Jan. 25, 2000
GAME 18
UNLV Lady Rebels (10-7, 2-2 Mtn. West) at
San Diego State Aztecs (5-12, 0-4 Mtn. West)
Saturday, Jan. 29 7 p.m. (PST)
Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl (12,414)
Series Record: Aztecs lead, 10-8
Radio: Live on KCBQ (AM 1170)
SDSU SNAPSHOT: San Diego State (5-13, 0-4 Mtn. West) will be out to snap a two-game losing streak Saturday when the Aztecs host UNLV (10-7, 2-2 Mtn. West) at Cox Arena at 7 p.m. SDSU, which has lost four of its last five games after sandwiching a pair of wins around the New Year's holiday, will also be looking to pick up its first-ever Mountain West Conference victory.
ABOUT UNLV: The Lady Rebels evened their Mountain West Conference at 2-2 last week, sweeping Air Force, 89-59, and New Mexico, 55-51, on the road. UNLV is led by sophomore forward Linda Frohlich, who leads the Lady Rebels and the MWC in both scoring (21.0 ppg) and rebounding (11.9 rpg). Freshmen Kinesha Davis (16.1 ppg) and Constance Jinks (10.5 ppg) are also averaging double figures. Head coach Regina Miller is in her second season at UNLV. She owns a 27-18 overall record with the Lady Rebels.
ABOUT THE GAME: Saturday's game between UNLV and SDSU will be the 19th meeting between the two schools, but the first since 1997. The Aztecs lead the all-time series by a 10-8 margin and bring a two game winning streak over the Lady Rebels into the contest. SDSU is 6-3 all-time against UNLV at home, however Saturday's game will be the first between the Aztecs and Lady Rebels in Cox Arena.
IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS: Heading into last week, it appeared that Saturday's game between SDSU and UNLV just might pit a pair of teams with 1-3 conference records battling it out for a spot in the middle of the league race. Both teams opened their respective Mountain West Conference seasons at home with losses to Utah and BYU and were heading on the road for dates against New Mexico and an Air Force team that had lost 36 consecutive conference games. SDSU, however, dropped both of its match-ups, while UNLV sent shockwaves through the MWC by sweeping the Falcons and Lobos. The Lady Rebels enter the week having won two games in a row and six of their last nine, while the Aztecs are just 1-4 in their last five contests.
A STUDY IN CONTRASTS: Saturday's game between SDSU and UNLV should provide those in attendance with an interesting contrast in offensive styles. While the Aztecs rarely pull the trigger without at least five touches of the basketball, the Lady Rebels are often lucky to reach pass number three before launching a shot. On the season, UNLV has taken 236 more shots than SDSU and is averaging 63.2 field goal attempts per game, compared to only 49.3 per game by the Aztecs. In fact, SDSU has only attempted 60 or more shots once in 17 games this season (66 at Air Force, Jan. 22).
ONE THING IN COMMON: The Aztecs and Lady Rebels do, however, have one thing in common - a penchant for turnovers. UNLV and SDSU enter the week ranked No. 6 and 7, respectively, in the Mountain West Conference in miscues per game with the Lady Rebels averaging 20.4 and the Aztecs 22.5. Wyoming, which averages 23.3, leads the league.
WELCOME HOME: UNLV has four Californians on its roster, including sophomore forward Courtney Swanson, who prepped locally at Morse High School. Swanson, a four-year starter for the Tigers, was a second team All-CIF selection in 1997 and '98. The other Lady Rebels who call the Golden State home are: Thyr? Brooks (Alta Loma), Talisha Mitchell (Stockton), and Heidi Plummer (Duarte).
SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS (5-12 Overall, 0-4 MWC)
PROBABLE STARTERS
Pos No Player Ht Yr GP/GS PPG RPG Min F 53 Anita Bundage 5-11 JR 17/17 9.1 6.5 37.2 F 55 Atim Otii 6-0 SO 17/17 9.6 5.2 32.2 C 23 Mary Apiafi 6-2 SR 17/17 12.6 9.9 32.5 G 20 Jamey Cox 5-7 FR 16/15 13.8 2.2 36.8 G 15 Shannon Lee 5-9 JR 17/17 4.9 5.6 apg 32.2
OFF THE BENCH
Pos No Player Ht Yr GP/GS PPG RPG Min F 50 Kacee Wheeler 6-1 FR 17/2 6.2 3.0 21.4F/C 52 Andrea Kiesling 6-3 FR 14/0 1.8 2.1 8.4 C 30 Robin Hayes 6-4 JR 13/0 0.2 0.4 3.8 G 40 Meredith Magrini 5-6 FR 0/0 0.0 0.0 0.0Head Coach: Barb Smith 22-43 (.324), 2nd season
UNLV LADY REBELS (10-7 Overall, 2-2 MWC)
PROBABLE STARTERS
Pos No Player Ht Yr GP/GS PPG RPG Min F 13 Linda Frolich 6-2 SO 16/16 21.0 11.9 36.7 F 32 Carlesa Dixon 6-1 FR 16/10 5.8 5.9 22.6 G 3 Kinesha Davis 5-10 SO 14/14 16.1 6.9 35.7 G 24 Erin Johansson 6-1 SO 15/15 7.9 2.1 31.4 G 22 Dayna Gambill 5-6 JR 17/16 5.6 3.9 apg 23.0
OFF THE BENCH
Pos No Player Ht Yr GP/GS PPG RPG Min G 23 Constance Jinks 5-7 FR 15/4 10.5 3.4 19.3 F 25 Dishawn McCracklin 6-2 FR 15/2 1.9 2.3 13.3 G 34 Tiana Sanders 5-11 JR 17/1 2.6 1.8 9.8 F 44 Courtney Swanson 6-0 SO 15/0 1.9 1.8 9.7 G 30 Talisha Mitchell 5-9 FR 16/0 2.3 1.2 8.4Head Coach: Regina Miller 27-18 (.600), 2nd season
AZTECS VS UNLV
Series: Aztecs lead, 10-8
Current Streak: SDSU has won last 2
Record at SDSU: 6-3
Record at UNLV: 4-5
Year Result(s)
1978-79 L 58-78 (A)1979-80 L 67-90 (H), W 75-67 (H)1980-81 W 70-61 (A), W 78-59 (H)1984-85 W 70-68 (A)1985-86 W 77-71 (H), L 75-102 (A)1986-87 L 52-85 (A), L 58-63 (H)1987-88 W 69-63 (H), L 62-67 (A)1988-89 W 55-51 (A), W 65-64 (H)1989-90 L 60-91 (H), L 51-91 (A)1996-97 W 92-48 (H), W 62-50 (A)Most Points, SDSU: 92, 1997
Most Points, UNLV: 102, 1986
Largest Margin, SDSU: 44, 1997
Largest Margin, UNLV: 40, 1990
Longest SDSU Win Streak: 5
Longest UNLV Win Streak: 3
1999-2000 SDSU-UNLV COMPARATIVE STATS
SDSU UNLV5-12 Overall Record 10-70-4 League Record 2-2.317 Field Goal Pct. .426.301 3-PT FG Pct. .300.685 Free Throw Pct. .632.405 Opp. FG Pct. .408.329 Opp. 3-PT FG Pct. .307.703 Opp. FT Pct. .66335.5 Rebound Avg. 41.6+0.4 Rebound Margin +4.257.0 Points/Game 70.261.9 Pts. Allowed/Game 66.9
SDSU Head Coach Barb Smith: San Diego State head coach Barb Smith is in her third season on Montezuma Mesa and owns a career record of 22-46. 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.
