Dec. 5, 2001
Game No. 7San Jose State (3-2) at
San Diego State (3-3)
Thursday - December 6, 2001
Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl (12,414)
San Diego, Calif.
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Tip-Off: 7:30 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 3-3 Sunday following its 75-49 loss at TCU. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for the Aztecs. San Jose State enters the week at 3-2 after dropping a 93-73 decision to Saint Mary's.
In The RPI: San Diego State enters the week ranked No. 170 in the most recent RPI rankings release by collegerpi.com. San Jose State is ranked No. 191.
SDSU Coach Barb Smith: Smith (Ohio State '86) is in her fifth season at San Diego State. She owns an overall record of 42-71 (.372) with the Aztecs.
SJSU Coach Janice Richard: Richard (Louisiana College '86) is in her 3rd season at San Jose State and owns a 19-42 (.311) record with the Spartans.
Series History: Thursday's game will be the 20th between the Aztecs and Spartans. SDSU leads the all-time series, 16-3.
Aztecs Return Home For Date With San Jose State
Coming off a split at the Cook's Children TCU Hoops Classic, the San Diego State women's basketball team (3-3) returns home for a date with San Jose State in Cox Arena Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. The game will be the lone contest of the week for SDSU, which opened the season with six games in the first 17 days, but won't play again until Dec. 16th as the squad gets a much needed break to prepare for final exams.
It was a busy weekend for the Aztecs as San Diego State played a pair of games in a span of just 16 hours at TCU. SDSU opened its whirl-wind trip to Fort Worth, Texas, with a 68-46 rout of Prairie View A&M Saturday night before falling to hosts TCU, 75-49, Sunday afternoon and closing out the weekend at 1-1. The loss to the Lady Frogs snapped a two-game winning streak for San Diego State.
San Jose State (3-2), which opened the season with back-to-back victories over CS Fullerton and Idaho but has dropped two of its last three games, is coming off a 93-73 loss to Saint Mary's Sunday.
The Spartans will be a familiar face for the Aztecs, who have done battle with SJSU 19 times through the years. And though SDSU leads the all-time series by a 16-3 margin, the Aztecs will have revenge on their minds after last year's 59-54 loss in San Jose.
Overall, the season has already been an up-and-down campaign for the Aztecs. San Diego State opened the year with a thrilling 63-54 come-from-behind victory over Cal Poly before dropping back-to-back games at Cal and versus UC San Diego. SDSU rebounded to get things back on track with wins over Navy and Prairie View A&M, but could not sustain the momentum versus TCU.
An Aztec Win Would...
* Improve San Diego State to 4-3 on the season, its best start of the Barb Smith era.
* Give SDSU its most wins through seven games since the Aztecs opened the 1996-97 campaign 5-2.
* Improve the Aztecs to 3-1 at home this season.
* Increase SDSU's series lead to 17-3 versus SJSU.
Wrapping Up The TCU Game
San Diego State had its two-game winning streak snapped at TCU Sunday, falling to 3-3 on the season after a 75-49 loss to the Lady Frogs.
The Aztecs led by as many as five points late in the first half and trailed by just six with 12 minutes to play before suffering a six-minute drought that allowed TCU to take control of the game.
Three Aztecs scored in double digits paced by Jamey Cox's 11 points.
Atim Otii finished with 10 points and has now scored in double figures in 5-of-6 games this season.
Morgan Vargas tallied career-highs in both points (10) and rebounds (7), while Tanisha Knight scored a season-best nine points.
Ashonda Willams, the Aztecs' second-leading scorer entering the game was held off the scoreboard for the first time this season.
SDSU was held to a season-low 49 points and shot a season-worst 33 percent from the field.
TCU's 75 points were the most scored by an Aztec opponent this season.
The Last Time We Met: SDSU at SJSU
SAN JOSE - San Diego State turned in a solid defensive effort, holding San Jose State to just 32-percent shooting from the field, but couldn't overcome 27 turnovers and dropped a 59-54 decision at the Event Center on Dec. 6, 2000.
The Aztecs trailed 56-54 with 47 seconds to play and had a chance to tie the game, but couldn't convert the front end of a one-and-one opportunity and never scored again.
San Jose State grabbed the rebound and guard Atari Parker hit a runner in the lane to put the game out of reach. Tanisha Knight led SDSU with 16 points and five blocks, while junior Atim Otii pulled down 11 rebounds.
San Jose State, which led 26-23 at the break, had three players finish in double figures, including Cricket Williams' 16 points.
