Jan. 12, 2001
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Game 15
Utah Utes (13-2, 2-0 MWC) at
San Diego State Aztecs (9-5, 1-0 MWC)
DAY/DATE: Saturday, Jan. 13, 2001PLACE: Cox Arena (12,414), San Diego, Calif.TIME: 7 p.m. PST
SERIES: Utes lead, 11-10
WEBCAST: Saturday's game versus Utah 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
The hottest team in the Mountain West Conference, San Diego Sate (9-5, 1-0 MWC) looks to open league play at 2-0 for the first time since the 1996-97 season when the Aztecs host conference-leading Utah (13-2, 2-0) Saturday in Cox Arena at 7 p.m. Fresh off a 63-61 victory over Brigham Young Thursday night, SDSUhas won six in a row and eight of its last 10 games. However, the Aztecs will face a stern test in Utah, which has won the last four meetings between the two schools and was recently ranked in the AP Top 25.
A Quick Look At The Aztecs
* San Diego State extended its winning streak to six games Thursday night, opening Mountain West Conference action with a 63-61 victory over Brigham Young. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak versus the Cougars, who defeated the Aztecs by an average of 30 points in their three meetings with SDSU a year ago. The win was also the first for the Aztecs in a conference opener in four years and improved SDSU to 5-1 this season at home.
* At 9-5 overall, San Diego State is off to its best start since opening the 1996-97 season with the same record. SDSU's six-game winning streak is its longest since the Aztecs closed out the '96-97 campaign with 11 consecutive wins before falling to Oregon in the NCAA Tournament.
Win Total Already Equal To That Of Last Season
San Diego State's 63-61 victory over Brigham Young improved the Aztecs to 9-5 (1-0 MWC). Through 14 games, SDSU has already equaled its win total from a year ago, when the Aztecs finished 9-19 (4-10 MWC). A victory Saturday over Utah would improve San Diego State to 10-5 (2-0 MWC) and equal the Aztecs' highest single-season win total of the Barb Smith era. SDSU finished Smith's inaugural season 1997-98 season at 10-15.
Road Warrior Tradition Returning To Montezuma Mesa
San Diego State won its fourth game away from campus last Sunday, defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 67-59. The victory moved SDSU to 4-4 on the road this year, including a 60-47 win over Alcorn State at the Unilever Lady Tiger Classic. Through 14 games, the Aztecs have already posted as many wins away from Cox Arena this season (four) as they had in each of the last two years combined. It is the first time San Diego State has won four pre-conference games away from campus since the 1995-96 season when the Aztecs went 4-2.
Home Cookin' Not So Bad Though
In addition to its improvement on the road, San Diego State has also performed better at home this season, posting a 5-1 mark in Cox Arena. Last year, the Aztecs were 7-7 at home.
Learning To Win The Close Ones
After wining just 5-of-15 games decided by 10 points or less last season, SDSUappears to be learning how to win the close ones this year. The Aztecs are 5-3 in games decided by 10 or fewer points on the year and have won five of the last six, including four in a row. Among those five wins are three road victories (TAMU-CC, Portland State and Cal Poly).
Aztecs Post Six-Game Non-Conference Turnaround
San Diego State's 8-5 non-conference record was a dramatic improved from a year ago when the Aztecs were just 5-8 in their first 13 games. The Aztecs' victory at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi improved SDSU's record to 8-5 and completed a six-game improvement from last year when the Aztecs were just 5-8 in non-conference games despite playing eight at home. This year, SDSU has played eight of its 13 pre-conference games away from campus.
Aztecs' Current Six-Game Winning Streak League's Longest
San Diego State's current six-game winning streak is the longest current string of consecutive victories in the Mountain West Conference. Utah, with two, is the only other team in the league to enter the Saturday's action with consecutive wins.
Anatomy Of A Streak...Six and Counting
After dropping a game it felt it should have won (a 59-54 decision at San Jose State), San Diego State returned home determined to set its season back on track. The Aztecs did just that, putting a 37-point beating on Cal State Fullerton before picking up a quality 63-49 win over California. SDSU wrapped up its homestand with a 58-50 win over Northern Arizona to complete its first ever three-game winning streak in Cox Arena. With a little confidence under their belts, the Aztecs returned to the road last week and extended the run to five games, picking up victories at Cal Poly and Texas A&M-CC. The streak grew to six with Thursday's dramatic 63-61 win over Brigham Young.
