‘Yote Notes – Nov. 26, 2002

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@albertson.edu

GENERAL ATHLETICS NEWS:

MICHAELSON NAMED FIRST-TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN: Albertson College senior soccer player Coe Michaelson was named today to the Verizon Academic All-America Team as selected by sports information directors across the nation.  Michaelson becomes the first Coyote student-athlete to be named to the Verizon First-Team, comprised of student-athletes from NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA institutions.  Previously, women's basketball standout Alyson Pincock was a Second-Team selection during the 2000-01 season.  As a junior, he was named to the Second-Team Verizon Academic All-America Team after scoring 21 goals and assisting on 14 others.  During his stay at Albertson, Michaelson held a 3.80 GPA in Spanish.  Along with earning three All-Cascade Conference honors, two NAIA Region I awards, and a honorable mention NAIA All-America award, he is a two-time NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete.

MORE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS: Michaelson was also honored on Monday as an NAIA Men's Soccer All-American Scholar-Athlete.  Joining him were a quintet of women's soccer players - juniors Dana Landon, Katie Rupert, Joan Blankenship, Andrea Ebert, and senior Kristi Dalsoglio.  Each of the five have a grade point average over 3.50 and are among the top of their class.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING: On behalf of the Albertson athletic department, we would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, and look forward to seeing you at the upcoming home basketball games.

MEN’S BASKETBALL (8-3): Much deserved week off after fourth-place finish at CCC Tip-Off Tournament

LAST WEEK: At Cascade Conference Tip-Off Tournament – Lost to Concordia, 80-79; defeated Southern Oregon, 87-76; defeated Northwest, 93-68.

COMING UP: Idle; next game Dec. 4 at Boise State, 7:30 p.m.

A WEEKEND IN KLAMATH FALLS: Nearly seven hours on a bus is never easy, but the Albertson men’s basketball team dealt with the second of at least seven extended bus rides this season, this one to Klamath Falls, Ore. for the Cascade Conference Tip-Off Tournament.  What head coach Mark Owen saw was that the Cascade Conference is as balanced as ever – evident by the Coyotes fourth-place finish in the tournament.  “I believe that the Cascade Conference is one of the, if not, the top conference in the NAIA Division II from top to bottom.  After seeing seven of the nine teams this weekend – there will never be an easy game this season.”

PERKES NAMED TO ALL TOURNEY TEAM: With a solid weekend performance, junior Tom Perkes (Spokane, Wash. / Big Bend CC) was the Coyotes lone representative on the eight-man All-Tournament Team.  Perkes had a banner weekend, averaging 25 points and nine rebounds in the ‘Yotes three games, including a tournament-high 32 point outburst against Southern Oregon.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: MVP – Todd Matthews (OIT); Tom Perkes (Albertson), Tevis Jones (Cascade), Nate Ferrier (Concordia), Dan Schneider (Northwest), Kevin Baker (OIT), Zac Olson (Southern), Eric Fiegi (Western Baptist).

INSTANT OFFENSE: Three straight flashes up the court, three straight long range jumpers, three straight swishes.  That sums up the final 25 seconds of the Coyotes loss to Concordia in the eyes of point-guard Joe Green (Pocatello, Idaho / BYU-Idaho).  The sophomore nailed back-to-back three-pointers, one from each wing, to cut the Cavalier lead to 81-80, but after a trio of free throws and an Albertson turnover, Green heaved up a 40-footer at the final horn that was true for the final ‘Yote points.  “Pops” had a very consistent weekend, averaging 13 points, six assists, and three steals per game, along with nailing 9-of-16 three-point attempts.

BIG MAC: The weekend in the Klamath Basin was a breakout of sorts for Justin McCarthy (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS).  The junior eclipsed his former career high in scoring in back-to-back outings, exploding for 18 points against Concordia, following it up with 17 more against Southern Oregon.  For the weekend, “Mac” averaged 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists per game, while making 18-of-23 shots from the foul line.

JUST THE TEN OF US: The long trip to Klamath Falls featured ten players, two coaches, the so-called radio guy, and a superb bus driver.  All played key roles on Saturday – each of the ten players in uniform scored in the 93-68 win over Northwest, both coaches put the squad in position to win, the radio guy brought the action to the masses on the internet, and the bus driver avoided venison on the way back to Caldwell.  Truly a group effort!

