Women's Basketball

CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

2004-05 CPP Record: 6-0. CCAA Record: 2-0

2004-05 National Ranking: 16

Broncos Ready For Final Contest Before A Lengthy Break: After two exciting come-from-behind victories in the Classic Western Shootout at Cal State Bakersfield last weekend, Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team will host Grand Canyon this evening, Tuesday, Dec. 14, in a key NCAA Division II West Region matchup. The Broncos will then be off until participating in the CCAA/GNAC Classic at Seattle Pacific on Dec. 29-30. The Broncos will face Western Washington on Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. and then meet host Seattle Pacific on Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. The Broncos are coming off a pair of victories in the Classic Western Shootout, including one sparked by a record-breaking performance by Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona). Allen poured in a Cal Poly Pomona, California Collegiate Athletic Association and Icardo Center record 50 points to lead the Broncos past No. 9 Glenville State, 81-75, on Saturday. Allen scored 32 points in the Broncos’ 84-76 win over Northwest Nazarene on Friday and earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Cal Poly Pomona is coming off another outstanding season. The Broncos reached the NCAA Division II West Region championship game at Seattle Pacific and became the only Division II program to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in the past five years. Cal Poly Pomona also posted playoff wins over Chico State and Cal State Bakersfield, giving the Broncos 48 postseason wins, which is the most among all Division II programs. Cal Poly Pomona remains tied with North Dakota State for most national championships won (5). The Broncos won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002. The Broncos have three starters returning, including Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona), the 2004 CCAA Player of the Year and the leading scorer in the NCAA Division II. Other starters back are Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS), a second-team All-CCAA forward in 2003, and Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS).

About Last Week: The Broncos remained unbeaten and stretched their regular-season winning streak to 14 games with a pair of wins in the Classic Western Shootout at Cal State Bakersfield. The Broncos rallied from an eight-point second-half deficit and defeated West Region opponent Northwest Nazarene, 84-76, on Friday. The Broncos ended the game on a 17-7 run to subdue the Crusaders. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) led the Broncos with 32 points, 26 of them coming in the second half. Lauren Stayton (Jr., Inglewood, Fresno State) had 15 points and four rebounds, Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS) had 12 points and four rebounds and Natasha Reed (Fr., San Francisco, Deer Valley HS) had 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. The Broncos were outrebounded, 41-32, although they did force 33 Northwest Nazarene turnovers. The Broncos took the lead for good, 70-69, after a 3-pointer by Perkins with 5:22 to go. Allen scored the final 14 points of the game for the Broncos over the last four minutes of the game. Allen then enjoyed a record-breaking night while leading the Broncos to an 81-75 victory over No. 9 Glenville State on Saturday. Allen scored 50 points, which set a new Cal Poly Pomona record, eclipsing the old mark of 46 held by Lauri McIntosh. Ironically, McIntosh also set her record in Bakersfield, against Cal State Bakersfield in Centennial Gardens on Dec. 9, 2001. Allen had 23 points in the first half and 27 in the second half to pace the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona trailed by eight points with 10:31 to go, but the Broncos promptly went on a 6-0 run to set the stage for an exciting finish. The Pioneers held a 73-69 lead with three minutes left, but layups by Allen and Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) tied the game at 73-73. The game was tied a final time at 75-75, but two free throws by Allen with 42 seconds left put the Broncos ahead for good. After a Glenville State miss, Allen was fouled again with 14 seconds left and hit both free throws to put the game away. Stayton completed the victory with two free throws with four seconds left. Cal Poly Pomona held a 42-32 rebounding edge. Allen led with nine, while Khiara Ferguson (So., Gardena, Bishop Montgomery HS) had seven rebounds and Reed had six.

Allen Shares CCAA Player Of The Week Honors: Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona), the reigning California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year, was named the Wilson CCAA Women’s Basketball Co-Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 6-12. Allen set a new Cal Poly Pomona and California Collegiate Athletic Association record by scoring 50 points to lead the Broncos past No. 9 Glenville State and also had 32 points to lead the Broncos past Northwest Nazarene. For the week, Allen averaged 41.0 points per game on 54.7 percent shooting. She also averaged 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 steals. She shared the honor with Chico State guard Kim Abts, who tied a conference record with 16 assists in one of the three Wildcat victories last week. Allen was honored for a second straight week. She also led the Broncos to a pair of conference victories for the week of Nov. 29 – Dec. 5. Allen scored 30 points in a 104-85 win over Sonoma State and then added 31 points and grabbed six rebounds in a 93-61 victory over San Francisco State. For the week, Allen averaged 30.5 points per game on 57.5 percent shooting (23-40). She also averaged 4.5 points, 4.0 steals and 2.5 assists for the week. Allen, who led the nation in scoring last season with 24.5 points per game, is averaging 33.2 points per game this season after six games. She is shooting 53.3 percent from the field (72-135). Allen also leads the Broncos in rebounding (5.8 per game) and assists (2.7 per game).

