                2          6          .333                  5          8          .385

Cal State L.A.                2          6          .333                  3          10         .231