Dec. 14, 2000
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Cal State Fullerton Titans (0-7) at
San Diego State Aztecs (3-5)
DAY/DATE: Monday, Dec. 18, 2000
PLACE: Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl (12,414), San Diego, Calif.
TIME: 7 p.m. PST
SERIES: Titans lead, 17-15
WEBCAST: Monday night's game versus Cal State Fullerton can be heard live over the Internet at www.goaztecs.com. Dan Lawton will handle the play-by-play for all road contests with Bill Earley (p-b-p) and Tammy Blackburn (analysis) calling the home webcasts.
San Diego State Storyline
The San Diego State women's basketball team (3-5) opens a three-game homestand Monday night, when the Aztecs host Cal State Fullerton at Cox Arena. The game, which tips at 7 p.m., will be just the third at home this season for SDSU, which went 2-2 in its most recent road swing.
* The Aztecs, who knocked off the Titans, 80-51, at Fullerton last season, will be out to snap a two-game losing streak after falling at San Jose State, 59-54, in its most recent outing.
A Quick Look At The Aztecs
San Diego State looks to get back into the win column Monday night, when the Aztecs host Cal State Fullerton at Cox Arena. The Aztecs, who have not played at home since falling to Chattanooga in the championship game of the Pacific Bell Classic on Nov. 25, are coming off a four-game road tip in which team compiled a 2-2 record.
* The Aztecs opened the swing with wins over Portland State and Alcorn State -- the first consecutive victories away from campus for the Aztecs since SDSU won the 1997 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament in Las Vegas -- before falling to Missouri in the final of the Unilever Lady Tiger Classic and at San Jose State.
* Still, San Diego State's three wins in eight games equals its best start under current head coach Barb Smith (SDSU also opened the '97-98 season 3-5) and is a dramatic improvement over a year ago, when the Aztecs opened their season 2-8 before winning game No. 3 at CS Fullerton on Dec. 30.
* Much of San Diego State's success thus far has been due to the impact of a pair of newcomers, junior Tanisha Knight and freshman Nicolette McCartny. Knight has scored in double figures in each of the Aztecs' eight games this season and enters Monday's contest as SDSU's leading scorer (14.4 ppg) and rebounder (5.4 rpg). McCartny, the Mountain West's field-goal percentage leader (68.8 percent) ranks second on the squad in scoring (9.4 ppg).
About Cal State Fullerton
Under the guidance of first-year head coach Barbara Dee Ehardt, CSFullerton (0-7) has struggled out of the gates in 2000-01 and are still in search of their first victory. In fact, the Titans have lost 20 straight games dating back to a 70-64 overtime win against New Mexico State on Jan. 16, 2000.
* The Titans, who most recently dropped a 75-47 decision on Dec. 8 at Saint Mary's, are 0-3 on the road.
* A pair of guards have led Cal StateFulleton thus far as both sophomore Kandace Hunter (12.7 ppg) freshman Tamara Quinn (11.7 ppg) are averaging double figures in scoring. Forward Heather Hansen (5.3 rpg) is the Titans' leading rebounder.
Series Shorts
Cal State Fullerton owns a 17-15 advantage in the all-time series between the Titans and Aztecs. However, SDSU has won two in a row and three of the last five in the series.
* Though the two teams have faced each other 32 times, Monday's meeting will be just the second since 1994.
* The Aztecs are 10-6 verses their former Big West Conference rival all-time at home.
Common Enemies
San Diego State and Cal State Fullerton have faced just one common opponent this season -- Portland State. SDSU got the best of the Vikings, 53-50, in Portland Nov. 28, while the Titans fell to PSU, 73-59, at home Dec. 2.
SDSU Versus The Big West
In addition to Cal State Fullerton, SDSU has faced five of the other seven current Big West members. Though the Aztecs are 56-69 all-time versus the league, SDSU owns winning records against all but two Big West teams -- Long Beach State (3-35) and Cal State Fullerton (15-17).
* As a member of the Big West from 1985-90, SDSU posted a 45-43 record in conference games.
The Last Time We Met
Jamey Cox led all scorers with a career-high 30 points, including 19 in the second half, and three other Aztecs finished in double figures, as San Diego State defeated Cal State Fullerton, 80-51, last season in Titan Gym.
* San Diego State took control of the contest from the opening tap, scoring the game's first 12 points, and lead by as many as 21 late in the first half. With 6:11 to play in the opening period, the Aztecs strung together an 11-1 run to take their largest lead of the half, 39-18, when Cox stroked one of her seven three pointers, one shy of an SDSU record. The Titans, however, close the period with an 8-2 spurt of their own, including six points by center Erin Whiteside, who paced Cal State Fullerton in scoring with 16 points, to cut the Aztec lead to 41-26 at the break.
* The Aztecs capped the victory with an 11-2 run down the stretch and led by 31 points, 80-49, with 10 seconds to play before Fullerton's Kristina Naumovic hit a jumper at the buzzer for the final points of the game.
An Aztec Win Monday Would...
* Move San Diego State back to within a game of .500.
* Improve SDSU to 4-5 overall, 2-1 at Home.
* Give head coach Barb Smith her 30th victory at San Diego State.
* Be the third straight win for SDSU over Cal State Fullerton.
* Improve the Aztecs to 16-17 all time versus the Titans.
Heating Up
San Diego State's field goal percentage (.453) ranks second in the Mountain West Conference and is up significantly over last year when the Aztecs shot 41 percent from the floor.
