Dec. 11, 2001
Game No. 8Sacramento State (0-7) at
San Diego State (3-4)
Sunday - December 16, 2001
Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl (12,414)
San Diego, Calif.
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Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m.
Webcast: For the second consecutive season all San Diego State women's basketball games can be heard live over the Internet at www.goaztecs.com. Bill Earley (p-b-p) and Tammy Blackburn (color) will call all the home webcasts, with Dan Lawton handling the play-by-play from the road.
The Records: San Diego State fell to 3-4 last Thursday after being edged by San Jose State, 65-62. Sacramento State, which is still looking for its first win of the season was knocked off by Air Force, 72-48, in its last outing, Dec. 7.
In The RPI: San Diego State enters the week ranked No. 201 in the most recent RPI rankings release by collegerpi.com. Sacramento State is ranked No. 283.
SDSU Coach Barb Smith: Smith (Ohio State '86) is in her fifth season at San Diego State. She owns an overall record of 42-72 (.368) with the Aztecs.
Sac. State Coach Carolyn Jenkins: Jenkins (California '90) is in her second season at Sacramento State and is 3-30 (.091) with the Hornets.
Series History: Sunday's game will be the first ever between the Aztecs and Hornets. SDSU is 12-6 all-time against teams from the Big Sky.
Aztecs Break 10-Day Fast With Home Game Against Sacramento State Sunday
The San Diego State women's basketball team (3-4) will be out to snap a two-game losing streak Sunday when the Aztecs welcome Sacramento State (0-7) to Cox Arena for a 7 p.m. tip.
The game will be the first in 10 days for the Aztecs, who opened their current two-game homestand with a 65-62 loss to San Jose State last Thursday (Dec. 6).
San Diego State will be the fifth Mountain West opponent already this season for Sacramento State, which is still searching for its first win of the year. The Hornets were defeated at home by Air Force, 72-48, on Dec. 7 in their most recent action.
The 2001-02 season has been the definition of a roller-coaster campaign for the Aztecs. After opening the year with a dramatic, come-from-behind victory over Cal Poly, San Diego State has entered a lose-two, win-two pattern, falling to Cal and UCSD, beating Navy and Prairie View A&M and most recently losing to TCU and San Jose State.
SDSU would be glad to see the pattern continue for at least two more games (Sacramento State and Missouri-KC) before hopefully ending at Creighton (Dec. 22).
Please Note The Start Time
Though San Diego State's regular evening start time is 7:35 p.m, Sunday's meeting with Sacramento State tips a half-hour earlier at 7 p.m.
A Win For The Aztecs Would ...
-Improve San Diego State to 4-4 on the season.
-Get the Aztecs off to their best start under Barb Smith through eight games.
-Snap the squad's current two-game losing streak.
-Return SDSU to .500 for the third time this year.
-Improve SDSU to 3-2 at home.
-Be the team's third straight versus a Big Sky opponent.
-Improve SDSU to 13-6 against current members of the Big Sky conference.
San Diego State Versus The Big Sky
Sunday's game may be the first for SDSU against its fellow Cal State University system member from the north, but the Aztecs have done battle with many of Sacramento State's conference partners through the years:
-San Diego State is 12-6 (.667) all time against current Big Sky Conference members and will be out to make it three in a row over the league.
Sacramento State is the first of two Big Sky opponents the Aztecs will face during the 2001-02 season. SDSU hosts Portland State on Jan. 5th.
San Diego State has won two in a row over Big Sky schools, defeating Portland State and Northern Arizona last year.
The Aztecs are 4-4 overall versus Big Sky Conference teams during the Barb Smith era. However, SDSU is a perfect 3-0 against the Sky in Cox Arena.
Out Of Our League
Dating to the start of last season, SDSU is 11-9 (.550) versus non-conference competition, including its loss to San Jose State last week.
A Quick Look At Sacramento State
It may still be early in the season, but it's already been a tough haul for Sacramento State. The Hornets, who completely re-vamped their roster prior to the 2001-02 campaign, are still looking for their first victory of the year after seven tries.
