‘Yote Notes – Dec. 28, 2004

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

ATHLETICS NEWS:

BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SCHEDULES RELEASED: The 2005 Albertson College baseball and softball schedules have been released.  The Coyotes baseball team will be playing 22 home games this season, including a Feb. 8 (if there is no snow) meeting with Northwest Nazarene.  Complete Baseball Schedule The Lady ‘Yotes softball team will play 22 home games this season, with their season opener at NNU on Feb. 10.  Complete Softball Schedule

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR GAMEDAY SPONSORS: Friday night’s basketball games against Cascade are sponsored by Chevrolet of Caldwell and Silverhawk Realty. 

MEN’S BASKETBALL (9-3, 1-1 CCC): Coyotes begin four-game homestand with key Thursday-Friday CCC games

 

LAST WEEK: Idle

 

COMING UP: vs. Warner Pacific, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; vs. Cascade, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

 

RADIO BROADCASTS: All 29 Albertson men’s basketball games will be broadcast live on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the play-by-play, along with a simulcast via the Albertson Athletic Website.  The pregame show will begin at 7:15 p.m., with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. as the ‘Yotes host Warner Pacific and Cascade in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.

 

‘YOTES TO BEGIN LONG HOME STRETCH: Home games have been nearly non-existent for the Albertson College men’s basketball team.  The 9-3 Coyotes, who have won ten consecutive games on their home floor, have played just two times (Nov. 19 and Nov. 20) in the last 306 days in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  Things will change quickly, however, as Albertson begins a four-game homestand on Thursday – a stretch of seven home games in 27 days, with seven of the next nine games in Caldwell.  

 

HOME HAS BEEN NICE TO THE ‘YOTES: A home court advantage has been key to the success of the Coyotes over nearly the last quarter century.  From the days at O’Connor Fieldhouse to the spacious Activities Center – wins by opponents have come few and far between.  Since the on-campus gymnasium was opened in the Fall of 1991, the ‘Yotes have compiled a 153-30 mark at home, a gaudy .836 win percentage – with an 83-16 mark in Cascade Conference play (.838 win percentage).  Under Mark Owen, the Coyotes are 46-10 at home (.821 percent) and have won 30-of-36 CCC games.  Only once in the last 23 years have the ‘Yotes lost more than three games at home.

 

MORE ON THE HOME COOKIN’: Dating back to the 1982-83 season, Albertson has an almost unfathomable 270-39 record at home (.879 win percentage) – including a 56-game home win streak from March 5, 1983 to Dec. 19, 1987.

 

1982-83        12-2             1990-91        15-1             1998-99        16-1

1983-84        14-0             1991-92        12-3             1999-00        14-1

1984-85        14-0             1992-93        12-1             2000-01        11-2

1985-86        14-0             1993-94        11-3             2001-02        12-3

1986-87        13-0             1994-95        12-2             2002-03          9-3

1987-88        12-1             1995-96        13-1             2003-04        12-2

1988-89        11-3             1996-97          6-6             2004-05          2-0

1989-90        12-2             1997-98        11-2             Total               270-39 (88%)

 

TOUGH WARNER PACIFIC CLUB HEADED TO TOWN: Albertson opens up the homestand with a rare Thursday night game vs. Warner Pacific. The Knights (9-4, 1-0 CCC) have won five of their last seven games – with the two losses coming to NCAA Division I Portland State and NAIA Division I Oklahoma Wesleyan.  Bart Valentine’s club has received votes in the past three NAIA Division II national polls and is vastly improved from last season – thanks to the play of transfer Donny Woods (17.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg).  Returners Joe Hoover (11.6 ppg) and Jeff Eischen (12.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg) complement the Warner Pacific attack, but the Knights must shore up the defensive end, where they rank last in the CCC in opponents field goal and opponents three-point percentage.  It is the 34th meeting between the teams, with Albertson holding a 23-9 all-time advantage.