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 17-5 all-time against Grand Canyon and the teams split contests last season when the Broncos and Antelopes both qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs. Grand Canyon beat the Broncos, 84-74, in Phoenix on Jan. 10 behind 34 points from Kelly McRee. The Broncos won the rematch in Kellogg Gym on March 5 behind 22 points from Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) and 21 points from Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS).

Let Us Introduce Ourselves: Cal Poly Pomona has several new players on its roster, including six freshmen. Sahfiya Brown (Fr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS), Ashley Moody (Fr., Carson, King Drew HS), Unique Anderson (Fr., Lake Elsinore, Temescal Canyon HS), Sasha Goldkorn (Fr., Moreno Valley, Canyon Springs HS), Porsche’ Kirksey (Fr., Gardena, Junipero Serra HS) and Natasha Reed (Fr., San Francisco, Deer Valley HS) give the Broncos one of their best and deepest freshman classes in several years. Shyrah Thomas (Sr., Inglewood, San Francisco State) joins the active roster after being a redshirt last season and Lauren Stayton (Jr., Inglewood, Fresno State) returns after one year away from competition.

Look Who’s Back: Leading the list of talented players returning this year for the Broncos is the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year, Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona). Allen led the NCAA Division II in scoring with a 24.5 points per game average. She was also second on the team in rebounding with 6.1 per game and second in assists with 2.9 per game. Allen also led the team in steals with 77 or 2.6 per game. Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS), who was third on the team in scoring last year with 10.2 points per game, is back and so is starting guard Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS), who averaged 6.7 points per game. Britt Sumida (Sr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS), one of the leaders of the team, is another key returner, Alexis Wilson (Jr., Wayzata, MN, Wayzata HS) is back for her third year and Khiara Ferguson (So., Gardena, Bishop Montgomery HS) and Ge’Yanni Polk (So., San Leandro, San Lorenzo HS) return for their second seasons with the Broncos.

Where We Left Off: The Broncos completed another successful season in 2003-04 with a 23-7 overall record and a spot in the NCAA Division II West Region championship game. Cal Poly Pomona reached the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in the past five seasons, a total unmatched by any other Division II program. Included in that run, of course, are national championships in 2001 and 2002. Cal Poly Pomona was 17-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and finished second. The Broncos, the No. 3 seed in the West Region, won its first-round game against No. 6 Chico State, 74-70. Cal Poly Pomona got 30 points and six assists from Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) and 10 points and 17 rebounds from Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas). The Broncos then rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to beat Cal State Bakersfield, 87-84, in the second round. Beachem had a huge game with 28 points and 20 rebounds, while Allen contributed 26 points. After the Roadrunners took an 84-83 lead on a pair of free throws with five seconds left, Allen was inexplicably fouled while trying to catch an inbounds pass. She hit both free throws to give the Broncos an 85-84 lead and then, after a Cal State Bakersfield turnover, was fouled hard from behind, but picked herself up to hit two more free throws with one second left to account for the final margin. Cal Poly Pomona then fell to undefeated tourney host Seattle Pacific, 80-63, in the championship game. The Broncos shot just 33 percent. Marisa Lattin capped her Cal Poly Pomona career with a team-high 20 points, while Allen had 16.

The Thomas Guide: Paul Thomas is in his 11th 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 210-84 at Cal Poly Pomona and has guided the Broncos into the postseason in seven out of the past eight seasons. Cal Poly Pomona has a 14-5 record in the NCAA Division II playoffs under Thomas and has won 12 of its last 13 postseason games. The Broncos have also won five CCAA titles during the Thomas years, including three in the past five seasons.

How About Those Rings: You’d be hard-pressed to find a more star-studded coaching staff in the NCAA Division II. 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 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’ two postseason wins in 2004 and the back-to-back national championships in 2001 and 2002 have just added to the program’s rich history. The Broncos have the most postseason victories (48) in NCAA Division II and are tied with North Dakota State for the most national championships (5). The Broncos have also reached the regional championship game in four of the past five years, which is more than any other Division II team. Their 19 NCAA postseason appearances are second overall to Bentley and the .774 postseason winning percentage leads all Division II programs. 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), 36 All-American awards earned by 20 different players, 18 CCAA titles and 10 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

2 SAHFIYA BROWN (F, Fr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS)

Last Week: DNP-CD. Is sidelined with a knee injury.