CONCORDIA ENDS WIN STREAK: A slow start plagued the Coyotes in their tournament opener – not scoring a field goal in the opening five minutes, falling behind 8-0.  However, Albertson rallied, taking a halftime lead, and staking a late 68-63 lead.  However, the Cavaliers would go to All-American Keith Childs for bucket on three straight possessions, and a Michael Lay trey to take a 72-68 lead.  Despite heroics from Joe Green, Concordia would convert at the line to win, 80-79.  Green led Albertson with 21 points, Tom Perkes added 19, and Justin McCarthy had a career-high 18 points in the loss.

REVENGE: For the five players on the trip that were apart of last season’s team, the picture of T.J. Caughell nailing a half-court shot at the buzzer to end the 2001-02 season was still in their minds.  However, the Coyotes put last year’s misery against Southern Oregon to bed, stopping the Raiders, 87-76, on Friday afternoon.  An early 16-2 run paved the way for the Albertson win, as did a 32 point, ten rebound performance from Tom Perkes. Eric Hare (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico / West Valley College) spent the game in foul trouble, but still managed to score 12 points, with fellow senior Jon Thomas (Nampa, Idaho / Gem State Academy) chipping in 11.

TALE OF TWO HALVES: In the battle for fourth-place, Albertson used a different tactic in each half to stop Northwest, 93-68.  The opening stanza saw the Coyotes feed the post – as Tom Perkes scored 14 first half points, Eric Hare adding nine, and Justin McCarthy six.  The second half was completely different, as Albertson went to its outside artillery – nailing nine treys in the final 20 minutes. Andy Harper (Idaho Falls, Idaho / Columbia Basin CC) had his best game of the weekend, scoring 18 points to go along with seven assists.  Hare dropped in 15 points to go along with seven boards.

WEEK OFF: The Thanksgiving Break is a perfect time to say thanks – and that is what the Coyotes are doing to the scheduling committee, thanking them for their first week without a game this season.  That will soon come to a screeching halt, as the ‘Yotes play three games in four days next week – traveling to Boise State on Wednesday (December 4), then hosting the Golden Rule Shoot-Out on Friday and Saturday.

 
NO RADIO UNTIL DECEMBER 17:  Between the unavailability of airtime, along with a lack of radio-only sponsors, Coyote games on Dec. 4 at Boise State, along with the Dec. 7 game vs. Westminster will not be broadcast on the radio, but both will be carried on the Internet on the Albertson athletic website (www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/default.asp), with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action.  Fanscan catch the game vs. BSU on the Bronco Radio Network (670 KBOI-AM).  As of today, the plan still is to carry all 18 Cascade Conference men’s games, along with nine CCC women’s road games on 1490 KCID-AM. 

MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and information regarding the Albertson men’s basketball program, head to the official site of Coyote basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.

CASCADE CONFERENCE HOTLINE: For up-to-date scores from the Cascade Conference, call the Cascade Conference Hotline at (208) 459-5135.  Each night, scores and updated standings are posted on the Conference Standings page within the Albertson men’s basketball website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mbasketball/stats/standings.htm.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (3-4): Lady ‘Yote Classic brings three teams to Caldwell for Thanksgiving Tournament

LAST WEEK: Lost at Boise State, 90-46; lost at Westminster, 67-47; defeated Westmont, 67-64; defeated Fresno Pacific, 94-83.

COMING UP: Lady ‘Yote Classic, presented by the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites – vs. Great Falls, Friday, 7 p.m.; vs. George Fox, Saturday, 5 p.m.

HOME OPENER SPOILED: A horrendous opening 20 minutes of action was the difference in Sunday’s home opener for the Lady ‘Yotes, as Fort Lewis stopped Albertson, 62-51.  During the opening stanza, the visiting Skyhawks jumped out to a 28-4 lead, thanks in part to the Coyotes missing their first 11 shots, and going 3-for-29 from the floor in the period.  However, Albertson would fight back, cutting the margin to 45-44 – but could not convert on five consecutive possessions.  The Lady ‘Yotes were led by Heidi Goicoechea (Burley, Idaho / Burley HS) with 19 points, with freshman Dani Cotterell (Nampa, Idaho / Nampa HS) adding 14.

THE MASKED WONDER: After sitting out nine days with a concussion, broken nose, and nasty cut on her forehead that required 20 stitches, senior post Kristen Bailey (Fountain Green, Utah / Snow CC) returned to action Sunday against Fort Lewis.  Bailey, wearing a protective mask to guard her injuries, scored nine points, grabbed ten rebounds, and blocked two shots in 36 minutes of action.

