‘Yote Notes – Jan. 18, 2006

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

ATHLETIC NEWS:

NEXT C.A.A. DINNER: The next Coyote Athletic Association dinner is set for Monday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Simplot Dining Hall on the Albertson College campus. Cost is $8.00 per person – to RSVP, contact Dave Hahn at 459-5835.

TAILGATE PARTIES: The Albertson College alumni office will be hosting a pair of tailgate parties during the weekend homestand on January 27 and 28. Friday night the 27th (against Northwest) and Saturday night the 28th (against Evergreen State), the tailgate will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. in Blatchley Hall. For more information or to RSVP, contact Mary Bitner at 459-5300.

TRACK OPENS INDOOR SCHEDULE ON SATURDAY, ‘YOTES QUALIFY TWO FOR OUTDOOR NATIONALS: The Albertson College track team begins their 2006 indoor season on Saturday at the Hampton Inn Invitational, hosted by Boise State at the Jackson’s Indoor Track in Nampa. The Coyotes will have a small contingent competing – three men and five women, all in races a mile or less. Head coach Patrick McCurry is excited to see a trio of two-sport athletes make their 2006 running debuts – Katie Ball, Jayne Saunders, and Martine Troy, who all played this fall on the ACI women’s soccer team. Not competing this weekend are distance specialists Jacob Haas and Shannon Edwards, who became the ‘Yotes first two qualifiers for the 2006 NAIA outdoor track championships in Fresno, Calif. this May. Both competed in the Carlsbad Half Marathon in California and met the NAIA provisional time for the event. Haas completed the 13.1-mile course in 1:11:13 and finished in 12th-place in an elite field, while Edwards finished in eighth-place in a time of 1:23:33.

STILL WAITING FOR SWIM RESULTS FROM SEATTLE: The Albertson College swim team opened up the 2006 portion of their schedule last Saturday at Seattle University, however, how the Coyotes did as a team is still a mystery. The host Redhawks had a malfunction with their computerized timing system and were unable to provide results (as of Wednesday afternoon). However, head coach Mike Shines was pleased with the ‘Yotes performance – including a possible NAIA provisional qualifying time for the men’s 200-medley relay and a possible school record in the men’s 200-freestyle relay. The swimmers will be back in action on Friday at Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma, Wash.

SKIERS SET FOR OPENER AT MOUNT HOOD: The nationally-ranked Albertson College men’s and women’s ski teams will open up the 2006 Northwest Collegiate Ski Conference this weekend at the Mount Hood Ski Bowl. The men’s team, ranked No. 9 in the USCSA preseason poll, is led by senior Matt Sylvester and junior William Moss. Sylvester finished second in the NCSC individual standings last season, while Moss finished fourth – the top-two Coyotes on the season. Head coach Ron Bonneau points to sophomore Aaron Flynn and freshman Ben Houston as skiers to watch this year. The women’s team, ranked No. 4 in the USCSA preseason poll, is a deep group, led by returnees Molly Bullard, Cassie Marcial, and Kelly Farmin. Marcial, a senior, was the NCSC individual champion and placed second at the 2005 Northwest Regional. Bullard had an outstanding sophomore season, placing second in the conference race, while Farmin, a senior, placed sixth in the NCSC.

VOLLEYBALL RANKS AMONG NATIONS BEST: The final NAIA statistical report was released last week and the ‘Yotes were represented among the nation’s elite. As a team, the Coyotes finished No. 14 in the NAIA in assists per game (14.04) and finished No. 17 in kills per game (15.32). Individually, Erin Cherrington finished the year No. 7 in the nation in assists per game (13.03) and was No. 16 in total assists (1,681). The squad made their second-ever trip to the NAIA Championships in December, finishing in a tie for ninth-place.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Banged up ‘Yotes swept on road by Top-7 teams, end road trip at Corban and Concordia

LAST WEEK: at No. 7 Southern Oregon (L 81-70); at No. 4 Oregon Tech (L 80-76)

COMING UP: at Corban, Friday, 7:30 p.m. (PST); at Concordia, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (PST)

RADIO AND INTERNET: All 27 regular-season men’s basketball games will be broadcast live in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM, the “Home of the Coyotes.” Mike Safford Jr. begins his fifth season as the play-by-play man for Albertson basketball, with the pregame show beginning 20 minutes prior to every game. The weekend games at Corban and Concordia are women-men doubleheaders – with the broadcast beginning at 5:15 p.m. (PST) for the ladies action, followed by the men’s game. All games can also be heard live on the Albertson Athletic Website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/media/audio/YoteSports.asx. The game at Concordia will also be carried on the internet by Concordia at www.gocugo.com with Tod Pickett at the mike.