MOST RECENTLY: San Diego State dropped a pair of Mountain West Conference games on the road last week, falling 65-47 at New Mexico and 77-72 at Air Force. The Aztecs trailed the Lobos by 20 at the break, 44-24, but couldn't make up the difference in the second half despite out playing UNM. SDSU trailed Air Force by as many as 14 points in the second half before using a 16-3 spurt to close the game to just one point with three minutes to play. The Falcons, who shot a season-best 81.5 percent from the free throw line, connected on 6-of-8 down the stretch to put the game on ice.
FREE THROWS DO IN AZTECS AT AIR FORCE: For the balance of the season, SDSU has been one of the better free-throw shooting teams in the MWC. However, the Aztecs managed to connect on just 52 percent (13-25) of their attempts versus the Falcons, who shot a lights-out 81.5 percent (22-27). Just how important were those free throws? Consider this: SDSU had more field goals (26 to 23), more rebounds (42 to 31), fewer turnovers (19 to 22), and the game was decided by five points (77-72).
GOOD TO BE BACK HOME: After a brief two-game road trip, SDSU will play its next three games at Cox Arena. The Aztecs are 4-5 at home and just 1-7 on the road.
DOUBLE TIME: Five Aztecs scored in double figures at Air Force led by Jamey Cox's 25 points. It is the first time this season SDSU has achieved that feat. The Aztecs have had four players reach double figures in four separate games.
AZTECS ON THE BOARDS: SDSU has out rebounded two of its last three opponents and six of nine, including outboarding Air Force by the largest margin of the year, 11 (42-31). It was the fourth time this season that the Aztecs have collected at least 40 caroms in a game. For the year, the Aztecs are +0.4 in rebound margin and have won or been even on the boards in 10-of-17 games. Last season, SDSU was outrebounded in 20-of-27 games and finished the year -5.7 in rebound margin.
FINALLY SOME POINTS: The Aztecs, who have averaged just 51 points in the four games since defeating TCU, 63-51, posted their second-best scoring day of the season at Air Force with 72 points. Jamey Cox led all scorers with 25, including five treys.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: In both of SDSU's last two wins - TCU and A&M-CC - the Aztecs have put together late runs to pull out last minute victories. Against TCU, SDSU scored the game's final 13 points in a 63-51 Aztec win. Versus Texas A&M-CC, the Aztecs used a 9-0 run over the final 3: 22 to pull out the win. SDSU almost pulled another victory out of the fire at Air Force, trailing by 14 points with just over eight minutes to play, the Aztecs went on a 16-3 scoring run to pull within a point at the three minute mark. SDSU got within one again with just over a minute to play, but Air Force put the game out of reach by connecting on 6-of-8 free throws.
MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH: San Diego State has been involved in eight games that have been decided by 10 points or less this season. The Aztecs are 2-6 in those games.
52 PICK UP: SDSU is 5-1 when holding opponents to 52 or fewer points. And last week provided the perfect example when Utah scored 53 to beat the Aztecs, while A&M-CC's 52 weren't enough to get past SDSU.
FIRST HALF BLUES: San Diego State continued its first half struggles at both New Mexico and Air Force last week. At the Pit, the Aztecs dug themselves a 20-point hole and trailed 44-24 at the break only to outscore the Lobos, 23-31 after intermission. Similarly, SDSU trailed 37-32 at Air Force, only to play even with the Falcons in the second half. In their 17 games this season, the Aztecs have scored more points in the second half 13 times. SDSU has also outscored 10 opponents after intermission, including all five victories.
MISCUE MADNESS: Anyone who follows San Diego State women's basketball knows the Aztecs have had their troubles with turnovers. However against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, SDSU did something it hasn't done all season - win with more turnovers than its opponent. The Aztecs finished the game with 23 miscues, compared to 21 by A&M-CC.
MORE MADNESS: If SDSU can win with more turnovers, Saturday at Air Force it proved the reverse can also be true. Against the Falcons, the Aztecs had three fewer miscues than Air Force (19 compared to 22), yet still lost the game, 77-72.