RECORD WATCH: With three school records by the wayside already this season, the career record book is also beginning to change with every game.  Heidi Goicoechea, who ranks in the all-time top-ten in 12 different categories as a junior, has begun her assault on past Lady ‘Yotes.  Goicoechea ranks second all-time in three-pointers made (120) and attempted (359), while jumping up into seventh on the all-time scoring list (708).  Kristen Bailey has moved into the eighth spot in both career rebounds (346) and free throws made (102), and became the first Coyote to go over the 100 mark in career blocks (105).

DEFENSIVE MENACE: Junior transfer Lindsey Karren (Brigham City, Utah / Salt Lake CC) has been one of the Lady ‘Yotes top defenders so far this season.  Karren leads the team with a 10.7 rebound average, including 11 boards against Fort Lewis.  She also is atop the Coyote list in steals this season with 13.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB: With volleyball and soccer season now over, the Lady ‘Yotes have added a pair of All-Cascade Conference standouts to their roster.  All-CCC setter Amanda Basañez (Elko, Nev. / College of Southern Idaho) made her debut on Sunday, while All-CCC midfielder Alyssa Latham (Walla Walla, Wash. / Walla Walla CC) donned the purple and gold for the first time last week.

LADY ‘YOTE CLASSIC RETURNS: For the third consecutive year, and the fifth time since women’s basketball was reinstated in 1995, the Lady ‘Yote Classic returns to Caldwell.  The four-team tournament is sponsored this year by the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites, and brings one of the top fields in tournament history.  Albertson opens up play against Great Falls, a team the Coyotes swept in a home-and-home during the 2001-02 season.  The Argonauts (1-6) are coming off a 6-27 season and return two starters – 5-10 forward Kim Freeman (10.7 ppg) and 6-0 center Karen Sauvola (11.1 ppg).  Head coach Scott Patera has a 15-56 record in two years at UGF, a program that had been dormant since 1985.  Albertson is 3-0 all-time against the Argos.  Saturday, former Cascade Conference member George Fox makes a return to the Treasure Valley.  The Bruins (0-1) were a part of the CCC up until 1995, when they moved into the NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference.  GFU has been a stalwart in their conference – running off four consecutive 20-win seasons, including a No. 1 national ranking and national tournament berth in 2001.  The Bruins lost three All-Conference players to graduation after last year’s 20-5 team, but return 6-0 post Darby Cave (11.3 ppg) and wing Amy Fitch (5.8 ppg).  It is the first-ever meeting between the two schools.  Also in the tournament is Eastern Oregon, who opened their season with losses on the road to Great Falls and Montana-Western.  The defending Cascade Conference regular-season champs lost CCC player-of-the-year Brooke Sellards to graduation, but return guards Jaime Jo Cant (25.0 ppg) and Tricia Haddock (10 ppg, 5 apg).  Cant set an EOU record by going 8-for-8 from three-point range in the loss to UM-Western.

HISTORY OF THE CLASSIC: Over the years, Albertson has compiled a 7-1 record at the Lady ‘Yote Classic, and are currently riding a tournament six-game winning streak.  Eastern Oregon will be making their fourth appearance in the tournament (4-2 all-time record), Great Falls will be making their third consecutive appearance (1-3 all-time record), while George Fox is making their first-ever trip to the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  Other teams who have been in the tourney include Montana-Western (1996 champions), Lewis & Clark (1996), Cal Lutheran (1997), Pacific Lutheran (1997), Northwest Nazarene (1997), Menlo (2000), and Whitman (2001).  George Fox will look to help the Northwest Conference out, as the NWC has went just 1-5 in their previous three Lady ‘Yote Classics.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE: Friday’s games have Eastern Oregon meeting George Fox at 5 p.m., with Albertson meeting Great Falls at 7 p.m.  Saturday has Eastern and Great Falls playing at 3 p.m., with the Coyotes and George Fox squaring off at 5 p.m.

INTERNET BROADCAST INFORMATION: As of Tuesday morning, all four games this weekend from the Lady ‘Yote Classic, presented by the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites, will be carried on the internet at www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/Athletics.asx.  Sports information director Mike Safford Jr. will broadcast the Eastern Oregon games with Great Falls and George Fox, while Albertson students Jordan Komoto and Jake McClean will call the Lady ‘Yotes action.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE LADY ‘YOTES: For game stories, statistics, and information regarding the Albertson women’s basketball program, head to the official site of Lady ‘Yote basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.

- ALBERTSON -