‘Yote Notes –
Dec. 3, 2003
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Mike Safford Jr.
– Sports Info. Director
msafford@albertson.edu
GENERAL
ATHLETIC NEWS:
COYOTES NAME NEW SOCCER COACH: The Albertson College athletic
department announced today the hiring of Brian Smith as the new head men’s
soccer coach – replacing legendary head coach John Calpin.
DUO MAKES ALL-REGION VOLLEYBALL
TEAM: Two
Albertson volleyball players earned All-NAIA Region I honors following the 2003
regional tournament in Lewiston. Junior outside hitter Brittany
Bonnett and senior setter Amanda Basanez were among the 12 players
on the All-Region team. Bonnett led the Lady 'Yotes in kills and digs,
ranking No. 3 in the Cascade Conference in the latter category. Basanez
led the NAIA with ten triple-doubles, ranking among the Coyotes leaders in
kills, assists, and digs.
LATHAM NAMED TO ALL-REGION WOMEN'S
SOCCER TEAM: Capping
off an outstanding collegiate career, Coyote midfielder Alyssa Latham was named
today to the All-NAIA Region I Team as selected by the 12 coaches within the
Northwest. Latham is the first regional selection for the Coyotes in the
21st Century, having scored four goals and assisting on ten others in
2003. She holds the Albertson school record for assists in a season (21)
and career (31), along with ranking second all-time in points scored.
BASEBALL RANKED NO. 37 TO START
2004 SEASON: The
Albertson baseball team will begin the 2004 season ranked No. 37 in the NAIA
preseason poll. The Coyotes (29-23) finished third at the NAIA Region I
Tournament last season and join No. 1 ranked and defending national champion
Lewis-Clark State and No. 22 ranked British Columbia in the poll.
Albertson opens up play in mid-February at San Francisco State.
SKIERS RANKED IN TOP-TEN: The Albertson College men's and
women's alpine ski teams will open the 2004 season ranked in the USCSA Top-Ten.
The Coyote men, which won the Northwest Conference championship and placed
tenth at last year's national championships, were ranked No. 9 in the national
poll. Albertson was ranked behind national powers such as Boston College
and the University of Massachusetts. The Coyote women, which won both the Northwest Conference
and Western Region championships, was ranked No. 7 in the preseason poll.
Ranked ahead of Albertson are schools such as Boston College, Brown University,
and the University of Massachusetts. Albertson opens up the 2004 schedule on January 17 with
the Willamette Pass Open in Oregon.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (6-3): Coyotes to host Golden Rule Shoot-Out after weekend sweep in Salt Lake
City
LAST WEEK: at Westminster Invitational – defeated No. 12 Christian
Heritage, 91-68; defeated No. 30 Westminster, 94-91 (2 OT).
COMING UP: Host 17th Annual Duane Wolfe Memorial Golden Rule
Shoot-Out. Friday – Capilano vs.
Westminster, 6 p.m.; Albertson vs. Rocky Mountain, 8 p.m. Saturday – Capilano vs. Rocky Mountain, 6
p.m.; Albertson vs. Westminster, 8 p.m.
RADIO: All 29 regular-season contests will be broadcast
live on radio (1490 KCID-AM) and internet (via the Albertson Athletic Website)
during the 2003-04 season with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action for the
third-consecutive year. Join him this
weekend from the Golden Rule Shoot-Out as the Coyotes meet Rocky Mountain and
Westminster. Catch all of play-by-play
on the “Home of the Coyotes”, 1490 KCID-AM.
COYOTES RIGHT THE SHIP WITH
WINS IN SALT LAKE: With the three NCAA
Division I games behind them, the Albertson men’s basketball team got back into
the win column last weekend, sweeping two games at the Thanksgiving Tournament
held by Westminster College. Albertson handed
Christian Heritage, now ranked No. 12 in the NAIA Division I, their first loss
of the 2003-04 season, then defeated No. 30 ranked Westminster in double
overtime. The wins ended a two-game
losing streak – which equaled the longest preseason skid for the ‘Yotes since
2000.
PERFECT AGAINST THE NAIA: Albertson is one of five teams in the NAIA
Division II Top-25 that have not lost a game to a fellow NAIA institution. The Coyotes are a perfect 5-0 against NAIA
Division I teams – including wins over Christian Heritage, Westminster, and
Robert Morris – all teams that are either ranked or receive votes in the
national poll. The only game Albertson
has played against an NAIA Division II team was a 67-65 win over William
Jewell, ranked No. 8 in the Division II poll.
‘YOTES RISE IN THE NATIONAL
POLL: The Coyotes jumped three
places to No. 9 in the latest NAIA Division II national poll, released Tuesday
afternoon. The No. 9 ranking is the
highest regular-season national ranking during the four seasons Mark Owen
has been head coach. Albertson was ranked No. 8 in the 2001-02 preseason
national poll, but dropped to No. 11 in the first ranking period. It is the highest regular-season ranking for
the 'Yotes since the 1999-2000 season, when Albertson was ranked No. 3 on
February 15, 2000 - during Marty Holly's final season as head coach.