LIVE STATS: Friday game at Corban will have live stats available on the Internet, via the Corban College athletic website at http://www.corban.edu/athletics/live/xlive.htm.

CCC AND NATIONAL POLL: The Cascade Conference men’s basketball coaches’ poll was released on Monday and was identical from last week. Oregon Tech was picked No. 1, followed by Southern Oregon and Warner Pacific. Northwest jumped into the No. 4 spot, followed by Eastern Oregon and Albertson.

GAME MOVED TO JANUARY 30: The make-up game between Albertson and Concordia (originally scheduled for Dec. 20, but postponed due to travel problems with the Cavaliers) will be played on Monday night, January 30, at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. All tickets for the Dec. 20 contest (Game 7 in the season ticket package) will be honored.

INJURY REPORT LOOKS BETTER THAN THOUGHT: Following the Southern swing of the four-game road trip, things for the Albertson College men’s basketball team looked a bit bleak after a rash of injuries during the weekend. However, the news is a bit more upbeat heading into play in the Willamette Valley this weekend. Leading scorer Ike Stafford (Auburn, Wash. / Salt Lake CC) had a scary moment at Oregon Tech as he and Owl post Max Gotzler got tangled up following a lay-up attempt late in the opening half. Gotzler fell on Stafford’s left leg and the junior was carried off the floor with a knee injury. Initial prognosis was a possible meniscus and MCL tear, however, doctors in Boise gave Stafford better news – the injury was a deep knee bruise with no structural damage. Guard Derek Brown (Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS) was injured at Southern Oregon on Friday, severely rolling his right ankle in the second half. Brown has been held out of practice this week as a precaution. Both players are questionable for weekend play. Also on the injury front, post J.R. Maggard (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) will have hit cast removed this week from a broken ankle sustained in December. The sophomore will be in a walking cast for a week, then begin rehab with a hopeful return prior to the CCC tournament.

IRONMAN STREAK OVER: A school-record streak came to an end on Saturday night, as the injured Derek Brown failed to play in a game for the first time in his career. This ended a streak of 118 consecutive games played by the senior – dating back to his first collegiate game against Dakota Wesleyan in November of 2002. Brown is just three games behind the school-record of 121, set by Justin McCarthy (2001-04) and Dan Hardee (1987-90). He has also moved into seventh-place on the all-time list for steals (127) and assists (260) in a career.

SOUTHERN RUNS STRING TO SIX VS. ‘YOTES: Shea Washington scored 15 points and had 12 rebounds as No. 7 ranked Southern Oregon won their sixth consecutive game over Albertson College, a 71-60 barnburner in McNeal Pavilion on Friday night. Washington canned a jumper early in the second half to give the hosts a 36-18 edge, but 'Yotes would surge, using a 15-3 spurt to close within 47-43, as Brandon Nielsen (Twin Falls, Idaho / Big Bend CC) scored eight of his 23 points in the run. After a trio of Jeff Williams treys got SOU a 55-42 lead, Albertson would score 11-straight, capped by a Nielsen three-point play, to close to 55-53 with 5:11 remaining. The Raiders would put the game away in the next two minutes, getting buckets from Williams, Washington, and Steve Farley to notch their fourth-straight home win over the Coyotes.

Williams had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Southern, which ended a two-game skid.

TECH SURVIVES YOUNG COYOTES: Playing the entire second half against the No. 4 team in the NAIA with just nine able bodies, the Albertson College men's basketball team gave a gallant effort, but came up short in a 80-76 loss at Oregon Tech Saturday night OIT saw wing Danny Mills score the first eight points of the second half, including two treys, opening a 50-39 lead. The 'Yotes would fight back, getting back-to-back Craig McGee (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) buckets and a Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) three to close within 65-63 with six minutes left. However, Albertson would not convert another field goal until the final minute of the game - sealing the loss. Andre Lawrence led the way for the Owls with 22 points and nine rebounds, making 9-of-11 shots from the floor. The 'Yotes had five players in double-figures, led by Dan McFaul (Moses Lake, Wash. / Big Bend CC) with 15 points and ten boards – his third double-double of the season and his eighth double-figure game in nine outings.

