Game No. 7
San Diego State Aztecs (1-5) at No. 5 UCLA Bruins (2-2) Thursday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., Pauley Pavilion (12,800) Radio: None locally
This Week
? The San Diego State women's basketball team looks to end its current three-game losing streak Thursday, Dec. 9 when the Aztecs travel to UCLA to take on the nationally-ranked Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. Tip-off time is slated for 7 p.m.
A Quick Look at the Aztecs
? San Diego State seeks its second win of the season after dropping three straight. The Aztecs have not tasted victory since knocking off Indiana State, 53-39, on Nov. 26 in the first round of the Pacific Bell Classic.
? Despite its 1-5 record, San Diego State has been competitive in all but one game, a 85-67 loss to Missouri. SDSU's margin of loss is just -6.0 ppg., including three games the Aztecs have lost by less than 10 points.
? The Aztecs lost both contests last week, dropping a 67-58 decision at San Francisco on Wednesday before falling to USC, 72-60, at Cox Arena Saturday night.
? At USF, SDSU avoided a slow start for the first time this season, jumping out to an early 14-2 lead. The Lady Dons, however clawed their way back into the game, building an 11-point advantage with 4:22 to play. SDSU closed to within eight points three times over the final two minutes but couldn?t develop a run to get any closer. Mary Apiafi led the Aztecs with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
? Against the Trojans, SDSU trailed by as many as 27 points in the second half before putting together a 21-6 run down the stretch to pull within 12 points with just over a minute to play. The Aztecs, however, could get no closer as USC escaped with a 72-60 win. Apiafi led all scorers with 22 points. She also collected a game-high eight rebounds.
Aztecs At A Glance
1-5 Overall ? 1-2 Home ? 0-2 Road ? 0-1 Neutral ? 0-0 Mountain West
Probable Starters
Pos No Player Ht Yr GP/GS PPG RPG Min F 32 Anita Bundage 5-11 JR 6/6 8.3 7.2 36.5 F 55 Atim Otii 6-0 SO 6/6 9.2 5.7 29.0 C 23 Mary Apiafi 6-2 SR 6/6 16.0 9.7 33.3 G 15 Shannon Lee 5-9 JR 6/6 5.0 5.5 apg 32.2 G 20 Jamey Cox 5-7 FR 6/6 12.5 2.8 apg 35.7
Complete Roster
Pos No Player Ht Yr GP/GS PPG RPG Min F 50 Kacee Wheeler 6-1 FR 0/6 6.2 3.0 22.3F/C 52 Andrea Kiesling 6-3 FR 0/6 1.0 1.2 7.2 C 30 Robin Hayes 6-4 JR 0/5 0.0 0.4 4.6 G 4 Sophia Sledge* 5-8 SR 26/13 10.7 1.8 20.9* = Tore left ACL in exhibition opener, out for season. 1998-99 Stats.Team Stats FG% 3PT% FT% Pts. Reb. Asts. Stls. TO
SDSU .396 .311 .735 58.2 36.2 70 52 154Opponents .396 .346 .687 66.2 36.2 99 79 110
Head Coach Barb Smith
? San Diego State head coach Barb Smith is in her third season on Montezuma Mesa and owns an 18-39 career record.
? Prior to taking over as SDSU's fifth head coach in 1997, Smith spent nine years as the top assistant at the University of Colorado. During her tenure at CU, the Buffaloes won an average of 24 games per season, five Big 8 Conference championships and made eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
? She is a 1986 graduate of The Ohio State University, where she was a four-year starter at point guard and led the Buckeyes to three NCAA berths.
SCOUTING UCLA
Bruin Beat
? UCLA enters Thursday?s game on a two-game losing streak after dropping games versus top-5 teams Tennessee, 88-77, and Louisiana Tech, 82-64.
? Post player Maylana Martin leads the Bruins in both scoring and rebounding with 16.8 ppg and 8.5 rpg.
? UCLA returns 10 letterwinners, including five starters, from last year?s 26-8 squad that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
? Head coach Kathy Olivier is in her seventh season at UCLA. She owns a 99-76 record with the Bruins.
SDSU-UCLA Series History
? Thursday?s game at UCLA will be the 25th meeting between the Aztecs and Bruins since the 1976-77 season, the year women's basketball became a varsity sport at SDSU.
? UCLA leads the all-time series by an 18-6 margin, including a 104-56 victory over the Aztecs last season at Cox Arena. Five of SDSU largest one-sided losses have come to the Bruins.
? The Bruins have won three of the last four contests, including two of three in the 90s. San Diego State's last win over UCLA was a 77-52 victory at Pauley Pavilion during the 1992-93 season.
? The Aztecs are 45-67 all time against teams from the Pacific-10 Conference.
