Feb. 22, 2000
GAME 25
San Diego State Aztecs (8-16, 3-8 MWC)
at UNLV Lady Rebels (13-11, 5-6 MWC)
Thursday, Feb. 17 7:00 p.m. (PST)
Thomas & Mack Center (18,500)
Series Record: Aztecs lead, 11-8
Radio: None in San Diego
THIS WEEK: San Diego State (8-16, 3-8 Mtn. West) gets a preview glimpse of the Mountain West Conference Tournament venue in Las Vegas, Nev., Saturday when the Aztecs travel to the Thomas & Mack Center (18,500) to take on UNLV (13-11, 5-6 Mtn. West). Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
SDSU SNAPSHOT: SDSU split a pair of home games last week, falling in a close one to New Mexico, 66-60, before pummeling Air Force, 70-38. The Aztecs are 2-3 in their last five games and 4-6 in their last 10. However, all but one of SDSU's wins this season came at home, where the Aztecs posted a 7-7 record this year. SDSU hasn't tasted victory away from Cox Arena since defeating Cal State Fullerton, 80-51, on Dec. 30 and will be out to snap its current four-game losing streak at UNLV. The Aztecs are 1-8 on the road this year (0-1 at neutral sites).
ABOUT UNLV: UNLV (13-11, 5-6 Mtn. West) picked up a pair of big wins last week, sweeping Air Force, 86-53, and New Mexico, 65-50, for the second time this season. The victories snapped a two-game losing streak for the Lady Rebels, who had lost 4-of-5 before crushing the Falcons. The Mountain West Conference's top rebounding team, UNLV makes its living on the offensive glass (16.2 o-rpg). The Lady Rebels are led by conference Player of the Year candidate, Linda Frohlich, who leads the league in scoring (21.4 ppg), rebounding (11.5 rpg) and double-doubles (17).
ABOUT THE GAME: Like the first meeting between these two teams in San Diego, a 54-52 Aztec victory, the game will pit SDSU's solid defense and patient offensive attack against a Lady Rebel squad that leads the MWC in field goal attempts (63.7 pg). Look for the Aztecs to try to force the action high. The Lady Rebels shot 0-for-17 in the first game and rank last in the league in three-point percentage (28 percent), while SDSU is No. 1 in three-point fg percentage defense (29 percent). SDSU also owns a slight edge in free-throw shooting, 66 percent (324-494) to 64 percent (290-456), but the game may come down to how well the Aztecs can defend the defensive glass and avoid giving up easy put-backs.
SDSU-UNLV THE LAST TIME: San Diego State spurted out to a 19-2 lead in the game's first eight minutes then held off a furious UNLV comeback bid that saw the Lady Rebels outscore the Aztecs 30-18 in the second half. SDSU shot 45 percent for the game, connecting on 20-of-44 from the floor, while holding UNLV to 39 percent (25-of-64). The Lady Rebels, who also were 0-for-17 from three-point range, converted just 2-of-13 foul shots but out rebounded the Aztecs 44-33. UNLV's Linda Frohlich had a game-high 22 points and 22 rebounds, but Constance Jinks was the only other Lady Rebel to score more than four points, finishing with 18. Junior Shannon Lee scored a career-best 17 points and dished out seven assists for SDSU. Aztec freshman Kacee Wheeler added 11 points, including three treys.
SDSU-UNLV LAST TIME AT THOMAS & MACK: Saturday's game at the Thomas & Mack Center will be the first time in over three years that San Diego State has faced UNLV in Las Vegas. SDSU's last game in Vegas against the Lady Rebels was back on Feb. 8, 1997, with the Aztecs coming away with a 62-50 victory over UNLV.
