Jan. 3, 2002
Game No. 13Portland State (6-6*) at
San Diego State (6-5)
Saturday - January 5, 2002
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 improved to 7-5 Sunday with its 70-56 victory over Detroit. Portland State is defeated Brown, 57-42, Monday to improve to 6-6*. The Vikings travel to Weber State Thurdsay before meeting the Aztecs Saturday night.
In The RPI: San Diego State enters the week ranked No. 182 in the most recent RPI rankings release by collegerpi.com. Portland State is ranked No. 184.
SDSU Coach Barb Smith: Smith (Ohio State '86) is in her fifth season at San Diego State. She owns an overall record of 46-73 (.387) with the Aztecs.
PSU Coach George Wolfe: Wolf (Hawai'i '90) is in her third year with the Vikings and has guided PSU to a 19-48 (.284) record.
Series History: SDSU leads the all-time series, 2-1, and defeated the Vikings, 53-50, last season in Portland.
Aztecs Close Three-Game Homestand, Non-Conference Play Versus Portland State Saturday
Winners of four of its last five games and six of its last nine, San Diego State (7-5) wraps up a three-game homestand and its non-conference season Saturday, when the Aztecs host Portland State in Cox Arena at 7:30 p.m.
SDSU, which is on a two-game roll for the third time this season after posting wins over Radford and Detroit last week, will also be looking to string together three straight wins for the first time this year.
Portland State (6-6*) is coming off a 57-42 New Year's Eve win over Brown and will play at Weber State Thursday night before arriving in San Diego for Saturday's game in Cox Arena. The Vikings, who were just 4-24 a year ago, have already exceeded their win total from last season and knocked off Texas A&M, 80-78 (2ot), in their season opener.
San Diego State leads the all-time series with Portland State, 2-1, including a 53-50 victory over the Vikings last season in Portland.
A Quick Look At The Aztecs
San Diego State, which last week put together its best back-to-back games of the season, appears to be gelling at the right time as the Aztecs open Mountain West Conference play a week from Saturday at UNLV.
San Diego State recorded its first weekend home sweep of the year with its wins over Radford and Detroit and climbed two-games over .500 for the first time this season. It was also the first time the Aztecs have registered consecutive double-digit victories. In fact, the Aztecs' 47-point win over Radford last Friday was its biggest since SDSU drilled Fresno State by 62 (97-35) in 1995.
Atim Otii continues to pace the Aztecs in both scoring (11.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.0 rpg). But it was the move of Jamey Cox to the shooting guard spot and Claire Swinbank to the point that appears to have had the biggest impact. Both players seem to have benefitted from the switch as each scored in double digits twice last week -- the first time that has happened this year -- and now rank No. 2 and 3 on the team in scoring.
What's At Stake For The Aztecs
* A win over Portland State Saturday would lift San Diego State's pre-conference record to 8-5, equalling last year's start as its best under current head coach Barb Smith through 13 games.
* The Aztecs have won two in a row for the third time this season and will be out to post their first three-game winning streak of the year. SDSU will also be looking to move three games over .500 for the first time during its current campaign.
* San Diego State will put its three-game home winning streak on the line Saturday as the Aztecs look to post four consecutive wins in Cox Arena for the first time since its won four in a row at home during December and January last season.
* A victory Saturday would give San Diego State six non-conference home wins for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign when it went 6-0 at home.
Noting SDSU's Victory Over Detroit
* San Diego State led for the final 33 minutes of the game and had a 15-points advantage with 10 minutes to go.
* Detroit pulled within five points with three minutes to play before SDSU scored the game's final nine points.
* The Aztecs won the battle of the boards, 35-32, for the third straight game and had fewer turnovers, 17-27, and more assists, 17-9, than the Titans.
* SDSU notched double-digits steals (18) for the second consecutive game and fifth time this season.
* The Aztecs shot 38 percent for the game and won for the first time this season when shooting below 40 percent.
* Claire Swinbank scored a season-high 17 points.