 

LAST YEAR VS. WARNER PACIFIC: Albertson built a 24-point first half lead and hit just four second half field goals, but managed a 68-63 victory at Warner Pacific last January.  Tom Perkes led the ‘Yotes with 22 points.  Round two in Caldwell was all Albertson, holding the Knights to just 35 points in a 73-35 win on January 31.  Andy Harper hit six three-pointers and scored 22 points in the win – as the ‘Yotes held their opponent to the fewest points in eight seasons.

 

CASCADE COMES CALLING ON NEW YEAR’S EVE: A rare New Year’s Eve game has Albertson round out 2004 against Cascade.  The Thunderbirds (5-7, 0-1) have lost 6-of-7 coming into this weekend – but the mark is deceiving, with two losses to NCAA Division I teams, and two losses at the final buzzer.  Cascade, which is one win shy of their entire 2003-04 total, has been paced by transfer Malik Edwards (17.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and point-guard Joshua Garrett (14.3 ppg, 7.7 apg), the CCC’s leader in assists.  The T-Birds have lost ten consecutive games against the ‘Yotes, with Albertson holding a 34-2 all-time advantage, dating back to 1982. 

 

LAST YEAR VS. CASCADE: Andy Harper hit a jumper with seven seconds remaining to cap a come-from-behind 63-62 win at Cascade on January 3rd.  The T-Birds built a 60-53 lead with four minutes left, but did not score another field goal the rest of the game.  E.J. Costello (Pleasanton, Calif. / Chabot CC) led Albertson with 19 points.  Four weeks later, Tom Perkes scored 26 points as the ‘Yotes outgunned Cascade, 82-74, in Caldwell.

 

COYOTES REMAIN IN NAIA TOP-TEN: For the 12th consecutive regular-season polling period, the Albertson College men’s basketball team has been a part of the NAIA Division II top-ten.  Beginning the season ranked No. 21, the ‘Yotes climbed 13 spots to No. 8 in the first poll of the 2004-05 season, then remained at No. 8 last week.  Last year, the Coyotes were ranked No. 9 in the initial national poll, climbing to as high as No. 3, where Albertson spent a total of three weeks.

 

RECORD BOOK ASSAULT: Three Coyote players have surpassed the 500-point mark in their careers – Joe Green (Pocatello, Idaho / BYU-Idaho) with 585 points, E.J. Costello with 583 points, and Derek Brown (Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS) with 510 points.  Green currently holds the career record for steals with 242, while ranking third all-time with 373 assists.  Costello has moved into tenth-place on the career three-pointers made (119) and attempted (304) list, while Steve Humphreys (Reno, Nev. / Lassen CC) is fifth all-time in blocked shots with 56.

 

COYOTES VS. NATIONALLY RANKED OPPONENTS: With two victories over No. 17 Westminster this season, and wins over No. 13 Christian Heritage and No. 8 Montana-Western, the Coyotes now hold a 32-17 record against NAIA Division I and II nationally ranked teams in Mark Owen’s coaching tenure.  The ‘Yotes dropped their first six games against Top-25 teams during the 2000-01 season, but have rebounded to win 32 of the last 43.  The top marks for Albertson were during the 2002-03 season in which the ‘Yotes went 10-5 against ranked teams, while going 9-2 against ranked teams last season (including three wins against preseason No. 1 ranked Oregon Tech and a win over now No. 2 ranked William Jewell).

 

CASCADE CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Eric Fiegi (WB) 28.3, Shea Washington (SOU) 20.0, Jeff Dunn (WB) 19.1, Jared Alsup (CC) 18.1, Malik Edwards (CC) 17.7.  Rebound Average – Washington 9.7, Fiegi 9.1, Chad Fairbanks (EOU) 8.2, Alex Carlson (OIT) 7.0, Brandon Erlandson (CU) 6.9.  Field Goal Percentage – Stephen Ishmael (NU) .776, Tyson Dodd (NU) .677, Rich Fried (ACI) .609, Fiegi .607, Paul Hamilton (CC) .576.  Assists Average – Joshua Garrett (CC) 7.7, Joe Green (ACI) 5.1, Andrew Gard (NU) 5.0, Donny Woods (WP) 4.8, Matt Larson (WB) 4.7.

