Dec. 31, 2000
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San Diego State Aztecs (6-5) at
at Cal Poly Mustangs (6-4)
DAY/DATE: Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2001
PLACE: Mott Gym (3,000), San Luis Obisbo, Calif.
TIME: 7 p.m. PST
SERIES: Aztecs lead, 3-2
WEBCAST: Tuesday night's game at Cal Poly can be heard live over the Internet at www.goaztecs.com. Dan Lawton handles 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
Winners of three in a row and five of its last seven games, San Diego State looks to post its first four-game winning streak of the Barb Smith era when the Aztecs travel to San Luis Obispo to take on Cal Poly Tuesday, Jan. 2, at 7 p.m. The Aztecs enter 2001 on a roll after completing a perfect three-game homestand -- the first ever for SDSU in Cox Arena. At 6-5, the San Diego State is also off to its best start since opening the 1996-97 season with same record.
A Quick Look At The Aztecs
Fresh off its first perfect three-game homestand ever in Cox Arena, San Diego State (6-5) returns to the road this week at Cal Poly (6-4). The game, which tips at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night, will be the Aztecs first away from campus in nearly a month. San Diego State is 2-4 away from Cox Arena on the year, including a 60-43 neutral site victory over Alcorn State at the Unilever Lady Tiger Classic in Columbia, Mo.
What A Difference A Year Makes
At 6-5, San Diego State is dramatically improved from a year ago when the Aztecs were just 3-8 in their first 11 games. SDSU's six wins are its most during November and December since the Aztecs posted a 7-2 record to open the 1995-96 campaign. It is also the first time since '95-96 that the Aztecs will head into the New Year's holiday with a winning record.
Aztec Enter 21st Century On A Roll
San Diego State notched its third straight victory and improved to 6-5 on the season with its 58-50 win over Northern Arizona. The Aztecs three-game winning streak is the longest of the Barb Smith era and also marked the first time SDSU has won three consecutive games in Cox Arena. The winning streak is also the Aztecs' longest since winning 11 straight, including three in a row to win the 1997 Western Athletic Conference Tournament, prior to advancing to the 1997 NCAA Tournament.
Easy As One, Two, Three
Prior to holding off Northern Arizona, San Diego State defeated California, 63-49, and Cal State Fullerton, 84-47. The win over the Golden Bears snapped a six-game losing streak versus the Pacific-10 Conference. SDSU's victory over the Titans was its third straight.
About Cal Poly
* Coming off a 9-19 1999-00 campaign, Cal Poly opened the season as one of the nation's most improved programs, winning five in a row out of the gate. The Mustangs, however, have fallen on hard times of late as Cal Poly has dropped four of its last five games.
* Still, the Mustangs have been tough in Mott Gym this season, posting victories in four of their five home contests. Cal Poly's only home loss thus far is a 85-61 defeat at the hands of Santa Clara, a team that defeated No. 10 Texas Tech, 61-56, Saturday night.
* Head coach Faith Mimnaugh is in her fourth year at the helm of the Mustang program and owns a 29-61 (.322) record at the Central California school. Sophomore forward Caroline Rowles leads Cal Poly in both points 10.7 (ppg) and rebounds (7.0 rpg).
San Diego State-Cal Poly Series Shorts
Tuesday night's meeting between San Diego State and Cal Poly will be the sixth overall, but just the second since 1978. Although the teams have met six times previously, only five have come since SDSU received varsity status prior to the 1976-77 season. The Aztecs lead the five-game series by a 3-2 margin and have won the last three straight, including the only meeting on the Central Coast (62-50 on Feb. 1, 1978). The two teams last met on Jan. 5, 1996, in Peterson Gym with the Aztecs posting a 64-31 victory.
The Last Time We Met
Jurate Zukauskaite scored 14 points and three other Aztecs finished in double figures as San Diego State cruised to a 64-31 victory over Cal Poly on Jan. 7, 1996, in Peterson Gym. The Aztec held the Mustangs to just eight first-half points and led by as many as 35 late in the second half. The Aztecs also forced 34 Mustang turnovers, 22 via steals, and held Cal Poly to just 13 field goals on the night.