UCLA's Probable Starters
Pos No Player Ht Yr PPG RPG F 13 Maylana Martin 6-3 Sr. 16.8 8.5 F 5 Marie Philman 6-0 Sr. 8.8 8.0 C 34 Janae Hubbard 6-4 Sr. 8.2 8.2 G 45 LaCresha Flannigan 5-7 Jr. 11.2 2.8 G 23 Nicole Kaczmarski 5-11 Fr. 8.8 2.5 apg
SDSU-UCLA Comparative Stats
SDSU UCLA 1-5 Overall Record 2-2 0-0 League Record 0-0.396 Field Goal Pct. .380.311 3-PT FG Pct. .158.735 Free Throw Pct. .655.396 Opp. FG Pct. .421.346 Opp. 3-PT FG Pct. .300.687 Opp. FT Pct. .64736.2 Rebound Avg. 49.5 0.0 Rebound Margin +3.858.2 Points/Game 73.864.2 PTS. ALLOWED/GAME 78.0
AZTEC NOTES
Don?t Leave at Intermission
? SDSU continues to be a second-half team. Through six games, the Aztecs have yet to lead at intermission and have scored 58.4 percent (204-of-349) of their points after halftime.
? San Diego State has scored more points in the second half in ever game except at USF when the Aztecs tallied 29 in each stanza.
You Gotta Hit Your Free Throws
? SDSU is shooting 73.5 percent (111-for-151) from the free-throw line, a huge improvement over last season when the Aztecs connected on just 65.1 percent of their foul shots.
? The Aztecs have made nearly twice as many free throws than their opponents through six games. In fact, SDSU has made 33.7 percent more free throws than its opponents have even attempted (111 made by SDSU compared to only 83 attempted by Aztec foes).
? Freshman Kacee Wheeler leads the Aztecs with a .955 free throw percentage (21-for-22), including 20 in a row. However, junior Anita Bundage is also shooting over 90 percent (15-for-16, .938) and fellow freshman Jamey Cox is over 85 percent (18-for-21, .857).
No Rest for the Weary
? With just eight players on the active roster, six Aztecs are playing 94.1 percent of all minutes with four players (Mary Apiafi, Jamey Cox, Anita Bundage and Shannon Lee) averaging over 32 minutes per contest.
Department of Defense
? San Diego State's effort on the defensive end of the floor continues to be rock solid. Through six games, opponents are shooting just .396 from the floor.
? The Aztecs held Indiana State to just 28.6 percent shooting (14-for-49) and its lowest point total (39) in 83 games.
? Idaho State and Portland combined to shoot just .360 (41-114) from the floor in SDSU's first two games.
? Opponents are averaging 64.2 ppg. Last season Aztec opponents scored 68.8 ppg.
Better on the Boards
? The Aztecs? outlook on the boards is certainly looking up as the Aztecs are dead even (0.0) in rebounding margin through six games.
? A year ago, the Aztecs were outrebounded in 20-of-26 games by an average of nearly six caroms a contest.
? Mary Apiafi is SDSU?s leading rebounder with 9.7 rebounds per game.
Tough to Get the Bonus
? With their numbers reduced to just eight, SDSU has had to be smart this season when it comes to fouling. To date they have, as opponents have been whistled for 39 more fouls (43.8 percent). Against USC, the Aztecs paraded to the foul line, shooting 24-for-30 from the stripe. The Trojans, on the other hand, attempted just three foul shots, making two.
Apiafi Continues to Amaze
? Apiafi was virtually unstoppable once again in the post for the Aztecs this week, scoring 38 points and gathering 20 rebounds in two games. Those figures represented 32.2 percent of SDSU scoring and 27.4 percent of the Aztecs' rebounds for the week.
? She posted her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 caroms in 35 minutes at San Francisco, before scoring a game-high 22 points and pulling down eight boards in 36 minutes of work versus USC. In all, Apiafi shot 65 percent (13-for-20) from the field and 85.7 percent (12-for-14) from the free-throw line.
? Apiafi leads the Aztecs in both scoring (16.0 ppg) and rebounding (9.7 rpg), has been SDSU?s leading scorer and rebounder four times, and has scored in double figures in all but one game.
? The senior center/forward was the Mountain West Conference?s inaugural women?s basketball Player of the Week on Nov. 21.
? Last season, Apiafi averaged just 4.8 points and 6.1 rebounds a game as a junior transfer from Pasadena City College.
Making Her Point
? Freshman point guard Jamey Cox just may be emerging as one of the top newcomers in the Mountain West Conference. She has started all six games at the point for SDSU and has notched double figures in scoring five times.
? Selected to the 1999 Pacific Bell Classic all-tournament team, Cox has been SDSU's leading score twice this season (Indiana State and Missouri).
? Cox ranks second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg), second in assists (2.8 apg), and second in minutes played (35.7 mpg). She is also shooting over 40 percent from three-point land, connecting on 11-of-27 (.407) shots from beyond the arc.
The More the Merrier
? Freshman forward/guard Kacee Wheeler is also having a sudden impact for the Aztecs. She recorded her first double-digit scoring effort against Indiana State with 11 points, then came right back the following afternoon to score 12 versus Missouri.
? Though she hasn't yet found her stoke from the floor (7-for-35, .200), Wheeler has been almost flawless from the free-throw line, connecting on 21-of-22 attempts (.955), including 20 striaght. Her last miss was her second attempt of the season at Idaho State.
? As a high school senior, Wheeler averaged 26.0 points and 13.0 rebounds, was an all-state selection, and set a school record for points in a game with 45.