* The Aztecs have shot better than 50 percent in 6-of-16 halves thus far. San Diego State's 67 percent second-half shooting percentage against Alcorn State was the third time this season that the Aztecs have shot better than 60 percent in a half. The Aztecs shot over 60 percent in both halves versus Illinois State, to finish at 68 percent (32-of-47). That performance broke a 13-year-old school record, eclipsing the old mark of 65 percent (34-of-50) set on Jan. 19, 1987, vs. Hawaii.
* Three Aztecs -- Bundage, Otii and McCartny -- are shooting better than 50 percent from the field, including McCartny's league-leading 68.8 percent.
The Road Less Traveled
After winning just once on the road in 1999 and twice last year, San Diego State already has a pair of road wins under its belt this season. In fact, combining last year's season-ending victory at Colorado State with the Aztecs' back-to-back wins over Portland State and Alcorn State, SDSU is just under .500 on the road in their last seven regular-season contests. It is the best seven-game road stretch since winning 6-of-7 away from campus to close out the 1996-97 campaign.
Getting Defensive
San Diego State has held half of its opponents under 60 points this season, including three of the last four. The Aztecs limited Portland State (50) and Alcorn State (43) to an average of 46.5 points -- the fewest points in back-to-back games since Portland (50) and Indiana State (39) combined to score just 89 points (44.5 ppg) in game Nos. 2 and 3 last season.
* The Aztecs have also held two of their last three opponents under 33 percent shooting. SDSU held San Jose State to just 32.4 percent from the field, while Alcorn State connected on only 25.8 percent of its shots. ASU shooting percentage was one of the lowest ever by an Aztec opponent. SDSU held Loyola Marymount to just 20.8-percent shooting on Dec. 17, 1994 to set the school record.
Turnovers Still Lower
After struggling in the turnover department much of last season, San Diego State has cut its turnovers nearly three per game in 2000-01 and have had fewer turnovers than their opponents in 4-of-8 contests. SDSU averaged 22.5 last year and enters Monday's game averaging 19.6.
* Though they had a season-high 27 miscues at San Jose State, the Aztecs have already posted three games with 17 or fewer, including a season-low 12 at Portland State -- SDSU's fewest turnovers since committing just eight versus Pepperdine on Dec. 7, 1996.
Slow Starts and Fast Finishes
Through eight games this year, San Diego State has shown itself to be a second-half team. The Aztecs, who are averaging 62.5 ppg on offense, have scored more points in the second half of every game thus far for an average of 11.3 points more after intermission. SDSU's biggest second-half surge came versus Alcorn State, when the Aztecs doubled their first-half production (20) in the second period (40). Earlier this year at LMU, the Aztecs reeled off 17 more points after the break. Overall, SDSU has scored 59 percent of its points after halftime.
Who's Got Next?
It looks as if Barb Smith has achieved her goal of having a much more balanced offensive team in 2000-01. The Aztecs have played just eight games thus far and already have had four different leading scorers. Sophomore Jamey Cox and junior Tanisha Knight have each led the way three times, while junior Atim Otii and freshman Nicolette McCartny have turned in high-point honors once.
Good Knight!
Just how big has junior Tanisha Knight been for the Aztecs since arriving from Central Arizona College? Knight, who has scored in double figures in all eight games, leads San Diego State in both scoring (14.4) and rebounding (5.4). In fact, her 14.4 ppg average ranks fourth in the Mountain West Conference.
* Knight is coming off an impressive four-game road trip. After opening up with 17 points in SDSU's win at Portland State, the junior scored 12 points against Alcorn State before pouring a team- and career-high 22 against Missouri. She wrapped up the stretch with a 16-point effort at San Jose State.
* SDSU's leading scorer in three of the last four games, Knight has also connected on over 79 percent of her free throws (37-of-47), and was an all-tournament selection at both the Pacific Bell Classic as well as the Unilever Lady Tiger Classic.
Surprise Story
There may not be a better story in the Mountain West Conference than freshman Nicolette McCartny. Lightly recruited out of high school despite putting up impressive numbers, the Chicago native has done nothing but shine since arriving on Montezuma Mesa.
* The league's leader in field goal percentage at 68.8 percent, McCartny has finished in double figure in 5-of-8 games and is second on the team in scoring (9.4 ppg). McCartny was at her best versus Alcorn State, finishing with a game- and season-high 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting. She came back the following night to score 14 against Missouri. McCartny's other double figure scoring games came at Montana (11), LMU (10) and versus Illinois St. (11).
Holiday Season Starts Early For Lee
The holiday season is a time for giving and SDSU's Shannon Lee has apparently gotten into the spirit early.
* Last year's Mountain West Conference assist leader, Lee, did herself one better versus Illinois State, dishing out a league-record 14 versus the Redbirds. It was also the fourth-best single-game total in San Diego State history and the most since Michelle Miles totaled 14 against Fresno State on Jan. 21, 1992. SDSU's record holder is Crystal Lee (no relation), who had 16 against Long Beach State on Feb. 1, 1990.
* Shannon Lee now owns the five best assist games in the MWC's short history. Her 43 assists so far this season has also moved her into eighth place on SDSU's career assist chart with 284. Lee needs just nine more to surpass Sandy Wright (292) for seventh and 16 to overtake Shelda Arceneaux (299) for sixth.