* Jamey Cox finished with 14 points and dished out at least six assists for the ninth time this year.
Atim Otii scored 11 points and has now reached double figures in nine games this season. She also shared team-high rebound honors with six.
Welcome Home, Ms. Wright
Perhaps the most storied player in San Diego State women's basketball history, Falisha Wright (shown in action on page 95 of the 2001-02 San Diego State women's basketball media guide), returns to home to her alma mater Saturday when Portland State comes to town. Wright , an assistant coach who is in her second season on George Wolfe's staff at PSU, was a four-year starter at San Diego State from 1992-95 and led the Aztecs to three straight NCAA Tournament berths (1993, '94 and '95).
The Aztecs No. 2 all-time scorer with 1,733 points, Wright was an honorable mention Kodak All-American in 1993 and '94. She was also a three-time all-Western Athletic Conference selection (1993, '94 and '95) and still ranks in the top 10 in virtually every statistical category at SDSU, including No. 1 in 3-point field goals (206).
Following graduation, Wright played three seasons with the Portland Power of the ABL, leading the squad in assists, steals and 3-point shooting. A year later, Wright was selected by the Nashville Noise in the 1998 ABL expansion draft and played one season in Music City before the league ceased operations.
San Diego State-Portland State Series Notes
* San Diego State leads the all-time series, 2-1.
* The Aztecs captured the most recent meeting, defeating Portland State, 53-50, last season in Portland.
* San Diego State is 1-0 versus the Vikings at home. However, the two teams have not played in America's Finest City since a 92-63 Aztec win in 1996.
* Though Portland State and SDSU have not met in San Diego since 1986, the Vikings have played twice previously in Cox Arena. PSU was part of the four-team 1999 Pacific Bell Classic. Unfortunately for the Vikes, they lost both games.
* SDSU has won three in a row over current Big Sky Conference members and is 13-6 all-time versus schools currently in the Sky.
* Head coach Barb Smith is 4-3 during her tenure at SDSU versus Big Sky competition, including 1-1 against Portland State.
* Portland State head coach George Wolfe is 0-1 all-time against the Aztecs.
A Quick Look At The Vikings
Portland State (6-6) is coming off a 57-42 New Year's Eve win over Brown and will play it first Big Sky Conference game of the season at Weber State Thursday night prior to arriving in San Diego for Saturday's game with the Aztecs.
The Vikings, who have already topped their win total for all of last season (4), are still looking for their first victory on the road, where they are 0-5 in 2001-02. PSU did open the season with a neutral-site win at the Waikiki Beach Classic, defeating Texas A&M 80-78 in 2ot.
Portland State is getting most of its offense from the inside-outside combination of guard Nikki Petticrew and forward Sarah Hedgepeth. Petticrew, one of the Big Sky's top scorers, has led the Vikings on the score board in six games and averages 13.8 ppg. Hedgepeth, who leads the sky in field goal percentage .573, is averaging double figures in both points (11.1 ppg) and leads the team rebounds (8.2 rpg).
The Last Time We Met: SDSU at PSU 11/28/00
PORTLAND, Ore. - Tanisha Knight scored 17 points and Atim Otii added 12 as the Aztecs eked out a 53-50 win over Portland State at the Stott Center on Nov. 28, 2000.
The Vikings shot better from both the field and the line, out-rebounded the Aztecs and led for much of the game. However, PSU also committed 26 turnovers to SDSU's 12, resulting in 15 more field goal attempts for the Aztecs.
San Diego State trailed 28-25 at intermission, before putting together an 11-2 run midway through the second half, including five points by Missy Schomaker, to take its first lead, 36-34, since the opening minutes of the game.
SDSU's advantage grew to as many as seven points with 4:22 to go, but the Aztecs never could quite put the Vikings away as Portland State's hot shooting -- 46 percent from the field -- kept them in the game.
A pair of three-pointers and a two free throws pulled Portland State to within a single point during the game's final minute. However, San Diego State was able to put the game on ice as the Aztecs pulled down three straight offensive rebounds and got a pair of free throws from Otii with 10 seconds to play to provide the final margin of victory.