SDSU Versus The Big West
In addition to Cal Poly, SDSU has faced five of the other seven current Big West members. Though the Aztecs are 57-69 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 (16-17). As a member of the Big West from 1985-90, SDSU posted a 45-43 record in conference games.
Like Looking In A Mirror
Just how similar are SDSU and Cal Poly? Consider the following:
* San Diego State enters the week with a 6-5 record, Cal Poly is 6-4.
* Both teams had 9-19 records in '99-00.
* Each team has hosted Northern Arizona and played at Portland State. SDSU defeated NAU by eight points (58-50) and PSU by three (53-50). Cal Poly got past NAU by seven points (67-60) and defeated PSU by five (49-44).
* San Diego State enters the game averaging 64.1 ppg, while Cal Poly has scored and average of 63.8 ppg on the year.
* Each squad has six wins prior to January for the first time in at least five years.
* Both teams have winning records heading into January for the first time in at least four years.
* Both head coaches are in their fourth years with their respective programs.
Then Again, Maybe Not
There is one difference between the two teams. San Diego State heads into Tuesday's game as hot as it's been under head coach Barb Smith, with victories in five of its last seven games, including three in a row. Cal Poly, however, will be out to get things back on track after dropping four of its last five.
Noting SDSU's Win Over NAU
* San Diego State improved its record to 6-5 with a 58-50 victory over Northern Arizona Saturday in Cox Arena.
* Senior Anita Bundage and junior Tanisha Knight each notched their first double-doubles of the season.
* Bundage led SDSU in both scoring and and rebounding with 13 points and 11 boards for her third career double-double. It was also the second consecutive game that the senior has scored in double digits.
* Knight finally got over the hump to record her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The junior had previously come within 1, 2, or 3 rebound of a double-double on four occasions. She also extended her double-digit scoring streak to 11 games.
* Freshman Nicolette McCartny was back in double figures for the first time in four games, finishing with 11 points.
* San Diego State collected a season-high 50 rebounds versus the Lumberjacks, including a season-best 20 on the offensive end.
* The Aztecs also held NAU to just 25-percent shooting in the opening stanza (6-for-24) as the Lumberjacks became the third SDSU opponent in the last six games held to fewer than 20 first-half points.
Its the Defense, Stupid!
Its not so difficult to figure out why San Diego State has won three in a row and five of its last seven games. DEFENSE! The Aztecs have held seven of their 11 opponents under 60 points this season, including six of seven. In fact, the Aztec have not allowed an opponent to break 50 points in its last three games. During that three game span, the Aztecs have limited opponents to a paltry 32.5 percent shooting percentage (49-for-151), including just 8.6 percent (3-for-35) from beyond the arc. SDSU is 6-1 when holding an opponent under 60 points this season.
Heating Up, Staying Hot...
Despite posting its poorest shooting half of the season (30 percent vs. NAU), San Diego State's team field goal percentage continues to be a positive in 2000-01. The Aztecs enter Tuesday's game shooting 43.7 percent on the season, third in the Mountain West Conference and up significantly over last year's 40.4 team percentage.
* The Aztecs have also shot better than 50 percent in 7-of-22 halves thus far, and have three times topped 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, versus Hawaii.
* Four Aztecs -- Bemi-Morrison, Bundage, McCartny and Vargas -- are shooting at least 50 percent from the field, including McCartny's league-leading 62.7 percent.
...And That Translates Into More Points
SDSU is also scoring seven more points per game than it did a year ago and has already surpassed the 80-point plateau twice. Last season, the Aztecs never scored more than 80 points. San Diego State has also shot better than 45 percent in 5-of-11 (.454) games compared to a season ago when the Aztecs eclipsed 45 percent in just 9-of-28 contests (.321).
Getting Defensive
The Aztecs have held five of their last six opponents below 37 percent shooting, including Cal State Fullerton, which became the second SDSU foe this season to shoot less than 30 percent from the field. Earlier this year, the Aztecs held Alcorn State to just 28.5 percent shooting from the floor. Most recently, SDSU held NAU to 34 percent (19-for-56) from the field.
