March 5, 2002
Game No. 28Mountain West Conference Tournament(7) San Diego State (10-17/2-12)
vs. (2) New Mexico (21-7/10-4)
Wednesday - March 6, 2002
Thomas & Mack Center (18,500)
Las Vegas, Nev.
Complete Postseason Media Guide in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Complete MWC Tournament Bracket in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Tip-Off: Noon (PST)
Television: SportsWest (Live in San Diego on Channel 4 San Diego). Tom Kirkland (play-by-play) and Kathy Aiken (color) will call the action.
Webcast: Live over the Internet at www. goaztecs.com. Bill Earley will handle the play-by-play with Tammy Blackburn providing the analysis.
The Records: San Diego State dropped to 10-17 (2-12 MWC) Saturday as the Aztecs fell to BYU, 72-56. New Mexico is coming off a 58-54 loss at Colorado State and is 21-7 (10-4 MWC).
In The RPI: SDSU is ranked No. 191 in the most recent ranking released by collegerpi .com. New Mexico is No. 32.
SDSU Coach Barb Smith: Smith (Ohio State '86) is in her fifth season at San Diego State. She owns an overall record of 49-85 (.366) with the Aztecs.
UNM Coach Don Flanagan: Flanagan (Ft. Lewis '71) is in his seventh year with the Lobos and has guided UNM to a 142-70 (.670) record.
Series History: San Diego State leads, 13-9.
Aztecs, Lobos Tip-Off EAS Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships For Second Straight Season
San Diego State and New Mexico, two teams that met in the Mountain West Conference Tournament's first game last year, will kickoff the event for the second consecutive season as the Aztecs and Lobos square off in the championship's opening game Wednesday, March 5th, at Noon (PST). The game will be telecast by SportsWest and can be seen live in America's Finest City on Channel 4 San Diego. Aztec fans can also follow the action via the world wide web by logging on to www.goaztecs. com for the audio play-by-play of the game.
San Diego State (10-17, 2-12 MWC), which has been a competitive but unlucky squad this season, dropping seven league games by 10 points or less, will be out to snap a three-game losing streak and pickup its first postseason victory since winning the 1997 Western Athletic Conference Tournament.
New Mexico (21-7, 10-4 MWC) picked up a split on its season-ending road swing last week with a win at Wyoming and a loss at No. 16 Colorado State. The Lobos finished in a two-way tie for second with BYU but earned the No. 2 seed by virtue of their season sweep over the Cougars.
The two teams played a pair of close games this season with the Lobos capturing both meetings. New Mexico held on to defeat the Aztecs, 58-49, in San Diego and used a huge second-half comeback for a 63-53 win in the return meeting in Albuquerque.
The victories improved New Mexico to 8-1 against the Aztecs in the last nine contests. However, five of those games were decided by 10 or fewer points. SDSU, which won the first 11 games between the two teams, holds a 13-9 overall series edge.
San Diego State Tournament Tidbits
In its history, San Diego State has played in a total of 14 postseason conference tournaments in four different leagues - Pacific Coast Athletic, Big West, Western Athletic, Mountain West.
* The Aztecs have played a total of 26 games in those conference tournaments and own a 14-12 (.538) record.
* San Diego State has captured two conference championships, winning both the 1995 and '97 WAC Tournaments. SDSU has won at least two games on three other occasions.
* San Diego State failed to win its first-round game for just the second time since 1991 last season, falling to New Mexico in the opening session of the 2001 MWC Tournament. Still, the Aztecs have fared well in first-round games and own a 9-6 (.600) record.
* SDSU brings a two-game losing streak into this year's Mountain West Championships. The Aztecs, who have not posted a postseason victory since winning the 1997 Western Athletic Conference Tournament, have not lost three-straight league tournament games since dropping three in a row in 1989, '90 and '91.
* The Aztecs are 6-5 all-time in conference tournament games against current Mountain West Conference members, including a 3-1 mark versus New Mexico.