Six ties and seven lead changes highlighted the second half. San Diego State's final lead, 46-44 with five minutes to play, was erased by an 8-2 Spartan run over the next 1:30. The Aztecs never led again.
SDSU-SJSU Series Shorts
Thursday night's game at Cox Arena will be the 20th between San Diego State and San Jose State.
SDSU leads the all-time series, 16-3.
The Aztecs had won six in a row and 15-of-16 against the Spartans prior to last year's 59-54 loss in San Jose.
San Diego State is 8-1 all-time versus SJSU in San Diego, including 2-0 in Cox Arena.
Aztecs' coach Barb Smith is 4-1 against San Jose State, while Spartans' coach Janice Richard is 1-0 versus SDSU.
Former members of the Western Athletic Conference, the Aztecs are 71-32 all time versus current WAC schools.
Old Rivals
Not only have San Diego State and San Jose State been playing each other for a long time, much of it has come as conference rivals. In fact, 15 of the 19 previous meeting between the two schools have been as part of conference play. The two school's first stint as conference foes ran from 1986-90 in the Big West. In 1990, SDSU bolted for the WAC and was later joined by SJSU in '97. The two schools parted ways once again in 1999 with the formation of the Mountain West Conference.
Out Of Our League
Dating to the start of last season, SDSU is 11-8 (.579) versus non-conference competition, including its split last weekend at the Cook's Children TCU Hoops Classic.
A Quick Look At San Jose State
San Jose State enters Thursday's game with a 3-2 record. Sophomore Cricket Williams is averaging 17.6 points to pace the Spartans' offensive attack. Atari Parker (12.8) and Elena A'Giza (11.2) are also scoring in double figures on average. A'Giza is also SJSU's leading rebounder with 7.4 boards per contest.
Back To The Friendly Confines
Thursday's contest opens a brief two-game home-stand for San Diego State and will be the fourth of the year for the Aztecs in Cox Arena. SDSU is 2-1 at home this season and has won 10 of its last 15 games in Cox Arena. 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.
Time To Start Streaking
The holiday season was a productive one for the Aztecs last year as SDSU strung together a six-game winning streak - the longest of the Barb Smith era - last December. The Aztecs will be looking to duplicate that feat beginning with Thursday's match up with San Jose State. SDSU has six games remaining before the new year, including four at home.
What's That All About?
We said earlier that the 2001-02 season has already been an up-and-down one for the Aztecs. A prime example occurred last weekend in Fort Worth, as SDSU posted is biggest win of the year, a 22-point victory over Prairie View A&M, and suffered is largest loss, 26 points to TCU, within 18 hours of one another.
One Game Does Not A Season Make
San Diego State may have shot the ball poorly at TCU, connecting on a season-low 33 percent, but its the first time this season the Aztecs have truly struggled from the floor. SDSU had shot over 40 percent in all five games prior to facing the Lady Frogs, including two games at just under 50 percent.
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 40 percent of their 3-pointers this season to rank second 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 San Jose State contest, the Aztecs are averaging 5.8 3-pointers per game, nearly double the 3.6 they averaged a year ago. In the past three games, SDSU has knocked down 20 triples, including a season-high 11 versus Navy.
Spreading The Wealth
Through six games the scoring has been spread around by San Diego State as no single player has notched double figures in all six contests. In fact, only Atim Otii has finished in double figures five times. Four players have turned the trick four times each, including Jamey Cox, Ashonda Williams and Claire Swinbank, while Morgan Vargas has scored in double figures once. Additionally, Otii, Cox and Swinbank are averaging double digits on the season. Last year, only Cox finished the year averaging double figures (10.7 ppg).
Got The Keys?
Scoring may sell tickets, but rebounding and turnovers continue to be the keys to victory for San Diego State. The Aztecs have outrebounded three opponents and come away winners in all three games. The Aztecs are also 2-1 when committing fewer miscues.
SDSU was even on the boards and on the turnover front during the first half at TCU and trailed by just five at the half. However, the Aztecs were out-boarded by 13 and had two more miscues after intermission than TCU as the Lady Frogs turned a nail-biter into an easy win.
And Don't Forget About Playing D
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 five of the six 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 UC San Diego and 75 at TCU.
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 Trends
Despite struggling in the turnover department to open the season, it appears the Aztecs have gotten a handle on the miscues of late and are nearing their 2000-01 average.
San Diego State started in a positive direction in the Navy game, committing just 16. Things got even better versus Prairie View, as the Aztecs were dinged for a season-low 12. And despite having 20 against TCU, SDSU's turnover average heading into the San Jose State game of 20.7 is as low as any point this season.
And The Conference's Hottest Shooter Is...
