Dec. 8, 2009
CSU BAKERSFIELD (3-4) @ SANTA CLARA (1-6)
Friday, December 11 - 6 p.m.
Leavey Center (4,500) - Santa Clara, CA
WATCH LIVE: SantaClaraBroncos.com
SANTA CLARA @ PACIFIC (1-5)*
Sunday, December 13 - 2 p.m.
Alex G. Spanos Center (6,150) - Stockton, CA
LISTEN LIVE: SantaClaraBroncos.com
*Pacific will host USF Thursday, December 10
GAMES #8/9: The Broncos and Roadrunners meet Friday night at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. The game is part of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader. The SCU men will play Dominican University of California at approximately 8:15 p.m. SCU will then travel to Stockton to play Pacific Sunday at 2 p.m.
TV/RADIO/INTERNET: A live video broadcast Friday night will be available on Santa Clara's official athletics website (SantaClaraBroncos.com). Sam Farber (play-by-play) will be calling the action courtside for BOTH games this weekend. Real-time scoring for BOTH games will also be provided via GAMETRACKER on (SantaClaraBroncos.com).
GAME PROMOTIONS: Santa Clara is hosting `Youth Organization Night' on Friday. Bring your youth organization out to the game for FREE! Contact Blake Malcolm 408-554-5018 for tickets and/or more information.
GAME NOTES:
# Jennifer Mountain is in her second season as Santa Clara head coach
# SCU has played a tough schedule, losing to Iowa, UCLA, Oregon and Utah
# The Broncos lost at the buzzer, 69-66, to South Dakota Sunday
# All-WCC forward Lena Gipson is averaging 17 points in the last 3 games
# Gipson ranks 31st in the NCAA in FG % (.591)
# Sophomore guard Alyssa Shoji leads the WCC in 3PT FG (2.7 pg)
# Shoji is having a break-out year, scoring in double-figures in all seven games
# SCU is extremely young; 12 of the Broncos' 16 players are underclassmen
# True freshmen guards: Ashley Armstrong (2nd on team in rebounding - 6.1 rpg); Meagan Fulps (3rd on team in scoring - 7.4 ppg)
# CSU Bakersfield went 2-2 on its season-opening homestand, beating Hawaii and UCI
# The Roadrunners are scoring 85 points per game, among the best offenses nationally
# Senior guard Katie Williams is scoring 22.5 points per night for CSU Bakersfield
# The Roadrunners beat SCU last year in Bakersfield, 73-65
# Pacific lost four straight on an extended road trip to the East Coast and Northwest
# The Tigers' offense managed just 57.5 points per game during the trip
# Sunday's game is a homecoming of sorts for SCU assistant coach Marissa White, who spent the past three years working with the UOP WBB program
# SCU has won eight of the last nine against Pacific dating back to 1996-97
# Santa Clara prides itself on its community service activities and academic excellence, spending time each week mentoring young girls at local elementary schools. The team's current GPA is 3.41.
# UP NEXT: SCU will play three straight on the road next week, beginning Sunday, Dec. 13 at Pacific, then at Minnesota and Boise State.
SANTA CLARA: The Broncos have lost six straight heading into the weekend. Santa Clara played inspired basketball in a last-second loss to South Dakota Sunday and committed just 10 turnovers and nearly beat MWC Champs Utah November 29. Second-year head coach Jennifer Mountain - who helped turn her alma mater at Gonzaga into one of the nation's best teams - has brought eight new players to Santa Clara for 2009-10. Mountain is armed with two of the WCC's best players in power forward Lena Gipson (14.3 ppg) and point guard Alyssa Shoji (13.9 ppg). True freshman guard Meagan Fulps, scored 13 points Sunday against South Dakota, making three 3s. Sunday's game with Pacific is the beginning of the three-game road trip that takes the team to play at Minnesota Wednesday, December 16 and at Boise State, Saturday, December 19.
CSU BAKERSFIELD: The Roadrunners are a transitional program in its third full season at the Division I level. The team went 19-10 last season, including a 9-2 mark against Big West Conference opponents. Ninth-year head coach Tim La Kose's roster is loaded with experienced players, in seniors Kelley Tarver, Tiffany Belt, Phynique Allen and Katie Williams. Williams is scoring an eye-popping 22.5 points per night and Allen is adding 15.3. As a team the Roadrunners are putting-up 85 points a game.
PACIFIC: The Tigers went 14-16 last season, 8-8 in the Big West. Fourth-year head coach Lynne Roberts coached current SCU assistant Marissa White while at Chico State from 2002-2006. Roberts went 122-84 in four seasons at Chico State. Her 2009-10 Pacific team began the season splitting a pair of home games, losing to Montana State 91-79 before bouncing back to beat Southern Utah 67-54. The Tigers' offense managed just 57.5 points per game during its recent four-game road trip to the East Coast and Northwest.
THE SERIES: SCU has split two meetings with CSU Bakersfield, winning 78-75 at the Leavey Center in 2007-08. Despite 22 points and 12 rebounds from Lena Gipson, the Roadrunners beat the Broncos 73-65 last season in Bakersfield. Santa Clara is 12-2 in its last 14 games against Pacific. The Broncos won the last meeting 71-64 in Stockton in 2007-08, extending its road win-streak against the Tigers to six.
LAST TIME OUT: Teresa Case's baseline three-pointer just before the buzzer allowed South Dakota a 69-66 win over Santa Clara Sunday afternoon at the Leavey Center. Alyssa Shoji buried a deep 3 for Santa Clara with 12 seconds left to tie it at 66 before Case knocked down the game-winner. Case was left open as the Broncos collapsed on a driving Amber Hegge. Hegge had scored 21 second-half points to put USD in position to win. "It was an extremely emotional game," said South Dakota head coach Ryun Williams. "Two evenly matched teams, hungry to get a win. We've had a tough go at it lately. This was a huge win for us." Santa Clara (1-6) extended a one-point halftime lead to eight with 15:48 remaining. The Broncos played inspired basketball to open the second half, bouncing back from an 18-point loss to UC Davis on Thursday. Lena Gipson made 7-of-9 shots from the field and led all SCU scorers with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Shoji finished with 17 points, including the clutch three in the final moments.
RECENT RESULTS/UPCOMING GAMES:
L, 59-54 - UTAH (11/29)
L, 76-54 - UC DAVIS (12/3)
L, 69-66 - SOUTH DAKOTA (12/6)
vs. CSU BAKERSFIELD (12/11)
@ Pacific (12/13)
@ Minnesota (12/16)
@ Boise State (12/19)
TICKETS: The SCU athletics department is offering a series of ticket specials for the 14-game home schedule. Season ticket packages start at just $50 for adults and $25 for youth and seniors. Season ticket reserved seating is new for 2009-10 and is being offered at the low price of $75 for the entire season. To purchase tickets or for more information contact 408-554-4660.