* Despite dropping her first two conference tournament games as a head coach, Barb Smith has experienced plenty of postseason success. Prior to joining SDSU, Smith helped lead Colorado to four Big 8 Conference tournament championships as well as the inaugural Big 12 Conference tournament title in 1997.
You Again?
With San Diego State meeting New Mexico in the first round of the 2002 Mountain West Conference Basketball Tournament, the Aztecs and Lobos will have faced each other eight times since the formation of the new league -- more than any two other Mountain West Conference schools.
SDSU-New Mexico Series Shorts
* San Diego State leads the all-time series, 13-9. However, New Mexico has won eight of the last nine meetings.
* Five of the last nine games between the two teams have been decided by 10 or few points, including the Lobos' 55-49 win over the Aztecs in last year's Mountain West Tournament.
* The two squads have played even closer in the last four meetings with the average margin of victory being just seven points.
* San Diego State has dropped three in a row against New Mexico. The Aztecs' last win over the Lobos was 56-53 victory in Cox Arena on Feb. 15, 2001.
* New Mexico captured both contests between the two sides this season, defeating the Aztecs 58-49 in San Diego and 63-53 in Albuquerque.
* The Aztecs and Lobos split the regular-season series last year before New Mexico edged SDSU in the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
* The Aztecs opened the series with 11 straight wins from 1992-95 before New Mexico finally broke into the win column in 1996.
* San Diego State holds both the highest point total (98, 1994) and largest win (58, 1994).
* Aztec coach Barb Smith is 1-8 against UNM.
* Lobo coach Don Flanagan is 9-2 vs. SDSU.
SDSU-UNM Postseason Notes
* San Diego State has faced New Mexico more times in postseason tournament play than any other Mountain West Conference school.
* Wednesday's game at the Thomas & Mack Center will be the fifth conference tournament meeting between the two schools. All five of the games have come during the first round.
* The Aztecs are 3-1 versus the Lobos in conference-tournament games.
* Prior to last season's New Mexico win, the two squads last meeting came at the 1997 WAC Championships in Las Vegas with San Diego State posting an 81-52 victory. SDSU also defeated New Mexico, 95-60, in the first round of the 1994 WAC Tournament in Salt Lake City and in the first round of the '94 league championship in Salt Lake City, 95-60.
Aztec-Lobo Connections
* New Mexico assistant coach Yvonne Sanchez was a member of San Diego State's coaching staff during the 1999-00 season. Sanchez also played her college ball in San Diego, attending U.S. International, and coached locally on the prep level at Our Lady of Peace.
* Aztecs' center Morgan Vargas attended New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, N.M., prior to transferring to San Diego State.
2001 Mountain West Tournament Rewind: SDSU vs. New Mexico
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - San Diego State brought its defensive "A" game but was frustrated on the offensive end all afternoon as the Aztecs were edged by eventual WNIT runner-up New Mexico, 55-49, in a nip-and-tuck first-round game at the 2001 Mountain West Tournament.
Atim Otii scored a game- and season-high 21 points and graduating senior Sophia Sledge went out in style, adding a season-best 17 for San Diego State.
Three players finished in double figures for New Mexico, paced by Miranda Sanchez's 15 points.
The Aztecs used a stingy defensive effort to take a 21-19 lead at intermission after forcing 14 Lobo turnovers and holding New Mexico to just 8-for-23 shooting from the field in the first half.
New Mexico, which got 12 points each from Jordan Adams and Molly McKinnon, broke out of its offensive woes coming out of the break, however, opening the period with a 10-0 run and holding SDSU without a point for the first 6:13 of the period.
SDSU, which never trailed by more than eight points, kept things close and sliced UNM's lead to just 48-47 following Sledge's fourth 3-pointer with 31 seconds to play. But that's as close as the Aztecs would get as New Mexico scored seven of the game's final nine points.
Aztecs, Lobos Play Two Close Games During 2001-02 Season
Despite the wide disparity in conference finishes, the difference between the Aztecs and Lobos was a mere 9.5 points per game in the two meetings between San Diego State and New Mexico this season.