Like Deja Vu All Over Again
If the start to the 2001-02 season seems similar to last year it is. 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 started a little better off at 3-4. Still, like last year at this time, SDSU entered the holiday season on a two-game losing streak, including a close loss to SJSU on Dec. 6. However, SDSU appears to be heating up just in time for conference play and has won two in a row and four of its last five games resulting in a 7-5 record through 12 games for the second straight year.
Cookin' In Cox
Cox Arena continues to be a winning edge for the Aztecs. Dating to the start of last season, San Diego State is 15-10 (.600) versus non-conference competition overall but 9-3 (.750) in Cox Arena, including 5-2 this season.
In fact, since the beginning of the 2000-01 campaign, 13 of SDSU's 20 overall wins (65 percent) have come in the friendly confines of Cox Arena.
Statistically, SDSU is averaging almost 16 points per game more at home this season and is shooting almost 6 percentage points higher, while limiting opponents to just over nine fewer points.
Better On The Boards
* San Diego State has out-rebounded three straight opponents and 6-of-12 overall heading into Saturday's game against Portland State.
* Prior to the Creighton game, the Aztecs had been out-boarded in four straight and were averaging -3.4 rpg on the season.
* SDSU posted its largest rebounding margin of the year last week against Radford, grabbing 41 boards to RU's 24. The Highlanders' 24 rebounds were also the fewest by an Aztec opponent on the season.
* The Aztecs are nearly dead even in rebounding this season (36.2-36.4).
* Last year SDSU finished up -4.1 in rebounding.
So far this season, San Diego State is 5-1 when out-rebounding an opponent.
You Gotta Make Your Free Throws
San Diego State's improved free throwing has helped it get back on the winning track of late. After struggling from the charity stripe in the season's first seven games, San Diego State has connected on over 70 percent of its free throws in each of the last five games (four of which were wins), including a season-best 75 percent (18-for-24) against Radford last Friday.
Either Way It's All Good
San Diego State has found it can win with both defense and offense this season. Through 12 games, the Aztecs are a perfect 4-0 when scoring at least 70 points. SDSU is also perfect (6-0) when holding an opponent below 60 points. Traditionally its been San Diego State's defense that has brought home wins for the Aztecs, who are 25-6 (.806) over the past two seasons when holding an opponent under 60 points. SDSU has held four of its last opponents below 60 points, winning all four games.
Getting Defensive
San Diego State has picked up the defensive intensity of late, holding five of its last eight opponents below 40- percent shooting and all eight below 42 percent. The Aztecs, who enter the week ranked fourth in the Mountain West in field goal percentage defense at 38.2 percent, have now held half of their 2001-02 opponents under 40 percent from the field, including San Jose State (36 percent), Sacramento State, (27 percent -- a season-low for an SDSU opponent), UMKC (33 percent), and Radford (30 percent) in four of their last six games. Since SDSU's win over Navy on Nov. 25th, opponents have connected on just 153-of-427 (35.8 percent) attempts from the field.
Stop, Thief
San Diego State's defensive intensity has been most obvious of late in the steals category. Over the last five games -- four of which were SDSU wins -- the Aztecs have registered double-figures steals four times, including a season-high 20 against Radford and 18 versus Detroit. SDSU is a perfect 5-0 this year when reaching double-digits in steals.
More Keys To Victory
Rebounding and turnovers continue to be keys to victory for San Diego State. The Aztecs have out-rebounded six opponents and come away winners five times.
Creighton, which held SDSU to 35 percent shooting from the field, is the only Aztec opponent to survive being out-boarded by SDSU. Sacramento State and UMKC are the only SDSU opponents to out-rebound the Aztecs and lose.
On the turnover front, San Diego State is 6-1 when committing fewer miscues. The only time the Aztecs have won the turnover battle but lost the war came versus UCSD when SDSU had three fewer miscues than the Tritons.