FRESHMEN PLAY KEY ROLES: With the injuries sustained over the weekend, three freshmen had to play major minutes for the ‘Yotes, and each played well. Kurt Nielson (Rexburg, Idaho / Eastern Utah CC) got the start on both nights, averaging six points and 27 minutes of action per game. Bryan Champ had a career-high 12 points in the loss at OIT, but converted 5-of-7 shots (including two treys), had two rebounds, and two assists in 22 minutes of action. Also into the act was Craig McGee, who scored all 11 of his career-high total in the second half at Tech, knocking home 5-of-6 shots from the floor.

OWEN TRYING TO BREAK OUT OF SOPHOMORE SLUMP: It seemingly happens to every athlete, the sophomore slump – and currently, Coyote guard Josh Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) is in the midst of it. After averaging 16 points per game over the first two months of the season, Owen has struggled over his past four games, averaging just six points and two assists per game. During that stretch, he has converted just 8-of-33 field goals – well below his season average of over 40-percent.

REMATCH WITH CORBAN: Albertson begins the second time through the Cascade Conference round-robin schedule Friday with a rematch with Corban College in Salem. The Warriors (9-10, 4-5 CCC) defeated the ‘Yotes, 93-90, back on Dec. 21, thanks to a big effort from guard Chris Lynn (17.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), who hit six three-pointers as part of his 22 point night. Corban leads the league in scoring average (86.3 ppg) and enjoys to play an uptempo style – having eclipsed the 90-point mark on nine occasions this season. It is the 58th meeting between the Warriors and Coyotes, with ACI holding a 38-20 all-time series edge.

CAN ANYONE STOP THE OLDER FIEGI?: Last Saturday, the ‘Yotes saw OIT guard Ryan Fiegi score 15 points in the win over ACI. The family will look for more against the Purple and Gold as All-American post Eric Fiegi roams this Friday in the paint for Corban. The 6-9 Warrior leads the NAIA in scoring (28.5 ppg) for the second straight year and has moved into rarified air in the Corban record pages – currently sitting No. 2 all-time in scoring (2,886 points) and No. 1 all-time in rebounds (1,076). In his eight previous games against the ‘Yotes, Eric Fiegi has averaged 23.6 points and 8.7 rebounds – including games of 39 and 36 points in the last two meetings between the teams.

FINALLY, THE ‘YOTES MEET CONCORDIA: The Coyotes were set to open up their home conference schedule in December against Concordia, but weather forced the Cavaliers (12-7, 3-4) to remain in Portland – so Saturday’s meeting between the clubs is the first dance. After opening the season with a 9-3 start (with wins over nationally-ranked Oregon Tech and San Diego Christian), the Cavs have been an average club over the last month, recording a 3-4 mark – including home losses to Walla Walla, Simon Fraser, Northwest and Evergreen State. Concordia is led by speedy point-guard Michael Lay (19.0 ppg, 6.0 apg) and wing Alex Hartman (14.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg), along with bruising post Bobby Lester (11.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg). ACI has won six-straight against Concordia and holds a 38-8 all-time series edge.

LEAGUE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Eric Fiegi (COR) 28.5, Michael Lay (CU) 19.0, Shea Washington (SOU) 18.5, Joshua Garrett (CAS) 18.5, Chris Lynn (COR) 17.0; Rebound Average – Fiegi 11.9, Jeff Williams (SOU) 8.9, Washington 8.3, Aaron Sawyer (NW) 7.5, Donny Woods (WPC) 7.5; Field Goal Percentage – Washington .613, Bobby Lester (CU) .606, Tanner McIntosh (EOU) .580, Feigi .570, Thomas Cook (ESC) .567; Assist Average – Woods 6.4, Lay 6.0, Levell Hesia (OIT) 5.5, Steve Farley (SOU) 4.8, Andre Lawrence (OIT) 4.6.

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: Lady ‘Yotes earn split on Southern swing, off for weekend set in Willamette Valley

LAST WEEK: at Southern Oregon (W 84-70), at Oregon Tech (L 57-56).

COMING UP: at Corban, Friday, 5:30 p.m. (PST); at Concordia, Saturday, 5:30 p.m. (PST)

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. The pregame show will begin at 5:15 p.m. (PST) on Friday and Saturday as the Lady ‘Yotes meet Corban and Concordia. The game can also be heard live on the Internet at www.collegeofidaho.edu/media/audio/YoteSports.asx. Saturday’s game will also be carried via the internet on Concordia University’s website at http://www.gocugo.com/broadcast with Tod Pickett calling the action.

LIVE STATS: Friday game at Corban will have live stats available on the Internet, via the Corban College athletic website at http://www.corban.edu/athletics/live/xlive.htm.