* New Mexico ran out to a huge lead in San Diego before weathering a furious Aztec comeback bid, holding on for a 58-49 victory in Cox Arena. The Aztecs trailed by 24 midway through the second half but used a 25-6 run to pull within five points with a minute to go. New Mexico, however, canned four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the win. Claire Swinbank led the Aztecs with 18 points.
* San Diego State pushed New Mexico to the wire in The Pit, leading for three-fourths of the game, but couldn't hold on down the stretch as the Lobos rallied to defeat the Aztecs, 63-53. The Aztecs led by as many as nine points with five minutes remaining in the first half, but New Mexico scored seven of the period's final nine points, then held the Aztecs to eight points in the first 12 minutes of the second period, to control of the game.
A Quick Look At The Aztecs
Just call San Diego State this year's hard-luck team of the Mountain West Conference.
* The Aztecs continued their struggle in tight games last week, dropping a 47-45 decision to Utah Thursday before blowing a 10-point second half advantage versus BYU. The loss to Utah was the fifth time in the last five losses and the seventh time since the start of conference play that the Aztecs had lost by fewer than 10 points, while the loss to BYU was the fourth time in league competition that SDSU had let a double-digit lead slip away.
* One of the best defensive squads in the Mountain West, opponents have shot better than 40 percent in just four league games, while holding foes under 60 points in six contests.
* San Diego State's Achilles heel continues to be its offense. After shooting 50 percent in the first half versus BYU and taking a seven-point lead into intermission Saturday, the Aztecs managed just 29 percent from the floor in the second stanza and finished with just 56 points. It was the 12th time in 14 games that SDSU had failed to reach the 60-point plateau. The Aztecs are now averaging just 53.6 points since the start of conference play. By comparison, SDSU scored an average of 65.0 points in its 13 non-league games.
* One player that hasn't struggled during conference competition is guard Claire Swinbank. On fire over the last two months, the senior has averaged 12.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in league games, leading the Aztecs in scoring seven times and finishing with double-digit points on 10 occasions. She is also averaging 2.14 steals per conference game, good for second in the MWC.
* Up front, forward Atim Otii continues to be the Aztecs' go-to player. Otii, who has scored in double figures 15 times this season, is averaging nearly 10 points per game and ranks 10th in the MWC in rebounding with 5.9 rebounds per game. She has also collected 73 offensive boards this season to rank fifth in that category.
* Juniors Jamey Cox continues to be San Diego State's primary outside weapon, leading the team and ranking fifth in the Mountain West with 51 3-point field goals. Cox scored in double figures 14 times in 2001-02, including five of the regular season's final seven games, enters the tournament as the Aztecs' second-leading scorer, averaging 9.7 ppg.
* Junior Ashonda Williams was also solid for SDSU this season, scoring in double digits 11 times, including three 16-point games, and shooting over 34 percent from 3-point distance.
At Stake For State
* San Diego State will be out to stop a three-game season-ending losing streak and a three-game slide versus New Mexico.
* San Diego State will be looking to run its postseason record against New Mexico to 4-1. The Lobos defeated the Aztecs for the first time ever in tournament competition at last year's Mountain West Championships.
* The Aztecs will be looking for their first Mountain West Conference Tournament victory. SDSU has lost in the first round of each of the first two MWC Championships and hasn't won a postseason contest since 1997. San Diego State did not qualify for either the 1998 nor '99 Western Athletic Conference Tournaments.
* No Aztec player or coach has ever experience a post season victory while at San Diego State. A win over New Mexico would be a first for everyone listed on SDSU's current roster.
* The Aztecs, who defeated Prairie View A&M, 68-46 at TCU, will be looking for their second neutral-site victory of the year. San Diego State is 2-3 in neutral-location games over the past three seasons.