RANKING WITH THE BEST: Despite currently occupying the MWC cellar, San Diego State still has individuals ranked in the top-10 of nearly every statistical category. Jamey Cox ranks eighth in scoring, first in free throw percentage, sixth in three-point field goal percentage and fifth in threes made per game. Mary Apiafi ranks 10th in scoring, second in rebounding, sixth field goal percentage, fifth in steals and first in blocked shots. Anita Bundage is eighth in rebounding and fifth in free throw percentage. Shannon Lee is first in assists and fourth in steals. Kacee Wheeler ranks 10th in free throw percentage and Atim Otii is eighth in blocked shots.
I SAID I WANTED PLAYING TIME, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS: With freshman center Andrea Kiesling unable to play last week due to a lower right leg contusion and SDSU being limited to seven scholarship players, three Aztecs - Anita Bundage, Jamey Cox and Shannon Lee - played the entire game at New Mexico. Though it was Lee's first complete game, it was the sixth time this season Bundage has gone the distance and the third time Cox has played a full 40.
CONSISTENT COX: With her 14 points at New Mexico and her 25 at Air Force, freshman Jamey Cox took over as SDSU's leading scorer. In 16 games this season (she missed the Loyola Marymount game with a concussion), Cox has averaged 13.8 ppg. She has scored in double figures 14 times, including eight games in a row.
FRESHMAN FILL UP: Jamey Cox owns both of SDSU's high scoring games this year. Her 30-point effort at CS Fullerton is a team best followed by her 25 points at Air Force.
MAYBE SHE SHOULD JUST SHOOT THREES: Jamey Cox ranks sixth in the MWC in three-point fg percentage at .418 and fifth in threes made with 2.38 3pg. However, she is shooting at only a slightly better rate on two-pointers. For the year, Cox has connected on 33-of-78 (.423) of her two-point attempts, just one-half of a percentage point better than she is shooting from three-point range.
BIG WHEEL KEEPS ON TURNING: Freshman Kacee Wheeler is on a mini scoring tear of late, posting a pair of 13-points outings in SDSU's last three games. Wheeler had perhaps the best game of her brief career against Texas A&M-CC with 13 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals in 22 minutes of work. All three stats were new or tied career highs. She followed up that effort with another 13-point outing at Air Force. Entering the A&M-CC game, Wheeler was averaging just over five points per game.
BUNDAGE AT HER BEST: Neither were career numbers, but junior Anita Bundage's 12 points and 12 rebound against A&M-CC may represent her best game of the season. It was the first double-double of the year for Bundage and the second of her career.
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE: Senior Mary Apiafi recorded her seventh double-double of the season at Air Force with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Her seven double-doubles ranks second in the Mountain West Conference only to UNLV's Linda Frohlich, who has 14.
APIAFI CONTINUES TO PRODUCE: With her double-double at Air Force, Mary Apiafi has now scored in double figures 11 times this season. She has also posted double digits in rebounds in nine games and has led the Aztecs on the boards in 13-of-17 contests.
DID YOU GET YOU AN INVITE TO MARY'S BLOCK PARTY?: Mary Apiafi showed why she's one of the Mountain West Conference's top shot blockers last week against Texas A&M-CC with a career-high-tying six against the Islanders. She also had six rejections against Portland in the American Dream Classic earlier this season. Apiafi leads the MWC in stuffs with 33 (2.1 bpg).
SHE'LL SET YOU UP: Junior Shannon Lee continues to have a strangle-hold on the MWC's assist race. With 94 assists so far this year, Lee is averaging 5.6 per game, almost a full assist more per contest than anyone else in the league. Last week, Lee had eight assists at New Mexico and seven at Air Force - the seventh time this season that she has registered at least seven assists in a single game. Lee dished out a career-high 10 versus TCU.
OTII BACK IN DOUBLE FIGURES: After not scoring in double figures against TCU, Utah and BYU, sophomore Atim Otii has cracked the 10-point barrier in two of the last three games. Otii, who boasts nine double figure scoring games this season and a 9.6 ppg scoring average, tallied 11 points against both Texas A&M-CC and Air Force.