Atop the poll is Jamestown
(N.D.), which knocked the ‘Yotes out of last season’s national tournament. Cedarville (Ohio) - who is coming off an
upset of NCAA Division I foe Wright State, is No. 2, followed by Siena Heights
(Mich.), Oregon Tech, and Taylor (Ind.) - the team Albertson defeated 53-44 in
the first-round of last season's national tournament. Rounding out the top-ten are Cardinal Stritch (Wis.), Concordia (Neb.),
William Jewell (Mo.), the Coyotes, and St. Ambrose (Iowa).
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE NO MATCH
FOR COYOTES: The word prior to Friday’s
meeting with NAIA Division I No. 12 ranked Christian Heritage was the fact that
the Hawks were the hottest team in the nation – they had knocked off
Westminster twice, along with CSU-Los Angeles, and Oregon Tech. However, the Coyotes used an early 13-0 run
to take control of the game, as Albertson knocked off the California school,
91-68. After an early see-sawing game, Joe
Green (Pocatello, Idaho / BYU-Idaho) hit a trey to give Albertson a
13-11 lead – one they would never relinquish.
Justin McCarthy (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) would tip home a
bucket and Steve Humphreys (Reno, Nev. / Lassen CC) would cap the
run with a dunk. The ‘Yotes would shoot
54-percent from the floor on the night and force 17 turnovers.
BIG SECOND HALF ON THE BOARDS:
Rebounding has been a problem for the
Coyotes this season, but was a key in the second half of the Christian Heritage
game. Albertson did not allow an
offensive board in the period, as Tom Perkes (Spokane, Wash. / Big
Bend CC) had six of his team-high eight rebounds – to go along with 18
points, and Steve Humphreys added five of his seven rebounds – along with his 16
points in the big second half.
BROWN HAS CAREER GAME: Friday was also a big night for guard Derek
Brown (Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS), who scored a career-high
20 points in the win. The sophomore hit
6-of-7 shots from the field, including three three-pointers, using a nice
combination of jump shots and drives to the bucket. For the season, Brown leads the ‘Yotes with a 60-percent field
goal clip, along with hitting 67-percent of his three-point attempts.
THE GAME THAT WOULD NEVER END:
Saturday’s game with Westminster was a
seemingly never-ending battle between two clubs that did not want to lose. In the end, however, 9-for-9 shooting from
the foul line in the second overtime led Albertson to a 94-91 victory over the
No. 30 ranked Griffins. A game that did
not see either team take a lead bigger than six points, the Coyotes sent the game
to overtime when Tom Perkes hit 1-of-2 free throws with seven seconds left,
tying the score at 69. In the first
overtime, Albertson opened up a 78-74 lead, but back-to-back three-pointers,
sandwiched around two Derek Brown free throws, sent the game to a second
OT. After Westminster took an 83-80
lead in the second overtime, E.J. Costello (Pleasanton, Calif. /
Chabot CC) hit a crucial three-pointer to tie the score, followed by an Andy
Harper (Idaho Falls, Idaho / Columbia Basin CC) three-point play –
to give the Coyotes a lead they would not relinquish. Tom Perkes led the team with 23 points, with Harper adding 21 –
while the squad shot 55-percent from the floor in the 50 minute affair.
COSTELLO “MONEY”: When E.J. Costello was recruited by the Coyotes,
Mark Owen knew the former junior college player was an outstanding “catch and
shoot” player. Although it was the “catch
and shoot” game that netted the junior 24 points against Montana-Western,
Costello used a dribble and shoot method to knock down five consecutive jumpers
in the second half and two overtimes against Westminster. A Costello free throw line jumper gave
Albertson a 68-67 lead inside the final minute of regulation, with an 18-footer
in the first overtime giving the ‘Yotes a 78-74 advantage. For the game, he scored 21 points – and leads
the team with 22 three-pointers made, while shooting 47-percent from outside
the arc.
HISTORY OF THE GOLDEN RULE: This weekend marks the 17th Edition of the Duane
Wolfe Memorial Golden Rule Shoot-Out, tabbed the Premier Small-College
Tournament in the West.” A total of 26
different teams played in the tournament from 1987-2002, which has seen six
different champions. Last year,
Albertson rallied from a 20-point second half deficit to nip Westminster,
67-65.
PAST GOLDEN RULE CHAMPIONS:
2002 – Albertson 1996
– Northwest Nazarene 1990
– College of Idaho
2001 – Westminster 1995
– Willamette 1989
– Central Washington
2000 – Albertson and The
Masters (classic format) 1994 –
Albertson 1988
– Northwest Nazarene
1999 – Albertson 1993
– Albertson 1987
– Northwest Nazarene
1998 – Albertson 1992
– Central Washington
1997 – Northwest Nazarene 1991
– Northwest Nazarene
HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR: Each year, the Golden Rule Shoot-Out tournament
committee selects one individual as the “Humanitarian of the Year.” This year, the award will be given to
longtime College of Idaho head coach and athletic director, Dick Carrow, at
halftime of Saturday’s 8 p.m. game.