Heartbreak
San Diego State continues to be a competitive, yet snake-bitten squad since the start of Mountain West Conference play. Though the Aztecs own just a 2-12 league record, San Diego State has dropped seven of its 12 losses by 10 points or less, including a two-point loss to Utah last Thursday. On seven occasions, the Aztecs have taken a lead into the final media time-out of the first half only to let things slip away. Overall, San Diego State is just 5-9 in games decided by 10 points or less. Below is a look at SDSU's close league losses this season.
Final Biggest BiggestDate Opponent Score Lead DeficitJ. 12 at UNLV 55-67 17 (36-19) 13 (49-62)J. 17 at CSU 49-58 none 19 (33-52)J. 23 New Mexico 49-58 1 (5-4) 26 (18-44)F. 9 UNLV 49-57 8 (12-4) 8 (49-57)F. 14 Wyoming 43-53 13 (20-7) 10 (43-53)F. 16 CSU 60-69 11 (26-15) 14 (49-63)F. 23 at New Mexico 53-63 9 (26-17) 13 (47-60)F. 28 Utah 45-47 3 (43-40) 9 (17-26)M. 2 BYU 56-7210 (43-33) 17 (54-71)
Pour It On
It's no secret that the Aztecs have had difficulty scoring points this season, but when San Diego State has been hot on the offensive end it's translated into victories. SDSU scored its second highest point total of the season at Air Force, pouring in 83. The Aztecs are a perfect 6-0 when scoring at least 70 points.
Playing Low Ball
When the Aztecs' offense isn't clicking, its defense usually is. San Diego State has held 13 opponents below 60 points this season and has fared well when doing so. SDSU is 8-5 on the year when keeping the opposition below the 60-point plateau.
It's Gotta Be The Free Throws
San Diego State has struggled getting to the line this season and has taken more free throws than its opponent in just eight games. Getting to the stripe has been a good omen for the Aztecs, however. SDSU is 6-2 on the year when attempting more free throws than its opponent and 6-1 when converting more free throw attempts. SDSU lost for the first time this season when making more free throws than its opponent versus Utah last Thursday.
Taking Care Of The Rock
Since the start of conference play, the Aztecs have done a much better job of taking care of the basketball. SDSU averaged nearly 21 miscues per game during non-league play but has sliced nearly four turnovers per game off that total since the start of MWC competition.
San Diego State has committed fewer turnovers than its opponents in 8-of-14 league games and ranks third in the MWC in turnover margin in conference contests. Only three teams have positive turnover margins in league games.
Stop, Thief
One of San Diego State's most dramatically improved areas this season has been in the steals department.
* The Aztecs entered the week ranked No. 3 overall and No. 2 in league games in thefts.
* SDSU has had more steals than its opponent in 16-of-27 games.
* The Aztecs have reached double figures in steals 13 times this season.
* Over the last 19 games, SDSU has registered double-figure steals 12 times, and narrowly missed making it 14 with nine steals at both UNLV and BYU.
* San Diego State's 15 thefts against Utah on Thursday marked the seventh time since the start of conference play that the Aztecs have registered double-digit steals.
* SDSU grabbed a season-high 20 against Radford and 18 versus Detroit to close out its pre-conference slate.
Checking The All-Time Charts * Senior Atim Otii moved into San Diego State's top 10 in free throws made at Air Force, knocking down 12-of-14 attempts. She now has 199 for her career. Earlier this year the senior busted SDSU's top 10 in attempts.
* Otii needs just five more blocks to take over the No. 6 position in blocked shots. She is also within 12 boards of cracking SDSU's top 10 in rebounding.
* Junior Jamey Cox has 170 career 3-point baskets and ranks No. 2 all time. She needs 36 more to catch SDSU's career leader Falisha Wright (206).
* Cox, No. 9 all-time in assists, is just three shy of moving into the Aztecs' No. 8 position.
Getting Defensive
San Diego State's defense has been ranked among the league's best for most of the season. Through 27 games, the Aztecs have allowed only 11-of-26 opponents to shoot better than 40 percent, including just five conference foes.
Last weekend at New Mexico, the Aztecs held the Lobos to just 34 percent from the floor and Thursday against Utah, the Utes connected on only 39 percent of their shots.