KIESLING ON THE MEND: Freshman center Andrea Kiesling, who has not played since suffering a lower right leg contusion versus Brigham Young, is feeling better but is still listed as questionable for Saturday night's UNLV game.
UPDATED PLAYER PROFILES
23 Mary Apiafi
6-2, Senior, Pasadena, Calif.
Quick Facts: Has started all 17 games this season...Averaging 32.5 mpg...Is SDSU's second-leading scorer, averaging 12.6 ppg...Is also the Aztecs' top rebounder (9.9 rpg) and shot blocking artist (2.1 bpg)...Ranks in the top-10 in the MWC in both scoring and rebounding...Shooting .493 from the field and .717 from the stripe, figures that also rates among the conference's best...Named first-ever Mountain West Conference Player of the Week, Nov. 21. 1999-2000: Scored in double figures in all but five games this season, including three games with over 20 points...Registered seventh double-double of the season at Air Force with 12 points and 14 rebounds...Her 14 rebounds tied a career high...Had 13 points and seven rebounds versus Utah, while holding Ute leading scorer/rebounder Lauren Beckman to just four points and five rebounds...Recorded sixth double-double of the year against TCU, leading all scorers with 21 points and adding 14 rebounds...Also scooped up a career-best five steals versus the Horned Frogs...Had 14 points and 11 boards versus Montana...Posted double-double No. 4 at UCLA with 15 points and 10 rebounds...Tied a then-career-high with 13 rebounds against Loyola Marymount...Scored 22 points and collected eight caroms against USC...Posted her third double-digit scoring effort of the season versus Missouri with 12 points...Notched double-doubles in both games at the American Dream Classic with a career-best 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.
53 Anita Bundage
5-11, Junior, Conroe, Texas
Quick Facts: Has started all 17 games so far this season, playing a full 40 minutes six times (Portland, Indiana State, Missouri, Loyola Marymount, Utah and at New Mexico)...Is SDSU's leader in floor time, averaging 37.2 minutes per game...Has scored in double figures eight times on the year, including five of SDSU's last eight games...Ranks in the top-10 in the MWC in both rebounding and free throw shooting percentage. 1999-2000: Notched first double-double of the season versus Texas A&M-CC with 12 points and 12 rebounds...Also finished in double figures with 10 points at Air Force...Had a solid game versus TCU, finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds...Scored a career-high 18 points versus Loyola Marymount...Also added six rebounds versus the Lions...Tallied 11 points at both NAU and CS Fullerton...Had seven points and nine rebounds versus Montana...Tied a career-high in rebounds with 14 against San Francisco...Finished the Portland game with 15 points and eight rebounds...Dished out a career-best four assists versus Missouri.
20 Jamey Cox
5-7, Freshman, Waterloo, Iowa
Quick Facts: Has started 15-of-17 games this season, seeing action in 16 contests...Missed the Loyola Marymount game with a concussion suffered at UCLA...Injury also kept her out of starting lineup versus Montana...Leads the Aztecs in scoring (13.8 ppg), and is second in assists (2.6 apg) and minutes played (36.8 mpg)...Leads the MWC's in free throw percentage at .837 (41-49)...Ranks sixth in the MWC in three point shooting at .418 (38-of-91) and fifth in threes made...Selected as the Conference's Player of the Week, Jan. 3. 1999-2000: Has scored in double figures in all but two games, including eight in a row...Tallied 14 points at New Mexico and 25 at Air Force...Connected on five three-pointers against the Falcons...Registered 10 points against TCU...Scored a combined 47 points (23.5 ppg) against CS Fullerton and Northern Arizona to claim MWC P.O.W. honors on Jan. 3...Opened the week with a team-high 17 points at Northern Arizona before leading SDSU to its third win of the season with a career-best 30 points at Cal State Fullerton...Shot 60 percent from beyond the three-point line on the week, sinking nine of her 15 attempts, including 7-of-10 at Cal State Fullerton...Her seven treys versus the Titans were one shy of SDSU's school record for three pointers...Scored 10 points at UCLA and 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 St. 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 St...Scored 16 points and dished out four assists in her first collegiate start at Idaho St...Had seven points and five steals vs. Portland.