ABOUT THE UNLV SERIES: San Diego State and UNLV will do battle for the 20th time when they meet Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center. SDSU, which defeated the Lady Rebel's 54-52 on Jan. 29 at Cox Arena, will be looking for its fourth season sweep over UNLV. The Aztecs previously swept the Lady Rebels during the 1979-80, '88-89 and '96-97 seasons. SDSU leads the all-time series by an 11-8 margin, however the Aztecs have won just four of the nine games played on UNLV's home floor. MOST RECENTLY FOR SDSU: The Aztecs are coming off a split with New Mexico and Air Force. San Diego State was ahead for 31 of the game's first 34 minutes against the Lobos, building leads of nine in the first half and eight in the second before New Mexico rallied for a 66-60 win. UNM freshman Jordan Adams finished with a game-high 22 points, while SDSU freshman Jamey Cox led three Aztecs in double figures with 16. SDSU bounced back to post its largest win of the season with a 70-38 victory over Air Force. The Aztecs led 14-12 midway through the first half before going on a 19-2 run to effectively take control of the game. The Falcons never got closer than 16 after intermission as SDSU's lead twice swelled to 32 points in the final minutes. Every Aztec who dressed for the game scored, including Cox who finished with a game-high 18 points.
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 25-50 (.333). 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.
ONE AT A TIME: The Aztecs surpassed their win total for all of last year with last Saturday's 70-38 victory over Air Force. It was the eighth win of the season for SDSU, which posted a 7-19 record a year ago.
WINNING WITH DEFENSE: How crucial is defense to the Aztecs' this season? In San Diego State's eight wins this year, the Aztecs have limited their opponents to 33 percent shooting (152-452), including just 21 percent (28-130) from beyond the arc. By comparison, in SDSU's 16 losses opponents are shooting 11-percent higher (44 percent) overall and 12-percent better (33 percent) from three-point distance.
DEFENSE STOUT VS. FALCONS: San Diego State had its best defensive day of the season against Air Force, limiting the Falcons to just 23 percent on 13-for-55 shooting, including 3-for-21 (14 percent) on treys. It was the lowest shooting percentage of the season by an Aztecs opponent and the fewest points (38) SDSU has given up all year. SDSU had previously held Indiana State to 24 percent from the floor and just 39 points in a 53-39 win over the Sycamores.
LOWEST IN A LONG TIME: Air Force's 38 points were the fewest scored by an Aztec opponent in over three years. The last time SDSU held a foe under 38 points was on Jan. 2, 1997 when the Aztecs defeated San Jose State, 82-37.
OH, WHAT A DIFFERENCE: Just how different were the SDSU/Air Force games this season? Air Force had 37 points at halftime in Colorado Springs but were held to only 38 for the entire game at Cox Arena, 24 points under their season average.
HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?: Last Saturday's game against Air Force was the eighth time this season the Aztecs have held an opponent under 52 points and second time they've kept a foe under 40. San Diego State is 7-1 on the year when holding an opponent to 52 or fewer points.
HARD TO GET THE THREE: According to the latest Mountain West Conference statistics, San Diego State is the toughest team to sink a three-pointer against in the league. Entering the week, opponents have connected on just over 29 percent (110-of-374) of their looks from three-point range. SDSU also ranks third in the league in scoring defense (62.1 ppg).
MISSED IT BY THAT MUCH: San Diego State's 66-60 loss to New Mexico was the Aztecs' eighth loss this season by 10 or fewer points. For the year, SDSU is 4-8 in games decided by 10 points or less. Last year, only six of SDSU's 19 losses were by fewer than 10 points, with eight by 20 points or more.
BETTER ON THE BOARDS: After struggling on the glass a year ago when the Aztecs finished the season -5.7 in rebounding margin, SDSU has turned it around and enters the week -0.2 in that category for its current campaign. SDSU had its best rebounding efforts of the season versus Colorado State and Air Force, outboarding each team by 13 caroms. For the year, the Aztecs have outrebounded or been even on the glass with its opponents 12 times. Last season, the Aztecs were outboarded in 19-of-26 games.
CARDIAC KIDS: Of SDSU's eight wins this year, six have been decided in the final 5:00, including a pair that saw the Aztecs score the deciding points with less than 30 seconds to play. Junior Shannon Lee provided the late game heroics versus UNLV and Montana, scoring the final points of both games. Against TCU, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Colorado State, the Aztecs were forced to put together late runs to pull out last minute victories. Versus the Horned Frogs, SDSU scored the game's final 13 points, including the deciding basket with 2:27 to play, in a 63-51 Aztec win. Against the Islanders, the Aztecs used a 9-0 run over the final 3:22 to pull out the victory. Most recently, SDSU fashioned a 14-5 run over the final 4:56 to upset CSU.