These Things Tend To Come In Bunches
After getting just one double-double in its first eight games -- Shannon Lee's 10-point, 14-assist performance versus Illinois State -- the Aztecs have had three players turn the trick in the last three games. Jamey Cox got the streak started with 13 points and 10 assists against Cal State Fullerton before Anita Bundage and Tanisha Knight got into the act with their first double-doubles of the season against Northern Arizona. Last year, the Aztecs combined to post double-doubles in 12-of-28 games. Senior center Mary Apiafi led the way with nine double-doubles on the season.
Hard To Get The Three
Through 11 games, San Diego State has proven itself to be the toughest team in the Mountain West Conference to sink a three-pointer against. Heading in Tuesday's game at Cal Poly, Aztec opponents are shooting just 30.1 percent from beyond the arc and have connected on just three treys in the last four games. Since Missouri burned SDSU for eight triples on Dec. 2, Aztec foes are a combined 3-for-35 (8.6 percent) from three-point distance. On the season, Cal Poly has connected on 28.9 percent (39-for-135) of its three-point field goal attempts.
Turnovers Still The Key
After struggling in the turnover department much of last season, SDSU has cut its turnovers in excess of three per game in 2000-01 and have had fewer turnovers than their opponents in 7-of-11 contests. The Aztecs averaged 22.5 turnovers per game last year and enter Tuesday's game averaging 19.1. The Aztecs have already posted six games with 18 or fewer turnovers, including a season-low 12 at Portland State -- SDSU's fewest turnovers since committing just eight versus Pepperdine on Dec. 7, 1996. However the key stat remains which team has the fewest miscues. SDSU is 6-1 when it has less turnovers than its opponent.
Aztecs Keep Dishing the Rock
Not only are the Aztecs doing a better job of taking care of the ball, SDSU is also making better decisions on offense. San Diego State ranked third in the Mountain West Conference last week in assists (16.4 apg) and boasted a stellar assist-to-field goal ration of 68 percent (241 field goals on 164 assists). Not surprising, the Aztecs have a pair of players ranked in the MWC's top 5 in assists. Senior Shannon Lee ranks third at 4.50 apg, while sophomore Jamey Cox is fourth at 4.10 apg.
Five-Finger Discounts
One of San Diego State's most amazing turnarounds this season has been in the steals category. Through 11 games, the Aztecs rank third in the Mountain West Conference in steals per game at 9.9. SDSU picked off 10 against Cal and a season-high 18 versus Cal State Fullerton -- its most since snatching 22 against Fresno State on Feb. 24, 1999 -- and now has notched double-digit steals in six games on the year. Last season, SDSU averaged just 8.5 spg, good for seventh in the eight-team league, and finished with double-figures in steals in only 10-of-28 games. Three Aztecs rank among the Mountain West's leaders in steals per game: Tanisha Knight, Shannon Lee, and Jamey Cox.
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 11 games, leads San Diego State in both scoring (13.9) and rebounding (6.3). In fact, last week,Knight ranked in the MWC's top 10 in five separate categories: Scoring (3rd), Steals (3rd), Blocks (3rd), Free Throw Percentage (6th), and Rebounding (9th).
* Last week, Knight scored a game-high 15 points and grabbed a team-leading seven boards against California. The junior just missed her first career double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds against Cal State Fullerton to open the homestand, but came back to turn the trick with 12 points and 10 boards versus Northern Arizona.
* Prior to that, Knight posted 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 four of the last seven games, Knight has also connected on 78 percent of her free throws (51-of-63, good for sixth in the MWC), and was an all-tournament selection at both the Pacific Bell Classic as well as the Unilever Lady Tiger Classic.
Bundage Bounces Back
After getting off to a slow start in 2000-01, senior Anita Bundage has come on strong in the last two games, finishing in double figures in each contest. Last Friday against California, Bundage, who has made only one start and is averaging just under 17 minutes per game, came off the bench score 11 points. She did herself one better against NAU, collecting her third career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.