2004-05: Averaging 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 4 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04). Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

4 CANDICE ALLEN (G, Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona)

Last Week: Had a school and conference record 50 points against Glenville State on Saturday along with nine rebounds and two assists; had 32 points, three rebounds and two assists against Northwest Nazarene on Friday. Was named the MVP of the Classic Western Shootout.

2004-05: Averaging 33.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Leads the team and CCAA in scoring. Shooting 53.3 percent from the floor.

Season Highs: Points – 50 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Rebounds – 9 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Assists – 5 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 50 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Rebounds – 11 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 7 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-30-04), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04).

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

Last Week: Went scoreless with three rebounds and one assist against Glenville State on Saturday; went scoreless with one rebound and two assists against Northwest Nazarene on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Is second on the team in assists.

Season Highs: Points – 8 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 3 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Assists – 5 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 11 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 3 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04), vs. UC San Diego (2-21-03); Assists – 5 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

10 ASHLEY MOODY (G, Fr., Carson, King Drew HS)

Last Week: Had six points and one rebound against Northwest Nazarene on Friday; had four points and two steals against Glenville State on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.5 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 vs. San Francisco State (12-3-04); Rebounds – 3 vs. San Francisco State (12-3-04); Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

14 NATASHA REED (F, Fr., San Francisco, Deer Valley HS)

Last Week: Had 10 points and seven rebounds against Northwest Nazarene on Friday; had one point and six rebounds against Glenville State on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Is fourth on the team in scoring and second in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 10 vs. Northwest Nazarene (12-10-04), vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 7 vs. Northwest Nazarene (12-10-04); Assists – 3 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

20 SHANIKA PERKINS (G, Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS)

Last Week: Had season-high 12 points, four rebounds and one assist against Northwest Nazarene on Friday; had two points, one rebound and one assist against Glenville State on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 12 vs. Northwest Nazarene (12-10-04); Rebounds – 5 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 2 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04), vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

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).

21 SASHA GOLDKORN (G, Fr., Moreno Valley, Canyon Springs HS)

Last Week: DNP-CD in both games.

2004-05: Averaging 1.0 point, 1.0 rebound and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 1 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04); Rebounds – 1 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04); Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

22 KHIARA FERGUSON (C, So., Gardena, Bishop Montgomery HS)

Last Week: Had four points and career-high seven rebounds against Glenville State on Saturday; went scoreless with one rebound against Northwest Nazarene on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 8 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Rebounds – 7 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Assists – 1 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04).

Career Highs: Points – 8 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Rebounds – 7 vs. Glenville State (12-11-04); Assists – 1 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at UC San Diego (1-9-04).

23 SHYRAH THOMAS (F, Sr., Inglewood, San Francisco State)

Last Week: Went scoreless with one rebound against Northwest Nazarene on Friday; DNP-CD against Glenville State on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 0.0 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 0; Rebounds – 1 vs. Northwest Nazarene (12-10-04); Assists -- 0

Career Highs: First year with Broncos

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

Last Week: Had seven points and four rebounds against Glenville State on Saturday; had six points, two rebounds and two assists against Northwest Nazarene on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 16 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Rebounds – 8 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04); Assists – 2 vs. Northwest Nazarene (12-10-04), vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

Career Highs: Points – 25 at Sonoma State (3-1-03); Rebounds – 10 at Chico State (2-28-04), 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).

32 LAUREN STAYTON (G, Jr., Inglewood, Fresno State)

Last Week: Had 15 points, four rebounds and one assist against Northwest Nazarene on Friday; had 13 points and three rebounds against Glenville State on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 21 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 7 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 5 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

Career Highs: Points – 21 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 7 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 5 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

34 PORSCHE’ KIRKSEY (F, Fr., Gardena, Junipero Serra HS)

Last Week: Had one point and two rebounds against Northwest Nazarene on Friday; went scoreless with one rebound against Glenville State on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 2.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 5 vs. Sonoma State (12-4-04); Rebounds – 7 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

40 UNIQUE ANDERSON (G, Fr., Lake Elsinore, Temescal Canyon HS)

Last Week: Had two points and two rebounds against Northwest Nazarene on Friday; went scoreless with three rebounds against Glenville State on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 2.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 6 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 2 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

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

Last Week: DNP-CD in both games.

2004-05: Averaging 1.7 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 4 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 2 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Assists – 1 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04).

Career Highs: Points – 4 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 2 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04), at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04); Assists – 1 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04).

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

Last Week: Went scoreless with one rebound against Northwest Nazarene on Friday; went scoreless against Glenville State on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 1.5 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04); Rebounds – 2 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Assists – 1 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 7 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04); Rebounds – 4 vs. San Francisco State (2-20-04), at Sonoma State (1-16-04), at Western Washington (12-28-02); Assists – 3 at UC San Diego (1-9-04).