San Diego State has come away with fewer turnovers in four of its last five games and is averaging nearly two turnovers per game less than its opponents this season.
Hot Shots
After hitting on a season-low 33 percent from the field at TCU, San Diego State has shot 40 percent or better in 4-of-6 games, including a season-high 58 percent against Radford last week. The Aztecs have now shot a least 40 percent in 8-of-12 games this season, including four games over 45 percent. By comparison, SDSU opponents have reached the 40-percent plateau in just 6-of-12 contests.
As Easy As One, Two, THREE
One of 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 38 percent (60-158) of their 3-pointers this season.
Just Shoot Me!
San Diego State is not only more accurate from beyond the arc this season, it is also much more productive. Entering Saturday's game versus Portland State, the Aztecs are averaging 5.0 3-pointers per game, up significantly from the 3.6 they averaged a year ago.
Whose Got Next?
Through 12 games, the scoring has been spread around by the Aztecs, who have had five different players turn in high-point honors.
Spreading The Wealth
San Diego State has also had seven players score in double digits at least twice. Atim Otii leads the way with nine double-digit scoring games with Ashonda Williams not far behind with eight. Claire Swinbank owns seven double-figures games, Jamey Cox six, Morgan Vargas three, and Missy Schomaker and Valencia Howard two.
Six Would Be Sweet
San Diego State has a chance to win six non-conference home games for the first time in six seasons. With a win over Portland State Saturday, the Aztecs would close out their 2001-02 non-league home slate at 6-2, their most pre-conference home wins since SDSU went 6-0 at home in non-conference play during the 1995-96 campaign.
New To You
After using the same starting lineup in the first eight games of the season, SDSU head coach Barb Smith has shaken things up of late and has used a different set of starters in three of the last four games. Atim Otii, Jamey Cox and Claire Swinbank are the only Aztecs to have started all 11 games this season.
Offensive Output
Atim Otii continues to be one of the Mountain West's hottest shooters and that has made her the Aztecs' leading scorer. Though she has only paced San Diego State on the scoreboard twice, Otii leads the Aztecs in double-figure scoring games with nine, including 14 points versus Radford and 11 more against Detroit last week. In addition to being a team best, her 11.3 ppg scoring average ranks 16th in the conference and is well above her 7.9 ppg career scoring average.
Double Plays
In addition to being the Aztecs' leading scorer, Otii also leads the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and in double-doubles (3). The senior notched No. 3 of the season at Creighton with 12 points and a career-tying-best of 12 rebounds. Otii has also recorded double-doubles this year versus Cal Poly (16-10) and Navy (17-11).
More Than Ever Before
Otii entered 2001-02 with two career double-doubles. She has already exceeded that number this season alone and now owns five for her career. She is the only Aztec to post a double-double this year.
Starts Piling Up For Otii
San Diego State senior Atim Otii made her 67th straight start at Creighton Saturday. She is the only Aztec to start every game over the past two-plus seasons.
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 12 games, Williams has already finished in double figures eight times and has led the Aztecs in scoring in five games, most recently at UMKC. She is averaging 9.4 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 (20) and leads the team in 3-point shooting percentage among players with more than 10 makes (31 percent).
Last week, Williams was 4-for-6 on 3-point field goal attempts, including a 3-for-5 afternoon against Detroit. Including her game against Detroit, the junior has now knocked down at least three 3-point field goals in four games this season.
Swinbank Continues To Shine
Claire Swinbank is coming of her best back-to-back games of the season last week versus Radford and Detroit. The senior averaged 15.5 points, including a season-high 17 points against Detroit, and led the Aztecs in scoring in both games. She also dished out 11 assists and had just four turnovers for a nearly 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio for the week.
Defensively, Swinbank grabbed six more steals, including a game-high four versus Detroit.
More 'Bank Shots
With her back-to-back double-figure scoring games last week, Claire Swinbank has now scored in double figures in 7-of-12 contests, and has led San Diego State on the scoreboard in three straight games.
The Aztecs' second leading scorer with 10.7 ppg, the senior is scoring at a rate nearly 4.0 ppg above her career average.