Wyoming in Laramie is the only opponent this season to crack the 50-percent plateau.
Prior to that game, SDSU had allowed just three of its previous 11 opponents to shoot better than 40 percent and had held 6-of-8 below 60 points.
2001-02 A Team Effort
The 2001-02 campaign has truly been a team effort for the Aztecs. Through 27 games, only senior Claire Swinbank is averaging double figures in scoring at 11.9 ppg. In fact, San Diego State has had six different players ring up high-scoring honors. Swinbank, with 12 games as the Aztecs' high-point producer, leads the way followed by Ashonda Williams (8) and Jamey Cox (8), Atim Otii (4), Missy Schomaker (2) and Tanisha Kinght (1).
Spreading The Wealth
San Diego State has had eight players score in double digits this season. Claire Swinbank leads the way with 18 double-figure scoring games followed by Atim Otii with 15. Jamey Cox is third with 14, while Ashonda Williams has 11. Tanisha Knight is next with four followed by Morgan Vargas and Valencia Howard with three each, and Missy Schomaker with two.
Free Throw Success Critical To SDSU
Getting to the free throw line and then converting has been crucial for San Diego State this season.
So far, the Aztecs have taken more free throws than their opponents just eight times and are 6-2 in those games.
On the conversion front, SDSU has connected on just 66 percent of its free throws this season, but has shot over 72 percent in its victories (58 percent in losses).
The Best Offense Is...
San Diego State has held 11 of its last 19 opponents, including 6-of-14 in conference, below 60 points, winning six of the 11 games. In fact, just six opponents this season have managed to crack the 70-point barrier.
The Aztecs lost for the just the second time this season when holding an opponent below 60 points against New Mexico, 58-49. It was the second time in three games that the Aztecs had been defeated by that score.
The previous week at Colorado State, the Aztecs held the Rams without a 3-point field goal in a tough, 58-49 loss.
San Diego State also lost to UNLV, 57-49, Wyoming 53-43 and Utah, 47-45.
Playing strong defense has been one of the big keys to victory over the past two seasons for SDSU, which is 27-11 (.711) during that span when holding an opponent under 60 points.
Swinbank Making Bid For All-Mountain West Conference Honors
San Diego State's hottest player over the last 18 games has been Claire Swinbank. Below is a quick look at the senior's performance over the last two months.
* Since the start of conference play, Swinbank has taken over as San Diego State's leading scorer, averaging 11.9 points per game.
* Swinbank, a 6.8 ppg scorer for her career, has averaged 12.8 ppg since the start of conference play, the eighth-best total in the league.
* The senior has scored in double figures 14 times in the last 18 games, leading the Aztecs in scoring 10 times over that span, including her 16 points at Air Force.
* Swinbank is averaging 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game since the start of league action.
* One of the top defensive players in the Mountain West Conference, the senior has notched 39 steals in the last 18 games, an average of 2.2 per game.
More 'Bank Shots
By scoring in double digits in 14 of the last 18 games, Claire Swinbank has now reached double figures in 18-of-27 outings this season and has taken over as SDSU's leading scorer with 11.9 ppg.
The senior was also prominent in the Mountain West Conference rankings this week and ranks No. 12 in scoring, No. 3 in assists, No. 4 in steals and No. 5 in assist-to-turnover ratio. Since the start of MWC play, she has been ever more impressive and ranks No. 8 in scoring, No. 9 in rebounding, No. 7 in assists, No. 7 in free throw percentage, No. 2 in steals, and No. 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio during SDSU's 14 MWC games.
Atim The Dream
Atim Otii continues to be one of the Mountain West's hottest shooters and entered the week ranked No. 14 in the league in field goal percentage. Though she has only paced San Diego State on the scoreboard three times this season, Otii is second on the team in double-figure scoring games with 15, including five conference games.
Ironwoman
San Diego State senior Atim Otii made her 82nd consecutive start against BYU Saturday. She has been in the Aztecs' opening lineup in all but 10 games during her career and is the only Aztec to start every game over the past three seasons. Michelle Suman owns SDSU's career record for consecutive starts with 118.