Senior guard Lori Kerswell has played in just two games, but has scored in double digits and leads Sacramento State in scoring with a 12.0 ppg average. Sophomore center Danielle Iceman, the Hornets' leading score in three games this season, is also averaging double figures at 10.3 ppg.
Alyson Thurman (6.4 rpg) is the squad's leading rebounder.
Wrapping Up The San Jose State Game
San Diego State led 57-55 with just under three minutes to play before San Jose State tied the game on a layup by Tatiana Taylor. The Spartans went ahead for good with 1:35 left on a Cricket Williams 3-pointer then sealed the game by hitting 5-of-6 free throws.
The Aztecs led by as many as nine points in the first half - their largest lead in a loss this season - holding SJSU to 1-for-19 from the field to open the game.
The Spartans, however, used a 14-4 run the catch the Aztecs then scored the period's final five points to take a 28-24 lead into the locker room.
San Jose State became the third Aztec opponent to be held below 40-percent shooting from the field this season, hitting just 36 percent of its shots.
The Aztecs' 28 turnovers were a season high.
Missy Schomaker led San Diego State on the scoreboard with a season-high 14 points. Morgan Vargas finished with a career night in both points (13) and steals (4).
Atim Otii scored 12 point and has now finished in double digits in 6-of-7 games this season. Claire Swinbank had a game-high seven assists, while Valencia Howard led all rebounders with 11 boards.
Close Shaves
One reason for San Diego State's dramatic improvement last season was the Aztecs' record in close games. SDSU was 4-2 in contests decided by less that five points. The trend has reversed itself this season as the Aztecs are already 1-2 in games decided by fewer than five points.
Same Time Last Year
If the start to the 2001-02 season seems similar to last year it is. And that may be a good thing for the Aztecs. Last season, San Diego State opened the year 3-5 and was coming off back-to-back losses, including a close defeat at San Jose State on Dec. 6, before getting red-hot and putting together a six-game winning streak during the holidays.
This year, the Aztecs are a little better off at 3-4. Still, like last year at this time, SDSU enters the holiday season on a two-game losing streak, including a close loss to SJSU on Dec. 6. Can the Aztecs get hot and close the non-conference season on a roll again? Ever heard of deja vu?
Cox Still Home Sweet Home
San Diego State entered the season having won eight of its last 14 games in Cox Arena. And though the Aztecs are just 2-2 on their home floor this season, it beats playing on the road. Entering Sunday's match up with Sacramento State, SDSU has won 63 percent of its home games (10-of-16), including 6-of-9 versus non-conference opposition dating to the start of last season. By contrast, the Aztecs are 1-2 (including a neutral site win over Prairie View A&M) away from campus this year and have dropped 13 of their last 19 on the road.
Shooting Touch Returns
After hitting on a season-low 33 percent from the field at TCU, San Diego State came back to produce its best shooting game of the season, connecting on 49 percent of its attempts versus San Jose State.
SDSU has now shot over 40 percent in 6-of-7 games on the year, including three games over 45 percent. For the season, the Aztecs are connecting at a 43.2 percent clip, up from last year's 42 percent rate and significantly better than two years ago when the Aztecs shot just 40 percent from he floor.
As Easy As One, Two, THREE
San Diego State's biggest area of improvement on offense has come from behind the arc. The Aztecs shot a respectable 33.6 percent a year ago but are hitting over 38 percent of their 3-pointers this season to rank fourth in the Mountain West Conference.
Just Shoot Me!
San Diego State is not only more accurate from beyond the arc this season, it is also much more productive. Entering the Sacramento State contest, the Aztecs are averaging 5.6 3-pointers per game, up significantly from the 3.6 they averaged a year ago.
Who's Got Next?
Through seven games, the scoring has been spread around by the Aztecs, who have had five different players turn in high-point honors. San Diego State has also had six players score in double digits at least twice. Atim Otii leads the way with six double-figure scoring games, followed by Jamey Cox, Ashonda Williams and Claire Swinbank with four each. Morgan Vargas, who has turned the trick in each of the last two games, and Missy Schomaker have both reached double digits twice.