About Utah
* Utah wraps up a three-game road trip at San Diego State Saturday. The Utes enter the contest at 13-2 (2-0 MWC) after posting wins at New Mexico, 76-73, Sunday and at UNLV, 70-51, Thursday. The victories snapped a two-game losing streak for the Utes, who were ranked in the AP Top 25 from Dec. 18 to Jan. 7.
* Utah is 5-1 away from the Huntsman Center on the year with its only loss coming at Stanford, Dec. 30.
* Similar to San Diego State, Utah has only one player averaging double figures in scoring, junior Kristina Anderson (10.1 ppg). However, six other Utes are averaging in excess of six points per game.
* Junior center Laruen Beckman is Utah's leading rebounder at 7.1 rpg, a figure that ranks fourth in the MWC.
* As a team, Utah has continued its tradition of defensive excellence this season and once again leads the nation in scoring defense, yielding just 51.4 ppg. Last year, the Aztecs scored just 44 points against Utah in Cox Arena and only 38 in the Huntsman Center.
* Head coach Elaine Elliott is in her 18th season at the controls of the Utah women's basketball program. The winningest coach in school history, Elliott owns a 371-152 (.709) career record and has led the Utes to eight 20-win seasons during her tenure.
San Diego State-Utah Series Shorts
* Thursday's game against Utah will be the 22th all-time between the Utes and Aztecs.
* Utah owns an 11-10 advantage in the all-time series and has won the last four in a row, including all both games last season.
* SDSU is 6-2 all-time versus Utah in games played on Montezuma Mesa. However, the Aztecs have yet to beat the Utes in Cox Arena.
* San Diego State has not defeated Utah since posting an 56-50 victory over the Utes March 8, 1997, to capture the 1996-97 Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship.
Recapping Last Year's Meetings
* Unlike BYU, San Diego State played with Utah at home, but struggled to remain competitive versus the Utes in the Huntsman Center.
* Utah led by as many as 15 points in the second half at SDSU before the Aztecs cut the lead to 47-42 with 1:27 to play. However, SDSU could manage only two more points the rest of the way as the Utes held on for a 53-44 victory.
* The story wasn't so rosy for San Diego State in Salt Lake City, as the Aztecs managed only 10 first-half points in a 63-38 loss.
Common Enemies
San Diego State and Utah faced two common opponents during the pre-conference season, Montana and Loyola Marymount. While the Aztecs played both teams on the road, falling 69-59 in Missoula and 68-58 at LMU, Utah hosted both squads. The Utes defeated the Lady Griz, 67-49, but were upended by the Lions, 64-58.
Noting SDSU's Win Over Brigham Young
* San Diego State improved its record to 9-5 with its 63-61 victory over Brigham Young and extended its current winning streak to six games--the longest of the Barb Smith era.
* The victory was SDSU's fourth in a row by 10 points or less.
* The win was SDSU's first over the Cougars since the 1995-96 season and snapped a six-game losing streak versus Brigham Young. It was also the Aztecs' first win over BYU head coach Trent Shippen.
* The 63-61 win was the first for the Aztecs in a conference opener since 1996-97.San Diego State held the MWC's best three-point field goal percentage team (40.4 percent) to just 6-for-17 (.353) from beyond the arc, including 2-for-7 in the second half.
* Junior Atim Otii had perhaps her finest game of the year, scoring a season-high 18 points, including SDSU's first nine of the second half, and hitting on 7-of-9 from the field. Otii also collected seven rebounds. It is the second straight game the junior has scored in double figures.
* Sophomore Jamey Cox posted her seventh double-figure scoring game of the year and the 29th of her 42-game career, finishing with 11 points, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free thrown line.
* Making only her third appearance of the season, senior Sophia Sledge came off the bench to score nine points. Fellow senior Anita Bundage also posted nine points off the bench.
Its the Defense, Stupid!
Its not so difficult to figure out why San Diego State has won six in a row and eight of its last 10 games. DEFENSE! The Aztecs have held eight of their 14 opponents under 60 points this season, including seven of the last 10. During SDSU's six-game winning streak, opponents are shooting just 35.6 percent (115-of-323) from the floor, including a paltry 22.2 percent (18-of-81) from three-point distance. The Aztecs are 9-1 on the year when holding an opponent under 65 points.