TURNOVER TALE: After turning over the ball six times per game more than its opponents in the first 10 games of the season -- eight of which were losses -- SDSU has turned it around on the turnover front. In its last 14 games, the Aztecs are averaging just under one miscue per game more than their opponents. SDSU is 6-8 in that span.
DOUBLE TIME: Five Aztecs scored in double figures at Air Force led by Jamey Cox's 25 points. It was the first time this season SDSU has achieved that feat. The Aztecs have had four players reach double figures in six separate games.
CONSISTENT COX: Freshman Jamey Cox posted her 17th and 18th double-digit scoring games of the season last week with 16 points against New Mexico and 18 against Air Force. She has now scored in double figures in 18 of her 23 appearances this season, including four of the last six games and 12-of-15.
THE THREE IS BACK: After having her 14-game three-pointer string snapped at Utah last week, freshman Jamey Cox bounced back to drill a combined 9-of-18 against New Mexico and Air Force. She has now connected on at least one trey in 21 of her 23 games.
COX ON RECORD-SETTING PACE: With 59 three-pointers this year, freshman Jamey Cox is just six treys away from taking over the top spot on SDSU's single-season three-point fgs made list. Carmelia Bloodsaw, who hit 65 in 1991, is the Aztecs' current record holder. Currently, Cox ranks third in threes made, fourth in threes attempted (144) and third in three-point percentage (.410). She is also having the fifth-best free-throw season by percentage in SDSU history.
FRESHMAN FILL UP: Jamey Cox owns SDSU's top three high scoring games this year. Her 30-point effort at CS Fullerton is a team best followed by her 25 points at Air Force and 23 points against Wyoming.
ON A ROLL: It's not hard to figure out why freshman Kacee Wheeler has earned a spot in SDSU's starting lineup in the last three games. With her 14 points against New Mexico and 10 point versus Air Force, Wheeler has now scored in double figures in eight of SDSU's last 10 games, including a career-high 14 points against the Lobos. She reached double digits in scoring just twice in the Aztecs' first 14 games.
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE: Mary Apiafi ranks second in the Mountain West Conference in double-doubles with nine. UNLV's Linda Frohlich is the league's leader with 17. Shannon Lee and Anita Bundage have also recorded double-doubles this season. Lee has performed the act twice, with her 11 points and 11 assists against Wyoming last week being the most recent. Bundage had 12 points and 12 boards against Texas A&M-CC.
AMAZING APIAFI: Mary Apiafi's 9.1 rebounds per game average not only ranks second in the Mountain West Conference this season, it's the best rebounding average in nearly a decade at SDSU. Apiafi is the first Aztec to average over nine rebounds a game since Kieishsha Garnes averaged 10.5 during the 1990-91 season. Apiafi has also posted 15 double figure scoring games this season and is averaging 12.3 ppg.
APIAFI CRACKS TOP-10 IN BLOCKS: With her three blocked shots last week, senior Mary Apiafi moved past Aztec great Judy Porter into a two-way tie for ninth on SDSU's single-season blocked shots list with 42.
STOP, THIEF: You don't usually count on your post players to make a lot of steals, but senior center Mary Apiafi is changing that notion. Apiafi, who recorded a career-high eight steals against Colorado State, grabbed six more against Air Force and now has a team-best 57 on the year. That figure ranks third in the MWC.
BUNDAGE ON THE BOARDS: With her combined 17 rebounds last week, junior Anita Bundage moved into fifth place in the MWC rebounding rankings with 164 (6.8 rpg).
LATE-GAME HERO: Shannon Lee's game-winning basket with 29 seconds to play against UNLV was the second time this season the junior from Pasadena, Calif., has been a late-game hero for the Aztecs. Earlier this season, Lee hit a running one-hander in the lane with just eight seconds to play to lift SDSU to a 51-49 victory over Montana.