Keys To Victory
Scoring may sell tickets, but rebounding and turnovers continue to be the keys to victory for San Diego State. The Aztecs have out-rebounded three opponents and come away winners in all three games. The Aztecs are also 2-1 when committing fewer miscues.
SDSU finished within three rebounds of San Jose State but coughed up a season-high 28 turnovers. The Spartans also vacuumed up 20 offensive boards to San Diego State's 20. The result of the two was an additional 10 looks at the basket for SJSU, more than enough to overcome a rather lack-luster 36 percent shooting performance versus SDSU's 49 percent.
60 Or Bust
Over the past two seasons, the number 60 has been key for the Aztecs. When San Diego State has held an opponent below 60 points during the last two years the Aztecs are 21-6 (.778). The formula has held in six of the seven games thus far in 2001-02 as the Aztecs held Cal Poly to just 54 points and Prairie View A&M to only 46 in two victories, but yielded 74 points in their loss at California, 63 versus UCSD, 75 at TCU and 65 against San Jose State.
The only time San Diego State did break form this season occurred versus Navy, as the Aztecs gave up 69 points in their victory over the Midshipmen.
Turnover Bug Back
San Diego State appeared to get a handle on its turnover problem in its three games leading up to the San Jose State contest, averaging just 16 miscues during the span, including a season-low 12 versus Prairie View A&M, compared to the 25 it averaged in the first three games of the year. But the turnover bug was back against the Spartans as the Aztecs committed a season-high 28. SDSU is 2-1 this year with fewer turnovers that its opponents and just 1-3 when committing more miscues.
Top O' The Mountain
San Diego State's Atim Otii continues to be the Mountain West's hottest shooter. A career 46 percent shooter, the senior has connected on 70 percent of her attempts from the floor this season (37-of-53), including a 5-for-6 performance last week versus San Jose State.
Offensive Output
Atim Otii's hot shooting has made her the Aztec leading scorer. Though she has only paced San Diego State on the scoreboard just once, Otii is the only Aztec to have scored in double digits in 6-of-7 games this year. Her 12.4 ppg scoring average ranks 11th in the Mountain West and is well above her 7.9 ppg career scoring average.
Doubling Up
Atim Otii has already recorded a pair of double-doubles this season, putting up 16 points and 10 rebounds in the opener versus Cal Poly and 17 points and 11 boards against Navy. The senior narrowly missed her third double-double at TCU, scoring 10 points and gathering seven rebounds. Otii entered the season with just two career double-doubles in 82 games.
Piling On
Otii made her 63rd straight start versus San Jose State. She is the only Aztec to start every game over the past two-plus seasons.
Scho-Shines
Missy Schomaker (pronounced SHOO-maker) hasn't yet cracked the starting lineup, but the senior has supplied some solid minutes off the bench thus far.
Schomaker had her best outing in nearly a year versus San Jose State, scoring a team- and season-high 14 points in 26 minutes of work. She has also had solid performances against UC San Diego, scoring a team-high 13 points and grabbing a career-best eight rebounds.
Shoo has also been perfect from the free throw line this season, where she is 8-for-8 on the year.
By Leaps And Bounds
Coaches said Morgan Vargas was going to be the Aztecs' most improved player in 2001-02 and they were right on. Vargas, who made only one start and averaged just over six minutes in 21 games a year ago, has started all seven games thus far and appears to be adjusting well to her new role.
Vargas averaged just 2.0 points per game as a junior but flourished this season, finishing in double figures in each of the last two contests, including 10 points and a career-best seven boards against TCU and a career-high 13 points and a career-best four steals against San Jose State. Vargas is averaging 6.7 points per game this season and leads the Aztecs in blocked shots with seven.
Mac's Back
Sophomore Nicolette McCartny, a projected starter who suffered a severe ankle sprain in practice Nov. 3rd, saw her first action of the season against San Jose State and finished with two points and a rebound in three minutes.