Give It Up
? Though it wasn?t an SDSU top-10 performance, junior guard Shannon Lee did have a great weekend dishing out the rock at the American Dream Classic, posting seven assists against both Idaho State and Portland. Lee added six assists versus both Indiana State and USC and leads the Aztecs with 33 for the season (5.5 apg).
Bundage on the Boards
? Junior Anita Bundage, SDSU?s leading returning rebounder from a year ago, was in rare form at San Francisco last week when she tied a career high for rebounds with 14 against the Lady Dons. Bundage?s previous career best was a 14-rebound effort against Duquesne on Dec. 30, 1998.
Two for ?99
? San Diego State added two new assistant coaches in the offseason in Steve Huber and Yvonne Sanchez. Huber comes to SDSU from Benedictine College in Kansas where he served as head coach from 1994-99. Sanchez, a former standout at USIU (1985-89) joins the Aztec staff from New Mexico State, where she was an assistant from 1993-99.
On the Horizon
? San Diego State will take a 10-day break from competition for finals following Thursday?s game at UCLA. The Aztecs return to the hardwood on Sunday, Dec. 19 when they host Loyola Marymount at Cox Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Updated Aztec Player Profiles
Mary Apiafi
6-2, Senior, Pasadena, Calif.
SDSU?s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 16 ppg and 9.7 rpg...Has posted three double-doubles this season, including a 16-point, 12-rebound performance at San Francisco...Scored 22 points and added eight rebounds against USC... Was named the first-ever women's basketball Player of the Week in the Mountain West Conference, Nov. 21...Posted her third double-digit scoring effort of the season vs. Missouri with 12 points...Notched double-doubles in both games at the American Dream Classic with 23 points and 13 boards against Idaho State and 18 points and 12 rebounds against Portland...Performance versus Idaho State was first career double-double.
Anita Bundage
5-11, Junior, Conroe, Texas
Started all six games so far this season and played a full 40 minutes against Portland, Indiana State and Missouri...Tied a career-high in rebounds with 14 against San Francisco...Finished the Portland game with 15 points and eight rebounds...Her 15 points vs. the Pilots were just one shy of tying a career high...Scored eight points and had three boards in the season opener against Idaho State...Scored six points against both Indiana State and Missouri...Dished out a career-best four assists versus MU.
Jamey Cox
5-7, Freshman, Waterloo, Iowa
One of the Mountain West?s top newcomers...Has scored in double digits in all but one game...Ranks second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg), second in assists (2.8 apg), and second in minutes played (35.7 mpg)...Is shooting over 40 percent from three-point range, connecting on 11-of-27 (.407) shots...Had 11 points against both USF and USC...Selected to the all-tournament team at the 1999 Pacific Bell Classic...Was SDSU's leading scorer in both games with 16 points versus Indiana State and 14 against Missouri...Finished 4-of-6 from the field against MU, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc...Also knocked down three treys versus Indiana State...Scored 16 points and dished out four assists in her first-ever collegiate start at Idaho State...Scored seven points, including a big trey during SDSU's 10-3 run late in the game vs. Portland...Also recorded five steals against the Pilots.
Robin Hays
6-4, Junior, Los Angeles, Calif.
After playing in just four games over the last two seasons, has seen action in all but one game so far this year...Played eight minutes, recording two rebounds and an assist against Idaho State.
Andrea Kiesling
6-3, Freshman, Helena, Mont.
Saw action in all six games this season...Played 11 minutes and scored her first points in the opener at Idaho State...Also had a rebound against the Bengals...Had two points and three rebounds in 10 minutes of work against Indiana State.
Shannon Lee
5-9, Junior, Pasadena, Calif.
The Aztecs leading playmaker with 33 assists (5.5 apg)...Dished out seven assists against both Idaho St. and Portland...Also had four points in opener against ISU...Tallied another six assists and had a season-best seven points against Indiana State...Had six points and six assists versus USC...Registered five steals vs. Missouri.
Atim Otii
6-0. Sophomore, Denver, Colo.
Had a season-best 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting against Idaho State in season opener...Came back with seven points and eight boards vs. Portland in 35 minutes of work...Had 10 points and six boards against Missouri and 11 points and seven caroms against San Francisco.
Sophia Sledge
5-8, Senior, Santee, Calif.
Tore anterior cruciate ligament in left knee after taking a charge just minutes into the second half during SDSU's exhibition opener against the NWBL's USA Elite team...Is scheduled to have surgery to repair the injury shortly after Christmas...Will use a redshirt year this season and return as a fifth-year senior in 2000-2001.
Kacee Wheeler
6-1, Freshman, Bakersfield, Calif.
Has played both forward and guard due to SDSU's lack of depth...Is the Aztecs? top free throw shooter on the season at 95.5 percent (21-for-22)...Played 24 minutes and had three points in season opener at Idaho State...Also gathered three rebounds against the Bengals...Finished in double figures in both games of Pacific Bell Classic...Scored 11 points against Indiana State...Came back to tally a season-high 12 points against Missouri...Shot a perfect 16-for-16 from the free throw line in the two games...Had seven points at USF and four more versus USC off the bench.