BETTER TO GIVE: Junior Shannon Lee continues have a strangle-hold on the MWC's assist race. With 140 assists so far this year, Lee is averaging over 5.8 per game, more than a full assist per contest than anyone else in the league. In fact, there are only two other players in the entire league that have even topped the 100-assist plateau so far this year. Last week, Lee posted her third 11-assist performance against New Mexico. She had previously turned the trick in back-to-back games against Wyoming and New Mexico.
LEE HEADING INTO RECORD BOOKS: With 10 more assists, junior Shannon Lee will move into 10th place on SDSU's single-season record list for assists. She enters the week with 140 on the year, hot on the heals of Falisha Wright, who had 149 in 1994.
OTII GETS INTENSE ON GLASS: Sophomore Atim Otii had her best rebounding game of the season and in the process barely missed her second career double-double with nine points and a season-best 11 rebounds against Air Force last week. It was her first double-digit rebounding performance of the season.
COMING OUT PARTY: When you lose by 25 like the Aztecs did at Utah, it's tough to pick out positives. But Nicole Bemi-Morrison was one Aztec who turned in a solid game versus the Utes. The freshman guard, who joined the team on Jan. 27th and was seeing action in only her second game, finished the contest with a co-team-high nine points, connecting on 2-of-3 three-pointers and hitting her only foul shot of the night in 21 minutes of work. The points were the first of her career after playing only two minutes versus CSU.
MORE ON BEMI-MORRISON: Freshman Nicole Bemi-Morrison was added to the San Diego State roster on Jan. 27, when she was given the okay to play by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Bemi-Morrison comes to SDSU from Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. She graduated in November from St. Mary's College, a Catholic high school in Ipswich, and is a two-time Queensland All-Schoolgirls team (1998 and '99) selection as well as a 1998 Australian National All-Schoolgirls team choice. Bemi-Morrison saw her first action in an Aztec uniform against Colorado State, playing two minutes.
AZTECS ON THE RADIO: All SDSU women's basketball home games will be broadcast live on KCBQ (1170 AM) in San Diego. Bill Earley calls the play-by-play with SDSU alum Tammy Blackburn providing the color analysis. Dan Lawton hosts the halftime report.
AZTEC ON THE INTERNET: All SDSU releases, results, statistics, box scores, schedules and coach and player information, as well as historical data, is available on the Internet at www.goaztecs.com. Game recaps and statistics are updated after each contest.
AZTECS ON INFO CONNECTION: All SDSU women's basketball releases are also available to the media via Info Connection. To access the system, dial 1-800-300-2050 from the handset of your fax machine. The code for the Mountain West Conference is 692. The document numbers for the following items are: Full Release 2035, Stats Only 2038, Latest Box Score 2037.
UPDATED PLAYER PROFILES
23 Mary Apiafi
6-2, Senior, Pasadena, Calif.
Quick Facts: Has started all 24 games this season...Averaging 30.9 mpg...Is SDSU's second-leading scorer (12.6 ppg) and the team's top rebounder (9.1 rpg) and shot blocking artist (1.8 bpg)...Ranks in the top-12 in the MWC in both scoring and rebounding...Shooting .508from the field and .676 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 six games this season, including four games with over 20 points, and nine double-doubles...Had perhaps her best week of the season against Wyoming and Colorado State with back-to-back double-doubles...Just missed a triple double versus the Rams with 21 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high eight steals...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.
33 Nicole Bemi-Morrison
5-9, Freshman, Ipswich, Australia
Quick Facts: Joined the team on Jan. 27 after graduating from St. Mary's College (a Catholic high school) in November...Has seen action in four games, playing an average of 9.3 minutes per contest.
1999-2000: Played a season-high 21 minutes at Utah...Canned two of her three three-point attempts versus the Utes, finishing with a co-team-high nine points...Also grabbed four rebounds at Utah...Was 1-for-1 from the filed and the line for three points at BYU...Knocked down a pair of free throws in SDSU win over Air Force.