Heating Up, Staying Hot...
San Diego State shot a combined .466 from the field in last three games and enters Saturday's match up with Utah shooting .443 for the season, second in the Mountain West Conference and up significantly over last season with the Aztecs connected on just 40.4 percent of their shots.
* SDSU has shot better than 50 percent in eight halves and over 45 percent in 7-of-14 games, including shooting 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. The Aztecs eclipsed 45 percent as a team in just 9-of-28 contests last season.
...And That Translates Into More Points
SDSU is also scoring 7.7 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.
Getting Defensive
The Aztecs have held six of their last nine opponents below 37 percent shooting, including Cal Poly, which became the third SDSU foe this season to shoot less than 30 percent from the field. Earlier this year, the Aztecs held both Alcorn State and Cal State Fullerton below 30 percent from the floor.
Hard To Get The Three
Through 14 games, San Diego State has proven itself to be the toughest team in the Mountain West Conference to sink a three-pointer against. Heading into Saturday's game versus BYU, Aztec opponents are shooting just 28.9 percent from beyond the arc and, in the last six games, and have connected on only 18 of their last 92 attempts (19.6 percent). SDSU has held three opponents -- San Jose State, Cal State Fullerton and California -- without a three-point basket.
Five-Finger Discounts
One of San Diego State's most amazing turnarounds this season has been in the steals category. Through 14 games, the Aztecs rank second in the Mountain West Conference in steals per game at 9.71. 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. A pair of Aztecs rank among the Mountain West's leaders in steals per game: Tanisha Knight (6th) and Shannon Lee (10th).
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 8-of-14 contests. The Aztecs averaged 22.5 turnovers per game last year and enter Saturday's game averaging 19.1. The Aztecs have already posted seven 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 7-1 when it has less turnovers than its opponent. That being said, the Aztecs enter the Utah game having won two in a row (TAMU-CC and Cal Poly) with more turnovers than an its opponent.
She's Baaack!
After missing all of last season with a torn left ACL and the first 11 games of the current campaign with a severely broken left thumb (39 games in all), senior Sophia Sledge finally returned to the Aztecs' lineup last week. After getting her feet wet at Cal Poly (0 points in four minutes of work), Sledge showed why she was SDSU's leading scorer during the 1998-99 season, connecting on 6-of-10 from the field, including a pair of treys, to finish with a co-team-high 14 points. It is the first time she has scored in double figures since posting 10 points versus BYU Feb. 13, 1999 and the most points Sledge has scored since finishing with 19 against Fresno State on Jan. 28 of the same season. She came back to score nine points and grab four rebounds in SDSU's win over BYU.
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 11-of-14 games, leads San Diego State in both scoring (12.0) and rebounding (5.7). In fact, Knight ranks in the MWC's top 10 in four separate categories: Scoring (8th), Steals (6th), Blocks (3rd) and Rebounding (9th).
Getting That Scoring Touch Back
Sophomore Jamey Cox appears to have regained her scoring touch. After averaging just 3.5 ppg during a four-game stretch from Nov. 25 through Dec. 6, Cox has finished in double figures in five of the last six games, twice leading SDSU in scoring and averaging 11.5 ppg. Last season, Cox averaged 13.7 ppg en route to all-newcomer team honors. She continued that streak to open 2000-01, averaging 13.8 ppg in SDSU's first four games this season before going into a four-game funk.
Otii Gets Back On Track At Corpus Christi, Brigham Young
After not scoring in double figures for eight games, junior Atim Otii found her game in the most unlikely places --Texas' Gulf Coast. Otii, who last finished in double-digits at Portland State with 14 points, scored 11 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for her fourth double-figure scoring game of the season. She did herself one better versus BYU, throwing down a season-high 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Otii also grabbed eight boards versus the Islanders and seven more against the Cougars -- the most since hauling down 11 at San Jose State.
Bundage Bounces Back
After getting off to a slow start in 2000-01, senior Anita Bundage has come on strong in the last five games. Against California, Bundage came off the bench to score 11 points. She did herself one better against NAU, collecting her third career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. At Cal Poly, Bundage led SDSU in rebounding for the second straight game with seven boards. She was back near double figures again versus BYU, finishing with nine points, including two crucial free throws in the last two minutes of the games, and pulling down a co-team-high seven rebounds.