Steals From The Post
Most post players aren't know for their quick hands, but SDSU's Atim Otii is changing that notion of late. The senior ranks sixth in the Mountain West in thefts, averaging just under two per game, including five games with at least three picks. She added four more to her season total against Utah last Thursday.
Crashing the Offensive Glass
Atim Otii may lead the Aztecs in rebounding with a solid 5.9 rebounds per game. But when you look inside the numbers, the senior's totals become even more impressive. Through 27 games, nearly half of Otii's rebounds (75-of-160) have come on the offensive glass. Her 2.8 offensive rebounds per game average entering the week ranks fifth in the Mountain West, while her overall rebounding total is ninth.
Double Plays
In addition to being SDSU's third-leading scorer, Atim Otii is the only Aztec to record a double-double this season and has three on the year.
Cox Heating Up Just In Time For Conference Tournament
Junior Jamey Cox closed out the regular season by scoring in double figures in five of the Aztecs' last seven games. Now second on the team in scoring, She is averaging 11.6 points per game over that span and has connected on 13 of her last 23 (57 percent) 3-point attempts.
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 (51-for-144) of her 3-point attempts this season, has hit at least one three in 24-of-27 games on the year and at least three treys in six contests.
* Cox enters the week ranked No. 10 in the Mountain West Conference in 3-point shooting but fifth in 3-pointers made per game.
* She has now made 170 treys during her three-year career at SDSU to rank No. 2 all time in that category behind two-time honorable mention All-American Falisha Wright, who knocked down 206 triples from 1992-95.
* With 51 3-pointers this season, Cox has hit at least 50 treys all three years since arriving at SDSU. She is only the second Aztec to accomplish that feat.
Two For The Century Mark
Name the only Mountain West Conference team to have two players crack the century mark in assists this season. Answer: San Diego State. Both Jamey Cox and Claire Swinbank moved past 100 assists on the road last week. Both players are tied for third in the Mountain West in assists with 109 on the year, an average of just over four per game.
Cox has had at least six assists in 11-of-27 games this year, including a season-high eight against both Radford and UNLV. Swinbank has had at least four assists in 13 of the last 18 games.
Ash Is Back
After struggling for much of the conference season, junior Ashonda Williamsappears to have finally gotten her legs back under her in the last five games. Williams, who scored in double digits in 8-of-13 non-league games, accomplished the feat just once in the first eight games of Mountain West play.
However, the junior scored 12 points against Wyoming and equalled a season-high with 16 at Air Force. She has now scored in double digits 11 times this season. The Aztecs are 7-4 this season when Williams scores in double figures.
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 enters the week ranked 11th in the Mountain West Conference in 3-point shooting at 34.0 percent.
The junior opened the UNLV contest with three straight triples and tied a career-high with four for the game. She now trails only Jamey Cox in 3-pointers made with 35 this season, a figure that ranks 10th in the Mountain West Conference.
Williams Also Goes To The Glass
Though Ashonda Williams' scoring totals have dipped since the start of Mountain West play, the junior's rebounding totals have skyrocketed. Williams averaged just 3.8 rebounds during SDSU's non-league schedule, but since the start of conference action has gone hard to the glass and is averaging 4.7 boards, including eight-rebound performances at UNLV and Utah.
Her rebounding in conference play has moved her into the team's No. 2 position with 4.3 rebounds per game on the season.
Super Sub
Tanisha Knight has been a true spark off the bench for the Aztecs of late. A 5.4 ppg scorer for the season, Knight is averaging 10.0 points in the last four games, including season-high 12-point outings against Air Force and Utah. The senior also had a season-best eight rebounds versus the Utes. However, she may have had her best all-around game at New Mexico, scoring six points, grabbing seven boards, dishing out a career-high six assists and committing just one turnover. She also had six points versus Wyoming, seven against UNLV, 10 at Utah, eight at BYU and 10 versus the Cougars at home.