 

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 (7-8, 1-1 CCC): Lady ‘Yotes open up long home stretch with games vs. Warner Pacific and Cascade

 

LAST WEEK: Idle

 

COMING UP: vs. Warner Pacific, Thursday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Cascade, Friday, 5:30 p.m.

 

RADIO AND INTERNET: All nine women’s CCC road games will be broadcast live this season on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action.  In addition, all home games (along with the nine CCC road tilts) will be broadcast live on the internet, courtesy of the Albertson Athletic Website, with students Jordan Komoto and Jake McClean calling the play-by-play at home. 

 

LONG HOMESTAND AWAITS LADY ‘YOTES: After earning a split on the road to open Cascade Conference play, the Albertson women’s basketball team dusts off their uniforms after a 12-day layoff to open a Thursday-Friday doubleheader to start a four-game homestand.  The Lady ‘Yotes have been outstanding at home so far this season, defeating  6-3 Concordia-lrvine by 24 points, upsetting 10-1 and No. 5 ranked Dominican by eight, knocking off Northwest Nazarene for the first time in five years, and losing a tough four-point decision to NAIA Division I Westminster.  Albertson is shooting .437 percent from the floor on their home court, along with a .393 percent clip from outside the arc.  The Coyotes are also averaging 69 points per game at home.

 

SUCCESS AT HOME: Since basketball was rejuvenated at Albertson in 1995, the J.A. Albertson Activities Center has been very friendly to the Lady ‘Yotes.  During the previous nine years, the Coyotes have posted a 76-34 record (69-percent) on their own hardwood – with nine .500-or-better records at home.  Things are even better in Cascade Conference play, as the Lady ‘Yotes have posted a 46-20 home mark in league play (70-percent), including a perfect 8-0 record during the 2000-01 season.

 

                          Overall      Conf.                                                Overall     Conf.       

1995-96           6-6         3-3                    2000-01                  13-1       8-0

1996-97           8-2         5-1                    2001-02                   8-4        6-2

1997-98          10-2       5-2                    2002-03                   7-7        5-4

1998-99           6-5         3-3                    2003-04                  5-5        5-4

1999-00          10-1       6-1                    2004-05                  3-1        0-0

 

CCC COACHES POLL: Western Baptist led the way in the last Cascade Conference coaches’ poll, earning a No. 31 ranking in the NAIA Division II national poll.  Rounding out the CCC Top-6 were Oregon Tech, Albertson, Eastern Oregon, Concordia, and Evergreen.  The next NAIA Top-25 will be released on January 4, 2005.

 

2004 TOURNEY TEAM HEADS TO TOWN: Opening up the homestand for the Lady ‘Yotes is Warner Pacific, who lost their top-two leading scorers from last season (Joy Best – graduation, Becky VanTine – injury) The Knights (2-9, 0-1 CCC) have struggled immensely one year after their first-ever trip to the NAIA Division II national tournament (after a runner-up finish in the CCC Tournament.  Warner Pacific ranks last in the CCC in points per game, field goal percentage, and rebounds, while averaging over 23 turnovers a game.  All-Conference guard Angie Sun (11.5 ppg) averaged 18 points per game vs. Albertson last season – but is the lone Knight averaging more than seven points per game this year.  It is the 11th meeting between clubs, with Albertson holding a 6-4 advantage – however, Warner Pacific has won the last two meetings.