Poised From The Perimeter
Jamey Cox and Ashonda Williams may get most of the recognition as SDSU's top outside threats, but Claire Swinbank as been the Aztecs' most consistent shooter from the perimeter thus far.
Swinbank, who scored SDSU's first nine points of the Detroit game, shot 50 percent from the field (13-for-26) last week. For the season, she is hitting at a 43 percent clip from the floor, tops among the Aztecs' perimeter players, including 53 percent (12-for-17) from behind the arc. Swinbank is also second the team in assists with 57 (4.8 apg) and had a career-best nine versus Navy earlier this season.
Five Finger Discount
Senior Claire Swinbank has added a new feature to her game this season ... steals. Swinbank had a career-high six versus Sacramento State. She added five more since and now has 25 on the season, good for fifth in the Mountain West Conference.
Cox Back In Double Figures
Jamey Cox snapped a four-game drought of non-double figure scoring games with her 13 points against Radford and 14 points against Detroit. She has now scored in double digits six times this season and 40 times during her 66-game career.
3-Point Threat
Jamey Cox continues to show why she is considered one of the Mountain West's most dangerous players from beyond the arc. Cox, who has connected on 35 percent (20-for-56) of her 3-point attempts this season, has hit at least one three in 11-of-12 games on the year. Cox enters the week ranked No. 12 in the Mountain West Conference in 3-point shooting and No. 4 in 3-pointers made per game. She has now made 141 treys during her two-plus year career at SDSU to rank No. 2 all time in that category.
Two Can Play At That Game
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 has had at least six assists in 9-of-12 games this year, including a season-high eight against Radford. She now has 66 (5.5 apg) assist this season to rank No. 2 in the Mountain West Conference. Swinbank, who has 57 on the year, dished out six last week and has had at least four assists in six straight games. She is ranked No. 5 on the MWC assist chart with 4.8 apg.
Scho-Shines
Missy Schomaker (pronounced SHOO-maker) may have missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but she has been nothing but solid for the Aztecs in this her senior season. Schomaker came off the bench for SDSU's first eight games before finally cracking the starting lineup at UMKC and Creighton.
The Lincoln, Neb., native 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 and against Sac. State with eight points, six boards and four assists in just 17 minutes on the floor. At UMKC, the senior had perhaps the most clutch performance of her career, drilling back-to-back treys to help the Aztecs rally from an eight-point second half deficit.
Mac's Back
After eight long weeks of rehab, Nicolette McCartny is finally back in the Aztecs' lineup. A projected starter entering the season, the sophomore forward suffered a severe ankle sprain in practice Nov. 3rd and had been unavailable for action. McCartny finally saw her first playing time against San Jose State but didn't have a big impact until the UMKC game when she knocked down the game-winning shot with 11.3 second to play. The sophomore came back against Creighton to make her first start of the year and finished with six points and a career-high eight rebounds, before scoring seven points in just 15 minutes of work against Radford.
All Windex Team Candidate
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 12 contests, Howard is second on the team in rebounding and with a 5.4 boards per game average despite making just one start. Howard finally had her break out game on the scoreboard versus Sacramento State. The junior, who averaged a double-double last season at Contra Costa College, scored a career-high 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the floor and a 4-for-5 from the line. She was back in double-digits versus Radford, scoring 10 points against the Highlanders.
On The Horizon
Following Saturday's game versus Portland State, San Diego State lifts the lid on the 2001-02 Mountain West Conference season with three straight road games. The Aztecs, who will play five of their first seven league games on the road, open up with UNLV at the brand new Cox Pavilion on Jan. 12.
San Diego State was swept by the Lady Rebels last season, but nearly upset UNLV in Las Vegas, falling 68-67 the last time the two teams squared off.
UNLV, which boasts the Mountain West leading scorer in Linda Frohlich (21.5 ppg) is 11-1 this season (as of Jan. 3) and opens at New Mexico Jan. 6 on ESPN2 before hosting the Aztecs.