Spartans Cool Off Hot Cox
Jamey Cox had been in the zone in the three games leading up to the San Jose State tilt, especially from behind the arc. The junior finished with team-high 20 points versus Navy - the eighth time in her career she has reached the 20-point plateau - and was deadly from 3-point land, canning 6-of-11 treys. She continued her hot 3-point shooting versus Prairie View A&M, drilling 2-of-5 from behind the line and added 2-of-4 at TCU. The junior was finally cooled off by San Jose State, however, and hit just 2-of-9 attempts from the field, including 1-of-6 threes.
3-Point Threat
Cox, who has connected on 37 percent (15-for-41) of her 3-point attempts this season, ranks No. 10 in the Mountain West Conference in 3-point shooting and No. 5 in 3-pointers made per game (2.50). She has now made 134 treys during her two-plus year career at SDSU to rank No. 2 all time in that category.
Bank Shots
Claire Swinbank has gotten her final season off to a strong start. The senior guard has scored in double figures in 4-of-7 contests, including 13 points last Saturday night versus Prairie View A&M and a season-best 15-point performance at California.
SDSU's top shooter from the perimeter thus far, Swinbank is connecting on over 40 percent of her attempts from the field, including 50 percent (5-for-10) from beyond the arc.
Swinbank is also second the team in assists with 33 (4.7 apg) and had a career-best nine versus Navy.
Swinbank's Hot Start Not Surprising
It should come as no surprise that Swinbank has gotten off to a strong start as no Aztec was hotter in SDSU's two exhibition games. The senior was the lone player to finish in double figures in both preseason contests, pouring in a game-high 19 points against Team Concept and adding a double-double (11 points/11 rebounds) versus USA Elite.
These Two Can Dish The Rock
In addition to ranking among the Mountain West Conference's top scorers, Jamey Cox and Claire Swinbank are also among the league's top playmakers. Cox enters the week at No. 3 with 5.14 assists per game, while Swinbank, who dished up seven assists against San Jose State and a career-high nine versus Navy earlier this season, is No. 5 with 4.71 apg. Just for the record, Cox has served up at least six assists in 5-of-7 games this season, leading the Aztecs in that category four times.
As Advertised
Junior-college transfer Ashonda Williams came to San Diego State with a reputation as a big-time scorer after pouring in over 1,200 points in just two seasons at Contra Costa College. Through seven games, Williams has already finished in double figures four times, scoring 16 points versus Cal Poly, 13 versus UC San Diego, 14 against Navy and 13 versus Prairie View A&M. She is averaging 9.3 ppg to rank fourth on the team in scoring.
Bombs Away
For two years, the Aztecs have been looking for an outside shooter to compliment Jamey Cox. It appears that search is now over as newcomer Ashonda Williams continues to knock down shot after shot from beyond the arc.
Williams, who led the California state JC ranks in three-point shooting last season, has been more than solid since arriving at SDSU and trails only Cox in both 3-pointers made (12) and leads the team in 3-point shooting percentage among players with more than 10 attempts (39 percent).
In the Mountain West Conference, Williams ranks ninth in 3-point field goal percentage in seventh in threes made.
All Windex Team Canditate
Head coach Barb Smith calls her a "little Charles Barkley." And junior-college transfer Valencia Howard has certainly been a welcome addition at SDSU - especially in the rebounding department. Through seven contests, Howard leads the Aztecs in rebounding and ranks 10th in the Mountain West Conference with a 6.3 boards per game average despite not making a single start.
Howard started the year with a splash, gathering 10 caroms in the season opener versus Cal Poly to share game-high honors. She followed up that performance with eight boards against Navy, six versus Prairie View A&M and nine against San Jose State. She has now led the Aztecs in rebounding in 4-of-7 games.
On The Horizon
Following Saturday night's match-up versus Sacramento State, the Aztecs return to the road for the final time of the non-conference season. SDSU opens its two-game road swing at Missouri-Kansas City on Thursday, Dec. 20th, before playing at Creighton in Omaha, Neb., on Dec. 22nd.
The Aztecs' game at UMKC will be the first ever against the Kangaroos.
San Diego State and Creighton are old Big West Conference rivals. The Blue Jays and Aztecs have squared off six times through the years, with Creighton winning all six games, including both of the previous two meetings in Omaha.