 

LAST YEAR VS. WARNER: On Jan. 2, Warner Pacific used a 19-1 run to defeat Albertson 72-65 in Perry Gym.  The Knights were led by the 26 points of Angie Sun.  Albertson got a game-high 18 points from Dani Cotterell and 13 points and 13 rebounds from Kasey Hooter (Nampa, Idaho / Walla Walla CC).  Game two was on Jan. 31, where the Knights rallied from a 13-point second half deficit to force overtime, then knock off Albertson, 74-70.  Becky VanTine scored 26 points and had 14 rebounds for the victors.  The loss spoiled a record-breaking night for Heidi Goicoechea, who became the all-time leading scorer in Albertson women’s basketball history with a 24-point performance.

 

GAME VS. IMPROVED CASCADE TEAM ROUNDS OUT 2004: It was a case of penthouse to the outhouse for Friday’s opponent, Cascade, as the T-Birds (5-7, 1-0) went from the NCCAA Tournament in 2002-03 to a 1-25 record last year.  New Cascade head coach Gerry Nixon has helped the ‘Birds erase last season’s debacle by winning five preseason games – including their CCC opener against Warner Pacific (60-57).  Slashing guard Shara Brazzle (13.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) leads the team in scoring, with wings Lisa Berger-Freeman (11.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Molly Wilson (11.3 ppg) each averaging in double figures.  It is the ninth meeting between the teams, with Albertson holding a 6-2 advantage in the series.

 

LAST YEAR VS. CASCADE: On Jan. 3, Albertson went wire-to-wire, dominating Cascade in a 73-55 victory in the Thunderdome.  Heidi Goicoechea scored 17 points and had ten rebounds, Kasey Hooter added nine points and 11 rebounds, while Sarah Wilkin, now the ‘Yotes student-assistant, chipped in with seven points and a career-high nine rebounds.  The rematch was Jan. 30 – and it wasn’t much of one.  The Lady ‘Yotes sprinted out to a 13-0 lead and cruised to a 67-36 win at home.  Goicoechea hit 5-of-6 three-pointers, becoming the first Albertson women’s player to make 200 three’s in a career, as part of her 19-point night.

 

RECORD BOOK: Four single-game records have been tied or broken so far during the 2004-05 season.  In the Lady ‘Yotes last game, junior Kim Strunk (Twin Falls, Idaho / Twin Falls HS) tied school records with 11 made free throws and 16 free throw attempts in the 60-45 win at Evergreen.  Setting new single-game records were Kasey Hooter for rebounds in a game mark (21 vs. Westminster, Nov. 12), and Angie Gribble (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) for turnovers in a game (13 against Northwest Nazarene, Dec. 14).  On the record watch, Hooter has already moved into the top-ten list all-time with 358 rebounds, while currently holding the top career field goal percentage mark in school history.  Barring injury, both Strunk and Gribble will move into the top-ten in free throws made in a season, with Strunk already No. 10 on the career list for free throws made with 123.  Gribble will shortly move into the top-ten on the single-season assist list as well.

 

INJURY BUG: Albertson is without the services of freshman guard Magen Dufurrena (Denio, Nev. / Lowry HS), who is nursing a chronic ankle injury.  The Lady ‘Yotes have also lost transfer guard Merliee Caldwell (Pocatello, Idaho / Boise State Univ.) for the season with a knee injury.

 

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Christie Weaver (EOU) 17.2, Katie Atkins (CU) 16.8, Nikki McElligott (OIT) 16.2, Kasey Hooter (ACI) 14.7, Heidi Horobioski (EOU) 13.9.  Rebound Average – Hooter 11.4, McElligott 11.0, Atkins 9.0, Desirae Boudreaux (ACI) 7.3, Andra Peterson (EOU) 7.0. Field Goal Percentage – Sammy Smith (CU) .597, Hooter .581, Sarah Smith (EOU) .551, Bekah Proctor (NU) .521, Tiffanie Sperry (EOU) .491.  Assists Average – Vanessa Shelton (EOU) 5.4, Angie Gribble (ACI) 5.2, Shara Brazzle (CC) 4.7, Cassie Snyder (NU) 4.7, Peterson 4.4.

 

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 -