No one has been hotter in the early going in the Mountain West Conference than San Diego State forward Atim Otii. The senior is shooting a sizzling 68.1 percent (32-for-47) from the field, including a perfect 6-for-6 outing in game No. 2 at California.
Getting Offensive
Through six games, Atim Otii has scored in double figures a team-high five times. The team's leading scorer with a 12.5 ppg average, Otii ranks No. 12 in the Mountain West and is averaging well above her 7.9 ppg career scoring average.
Just Try To Keep Her Out Of The Lineup
Despite playing with a very painful sprained wrist, Otii made her 62nd straight start at TCU. She is the only Aztec to start every game over the past two-plus seasons.
No Containing Cox
Jamey Cox has been in the zone the past three games, 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. It is the most triples for Cox since she connected on 7-of-10 3-pointers at CS Fullerton as a freshman. 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. She has now made 10 of her last 20 treys.
Don't Leave Her Alone Out There
Cox, who has connected on 40 percent (14-for-35) 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). Cox has now made 133 treys during her two-plus year career at SDSU and ranks No. 2 all time in that category.
Double-Double The Fun
Senior Atim Otii entered the 2001-02 season with two career double-doubles. In just six games this year, she has already equalled that number, putting up 16 points and 10 rebounds in the season opener versus Cal Poly and 17 points and 11 boards against Navy.
The biggest jump for Otii has come on the glass. The senior entered the season with 27 double-digit scoring games to her credit, but had just four double-figure rebounding efforts.
Otii just missed her third double-double at TCU, scoring 10 points and gathering seven rebounds.
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 six games, Williams has already finished in double figures four times, scoring 16 points versus Cal Poly, 13 versus UCSD, 14 against Navy and 13 versus Prairie View A&M. She is averaging 9.7 ppg to rank fourth on the team in scoring.
Making It Look Easy
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 (43 percent).
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-6 contests, including 13 points 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 26 (4.3 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.
T, Is That You?
Tanisha Knight, who scored in double digits in each of the first 11 games to open the 2000-01 campaign, but has struggled since, looked like her old self at TCU. The senior forward finished with a season-high nine points, collected two offensive rebounds, had an assist, a block and a steal and did not turn the ball over in 18 minutes of work.
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 versus UC San Diego, scoring a team-high 13 points and grabbing a career-best eight rebounds in 29 minutes of work versus the Tritons. She came back with a big trey versus Navy and contributed five rebounds in the SDSU win.
First Timers
Freshman Heather Wolf and Maggie Sauls each scored their first collegiate points Saturday versus Prairie View A&M. Wolf, who has been hampered by and ankle injury all season, scored five points, including hitting 3-of-4 from the free throw line. Sauls, who has been limited thus far by an MCL strain and suited up for the first time versus the Lady Panthers, knocked down her first and only shot from just outside the right elbow.
Going To The Glass
Junior-college transfer Valencia Howard has been a welcome addition at SDSU - especially in the rebounding department. Through six contests, Howard leads the Aztecs in rebounding and ranks 12th in the Mountain West Conference with a 5.8 boards per game average despite not making a single start.
Howard opened 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 and six versus Prairie View A&M and has now led the Aztecs in rebounding in 3-of-6 games.
Inside Improvement
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 six games this far and appears to be adjusting well to her new role.
Most recently, Vargas recorded a career-high in both points (10) and rebounds (seven), including five offensive boards, against TCU. But the performance was nothing new for Vargas, who has been solid all season, scoring six points and grabbing a then career-best six rebounds versus Cal Poly and adding a then career-high eight points versus UCSD. She also had six points Saturday night against Prairie View A&M.
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 5.0 assists per game, while Swinbank, who dished up a career-high nine versus Navy earlier this season, is No. 6 at 4.33 apg.
Missing McCartny
It may be early, but the Aztecs have already been bitten pretty hard by the injury bug. Sophomore forward/center is still struggling with an ankle injury suffered in practice Nov. 3rd and likely will return to the SDSU lineup until at least the Sacramento State game on Dec. 16th.
The prognosis is better for freshmen Maggie Sauls and Heather Wolf. Sauls, who suited up for the first time versus Prairie View A&M due to an MCL injury appears to be back as does Wolf, who played 15 minutes off the bench versus the Lady Panthers and also spelled Cox in each half of the TCU Game.
On The Horizon
Following Thursday night's match-up versus San Jose State, the Aztecs will get a nice 10-day break between games. SDSU returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 16th at 7 p.m. when the Aztecs host Sacramento State at Cox Arena. The game will be the first ever between the two schools.