30 Robin Hayes
6-4, Junior, Los Angeles, Calif.
Quick Facts: Has missed most of last two years with knee injuries...After playing in just four contests over the last two seasons, has seen action in 13 of SDSU's 17 games so far this year. 1999-2000: Notched first bucket of the season on a nice hook shot at New Mexico...Also recorded a block versus the Lobos...Played a season-high eight minutes, recording two rebounds and an assist against Idaho State.
52 Andrea Kiesling
6-3, Freshman, Helena, Mont.
Quick Facts: Has seen action in 14 games off the bench...Has not played since suffering a lower right leg contusion versus BYU. 1999-2000: Had a career outing against CS Fullerton with nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks in a season-high 17 minutes of work...Scored five points and gathered five rebound in 15 minutes at NAU...Tallied a then career-best three points in 15 minutes against Loyola Marymount...Played 11 minutes and scored her first points in the opener at Idaho State...Had two points and three rebounds in 10 minutes of work against Indiana State...scored two points and had three boards against UCLA.
15 Shannon Lee
5-9, Junior, Pasadena, Calif.
Quick Facts: Has started all 17 games at guard this season...Has emerged as SDSU's primary point guard with the development of Cox at two guard...Is the MWC's top playmaker with 94 assists (5.6 apg)...Also ranks in the MWC's top-10 in steals with 38 (2.2 spg). 1999-2000: Had best game of the season versus TCU with 10 points and a career-high 10 assists...Her 10 points versus the Horned frogs tied a season high...Also shot 6-for-8 from the free throw line against TCU...Scored 10 points and tied a then-career-high with eight assists at CS Fullerton...Has dished out at least six assists nine times, including seven assists against Idaho St., Portland, UCLA and Air Force and eight assists against New Mexico...Scored eight points versus Montana, including the game-winning basket with eight seconds to play...Recorded six assists and had seven points against Indiana State...Had six points and six assists versus USC...Registered season-best five steals versus Missouri.
55 Atim Otii
6-0. Sophomore, Denver, Colo.
Quick Facts: Has started all 17 games at forward this season...Ranks in the MWC top-10 in blocked shots (0.9 bpg) and offensive rebounds (2.7 o-rpg)...Has scored in double figures nine times, including two of SDSU's last three games. 1999-2000: Scored a career best 22 points at UCLA on 10-for-13 shooting in 33 minutes of work...Tallied 11 points against Air Force, Texas A&M-CC, CS Fullerton and San Francisco...Registered 10 points against Missouri, LMU and Montana...Had a then-season-best 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting against Idaho State in season opener...Has twice posted a season-best eight rebounds (NAU and Portland).
50 Kacee Wheeler
6-1, Freshman, Bakersfield, Calif.
Quick Facts: Usually the Aztecs' first option off the bench...Leads the team in minutes played among non-starters at 21.4 mpg...Has seen action in all 17 games, including starts against Loyola Marymount and Montana...Ranks 10th in the MWC in free throw percentage at .766 (36-for-47). 1999-2000: Has scored in all but one game this season, including career-high 13-point outings versus Air Force and Texas A&M-CC...Also had a career-best six rebounds at Air Force...Tallied a then career-high 12 points versus Missouri in the championship game of the Pacific Bell Classic...Made first career start against LMU, finishing with seven points and a career-best four assists...Also started and tallied seven points versus Montana...Sank 24 free throws in a row in games 2-7 before missing her first since the opener against Montana...Finished in double figures in both games of Pacific Bell Classic, including 11 points against Indiana State in the opener...Gathered a then-career-best five rebounds against the Missouri in the PBC...Shot a perfect 16-for-16 from the free throw line in SDSU's two PBC games.