53 Anita Bundage
5-11, Junior, Conroe, Texas
Quick Facts: Has started all 24 games so far this season, playing a full 40 minutes six times (Portland, Indiana State, Missouri, Loyola Marymount, Utah and at New Mexico)...Has scored in double figures nine times...Is the MWC's No. 5 rebounder at 6.8 rpg in both rebounding...Is third on scoring on team at 8.5 ppg...Has notched three double-digit rebounding performances, including 11 versus UNLV.
1999-2000: Scored 16 points, all in the second half, and added eight rebounds versus Colorado State...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 22-of-24 games this season, seeing action in 19 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 (13.4 ppg), minutes played per game (37.2 mpg) and is second in assists (2.8 apg)...Leads the MWC's in free throw percentage at .833 (44-52), but does not have enough makes to qualify...Ranks eighth in the MWC in three point shooting at .410 (59-144) 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 five games...Connected on at least one three-pointer in 21 of her 23 games...Tied a career-high with seven threes, one shy of a school record, against Wyoming en route to 23 points...Knocked down 5-of-7 threes en route to 18 points against Air Force at home...Tallied 25 against the Falcons, including five treys, at Air Force...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 tallying 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...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 State...Scored 16 points and dished out four assists in her first collegiate start at Idaho State.
30 Robin Hayes
6-4, Junior, Los Angeles, Calif.
Quick Facts: Missed most of last two years with knee injuries...After playing in just four contests over the last two seasons, has seen action in 19 of SDSU's 24 games so far this year.
1999-2000: Did not score in SDSU's first 15 games, but has had at least one bucket in six of SDSU's last nine games...Notched first points of the season on a nice hook shot at New Mexico...Also recorded a block versus the Lobos...Had solid minutes off the bench versus UNLV...Played a season-high 18 minutes off the bench at Utah, tying a career-best with four points.
52 Andrea Kiesling
6-3, Freshman, Helena, Mont.
Quick Facts: Saw action in 14 games off the bench, averaging 8.4 mpg, before suffering a broken right fibula against BYU...Is out for the season.
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 21-of-24 games at guard this season...Has emerged as SDSU's primary playmaker with the development of Cox at two guard...Is the MWC's Assist leader with 140 assists (5.8 apg)...Also ranks fourth in the MWC's in steals with 53 (2.2 spg).
1999-2000: Had best game of the season versus UNLV with a career-high 17 points, including the game winning lay-up with 29 seconds to play, and seven assists...Almost matched that effort with 11 points and a career-best 11 assists versus Wyoming...Also recorded 11 assists against CSU and Air Force at home...Had 10 points and a then-career-high 10 assists versus TCU...Shot a season-best 6-for-8 from the free throw line against TCU...Scored 10 points and dished out eight assists at CS Fullerton...Has dished out at least six assists 13 times this season, including seven assists against Idaho St., Portland, UCLA, Air Force and UNLV 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...Registered season-best five steals versus Missouri.
55 Atim Otii
6-0. Sophomore, Denver, Colo.
Quick Facts: Has started all 24 games at forward this season...Ranks in the MWC top-10 in blocked shots (0.8 bpg) and offensive rebounds (2.7 o-rpg)...Has scored in double figures nine times...Considered to be on of the MWC's top defensive players.
1999-2000: Scored a career-best 22 points at UCLA on 10-for-13 shooting in 33 minutes of work...Cleared a career-high 11 rebounds against Air Force at home...Tallied 11 points at 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.
50 Kacee Wheeler
6-1, Freshman, Bakersfield, Calif.
Quick Facts: Has started five games on the year, including three in a row...Has seen action in all 24 games...Has scored in double figures in eight of SDSU's last 10 games.
1999-2000: Finished with a career-high 14 points vs. New Mexico...Was SDSU's leading scorer at both Utah and BYU...Has scored in all but one game this season...Dished out a career-high five assists versus at BYU...Posted 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 four assists...Also started and tallied seven points versus Montana...Sank 24 free throws in a row in games 2-7 before...Finished in double figures in both games of Pacific Bell Classic, including 11 points against Indiana State.