Carrow was head coach of the Coyotes for 16 years – from 1961-71, 1973-75,
and 1978-81, winning 179 games. His
1961-62 team advanced to the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, where the
Coyotes lost to Villa Madonna (now Thomas More College). Friends and former players are gathering
prior to the game Saturday for a dinner to commemorate the award – for more
information on the dinner, contact Lila Fladwood in the Albertson alumni office
at 459-5300.
COYOTE OPPONENTS: The Coyotes open up the tournament with a meeting
with Rocky Mountain, out of Billings, Mont. It is a intriguing match-up, considering Albertson assistant Garry
Matlock and Rocky head coach Bill Dreikosen have a long history
together. Dreikosen played for Matlock
at Rocky during the 1993-94 season, leading the Bears to the NAIA Tournament, then
was Matlock’s assistant for five seasons.
The 2003-04 Bears (5-4) have had a solid start to the season, averaging
nearly 87 points a game. Senior guard
Jake Stuart (16.2 ppg) is an All-Frontier Conference selection, while big man
Luke Kunkel (15.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg) is a force in the paint. As a team, Rocky is shooting .487 percent from
the floor, but only .665 percent from the foul line. The two teams have not met since 2001, when Albertson defeated
the Bears, 83-75. Friday’s game is the
17th meeting between the teams, with the Coyotes holding a 9-7 advantage. Saturday, Albertson and Westminster will
continue their ever-growing rivalry – considering last Saturday’s game and the
fact that the two teams have played down to the wire in the last two Golden
Rule championship games. The Griffins
(6-4) took the ‘Yotes to overtime in 2001 to win the GRSO title, 82-77, before
losing last season’s crown on a Jon Thomas runner with two seconds left. Adam Hiatt (21.8 ppg) had 18 points against
Albertson on Saturday, while the duo of Nick Booth (10.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg), who had
23 points, and Nate Sanchez (11.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg), who had 14, are a big presence
inside. Albertson has won the last
three meetings and holds an 11-10 all-time series edge. The fourth team in the tournament is Capilano
College out of North Vancouver, B.C.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE
COYOTES: For game stories, statistics,
and information regarding the Albertson men’s basketball program, head to the
official site Coyote Basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (1-4): Albertson
to meet Northwest Christian Saturday night in final preseason tune-up
LAST WEEK: Idle
COMING UP: at Northwest Christian, Saturday, 7 p.m. (PST)
INTERNET BROADCASTS: Eleven Albertson women’s basketball games will be
broadcast live via the Albertson athletic website this winter. Join Jordan Komoto and Jake McClean for all
of the play-by-play at www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/athletics.asx
- the internet home of Lady ‘Yote Basketball.
COYOTES OFF TO EUGENE: The Albertson women’s basketball squad continues
its strange preseason schedule this Saturday with a meeting in Eugene, Ore.
against Northwest Christian College.
The Coyotes have not played a game since Nov. 21 and will be off again
for 12 days before opening the Cascade Conference season on Dec. 18 against
Evergreen. Albertson has not faced any
NAIA Division II competition this season, having played an NCAA Division I, an
NCAA Division II, and three NAIA Division I opponents.
CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL POLL: Oregon Tech maintained the top spot in the first
Cascade Conference top-five coaches’ poll of the regular season. The Owls are followed by Northwest College,
Eastern Oregon, Warner Pacific and Western Baptist. OIT climbed one spot in the NAIA poll, rising from No. 22 to No.
21 – the only CCC team receiving votes in the poll.
CASCADE CONFERENCE
PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK: The first Cascade
Conference Player-of-the-Week was Nikki McElligott of Oregon Tech. The junior transfer averaged 15 points and a
league-best 13 rebounds in the Owls first five games, leading OIT to a 4-1
record. She had a monster 19 point, 19
rebound game at CSU-Monterey Bay.
ABOUT NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN: Keep a close eye on the Crusaders (1-3) of Northwest
Chrsitian, a USCAA school in Eugene, Ore.
The institution, which is in their first season of women’s basketball,
is in the process of applying for admission into the NAIA and a possible move
into the Cascade Conference. NCC opened
up their season with a 54-41 victory at Cascade College, but have subsequently
lost games at Concordia, Warner Pacific, and Western Baptist by an average of
27 points. Post Robin McMahon leads the
Crusaders, averaging 13 points and six rebounds a night, with guard Stacey
Cordell chipping in seven points a contest.
It is the first meeting between the teams.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
LADY ‘YOTES: For up-to-date statistics,
stories, and information about the Albertson women’s basketball team, head to
the official website for the Lady ‘Yotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm. For updated scores and standings from the
Cascade Conference women’s basketball season, head to www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wbasketball/stats/standings.htm.
- ALBERTSON –