Feb. 20, 2001
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This Week
Santa Clara's women's basketball (18-6, 9-3 WCC) is in a four-way tie for first place in the WCC as it travels to the Pacific Northwest for games against Gonzaga and Portland. The Broncos are tied with Saint Mary's, Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount. The race will be narrowed in the final weekend of league play as the Waves and Lions will visit the Gaels this weekend.
The WCC Tournament
The Broncos will have to travel for the chance at the league title this season, as the league is leaving the mission campus for the first time in three years to host its annual basketball showcase. The 2001 WCC women's basketball championships is scheduled to take place March 1-4 at San Diego's new Jenny Craig Pavilion. Renovations to the Leavey Center prompted the change in venue. Please call 408-554-4660 for tickets.
Dates to Remember
February 24 (Sat) Brackets Announced
February 27 (Tue) Media Teleconference
March 1 (Thurs) Session #1 - Noon
Session #2 - 6 p.m.
March 2 (Fri) Semifinals - 6 p.m.
March 4 (Sun) Championship - 1 p.m.
Welcome to "Washington South"
With six players on this year's roster from the state of Washington, the mission campus is becoming known as "Washington South." Currently on the team is Becki Ashbaugh of Bellevue, Tammy Annas of Enumclaw, Kim Sorenson of Seattle, Jennie Rondel of Kirkland, Julie Butler of Tacoma and Courtney Cushing of Brush Prairie. All but Sorenson return for the 2001-02 season. With the addition of four recruits, also from the state of Washington, next year's edition of the Broncos will feature nine players from the Evergreen State. Kim Butler of Tacoma, Quinn Thomas of Kent, Kayla Huss of Everett and Tina Donahue of Stanwood will complete the contingent.
Scouting the Gonzaga Bulldogs
Series Record: Santa Clara leads 20-8
First Meeting: 1988 - Gonzaga won (59-45) Jan. 16 in Spokane
Last Meeting: 2001 - SCU won (74-48) in Jan. 27 in Santa Clara
SCU Largest Margin of Victory: 44 on Jan. 10, 1997 (84-40) in Santa Clara
Gonzaga Largest Margin of Victory: 26 on Feb. 3, 1989 (72-46) in Spokane
Notable: Gonzaga is in the midst of a 12-game losing streak, a team record... Jessica Malone scored 22 points against LMU last weekend, outscoring the rest of her team in the 60-37 loss... Malone is also GU's all-time leader in three-point shooting and currently ranks 16th nationally... the Zags are being outscored by 11 points per contest, a conference worst... like SCU head coach Chris Denker, Zags coach Kelly Graves is in his first season as a Bulldog... Santa Clara has won the last five meetings against Gonzaga.
Scouting the Portland Pilots
Series Record: Tied at 16-16
First Meeting: 1987 - SCU won (62-59) Jan. 5 in Santa Clara
Last Meeting: 2001 - SCU won (60-53) Jan. 25 in Santa Clara
SCU Largest Margin of Victory: 64 on Jan. 26, 1991 (106-42) in Portland
Portland Largest Margin of Victory: 26 on Jan. 13, 1996 (69-43) in Portland
Notable: Sharon Rissmiller currently has 997 career points and should become the fifth WCC player this season to reach 1,000 this weekend... Rissmiller and Kristen Stringer will play their last home game of their careers on Saturday... Rissmiller leads all Pilots with 12. 8 points per game, followed by Ashlee Giles will 11.9 points per contest.