CCC POLL: The Cascade Conference women’s basketball coaches’ poll was released on Monday and saw some changes. With Warner Pacific’s win over Corban on Saturday, the Knights took hold of the No. 1 spot for the first time this season and are poised to move into the NAIA Top-25. Corban dropped to No. 2 and will fall from their No. 16 perch in the NAIA poll. They are followed by Oregon Tech, Eastern Oregon, the Lady ‘Yotes, and Concordia.

COYOTES WIN AGAIN AT SOUTHERN: Fueled by big nights from Jori Grady (Roseburg, Ore. / Umpqua CC) and Kim Strunk (Twin Falls, Idaho / Twin Falls HS), the Albertson College women's basketball team ran their road win streak to four-straight with an 84-70 victory over Southern Oregon at McNeal Pavilion on Friday night. The win marked the first time that the Lady 'Yotes have won back-to-back games on SOU's home floor in program history. Grady scored 18 of her game-high 26 points in the first half, converting her first seven field goals without a miss, as Albertson opened up a 43-30 halftime lead. Albertson saw the host close to within eight points in the second half, however, a 10-0 run late clinched the win.

STRUNK BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD: The second half of Friday’s game belonged to Strunk, who tallied 16 of her 20 points after halftime. The senior set a new school-record by going 12-for-12 at the foul line, surpassing the mark set by Alyson Pincock during the 2000-01 season. Pincock, the current Borah High head coach, made 11-of-11 free throws in a win over Lewis & Clark on Dec. 9, 2000. Strunk also recorded her third double-double of the season by pulling down 13 rebounds.

MORE ON GRADY: The 26-point night by Jori Grady was her sixth game of 20-or-more points this season. The junior currently ranks second in the Cascade Conference in scoring average (16.6 ppg), is third in three-point percentage (.410), fifth in three-pointers made per game (1.8), ninth in field goal percentage (.469), and 12th in steals per game (1.7).

FREE THROWS GALORE: The win over Southern Oregon was aided by outstanding free throw shooting by the Purple and Gold. Albertson converted 30-of-35 attempts from the line – an 86-percent clip. The 30 made free throws by the ‘Yotes was the second-highest total in school history, just behind the school record of 37 set last season in a victory over Warner Pacific.

ROAD STREAK ENDED AT OREGON TECH: An 11-0 second half run erased a 40-38 Albertson College lead, as Oregon Tech won their sixth-straight game, a 57-56 decision at Danny Miles Court on Saturday night. After Desirae Smoot (Provo, Utah / Western Wyoming CC) gave the Lady 'Yotes their only lead of the second half, the Owls got a jumper from Ashley DuBrey, then three's from Amanda Doherty, Kelsi Haylett, and Lindsey Carmichael to take a 49-40 edge with 8:22 left. Albertson would not quit, as treys from Merilee Caldwell (Pocatello, Idaho / Boise State U.) and Whitney Clark (Jerome, Idaho / Northwest Nazarene U.) cut the margin to 55-54 with three minutes left. However, the Coyotes would miss their final two shots and record three turnovers, as the Owls survived. The loss by the Lady ‘Yotes ended a four-game road win streak.

CLARK HAS CAREER-NIGHT: Whitney Clark was nails on Saturday night, scoring a career-high 26 points in the loss at OIT. The sophomore transfer connected on seven three-pointers, the most made by a Lady ‘Yote since the 2001-02 season – tying her for the No. 2 spot on the all-time list (behind Stacey Hammar’s eight treys from the 1999-2000 season). Clark has thrived in Cascade Conference action, recording six consecutive games in double-figures – and currently ranks No. 2 in the CCC in conference-only scoring average (15.6 ppg).

SMOOT HAS SOLID WEEKEND: Post Desirae Smoot had her most consistent weekend of action this season in the two games at Southern and Tech. The senior scored 13 points and had seven boards in the win in Ashland, followed up by her first double-double of the year, an 11-point, 12-rebound performance at OIT. Smoot converted 8-of-9 free throws over the weekend, upping her stock in the CCC stats to No. 2 in the league (.821 percent) from the line.

REMATCH WITH CORBAN: The Lady ‘Yotes begin the back half of their four-game road trip at No. 16 Corban, who saw a five-game win streak halted on Saturday at surging Warner Pacific. The Warriors (16-4, 7-2 CCC) had reached their highest national ranking in school history, thanks to the outstanding play of guards Jessi Schaumberg (12.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Jessica Steigleman (11.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg), and Tosha Wilson (10.3 ppg, 5.6 apg). Corban defeat Albertson in Caldwell on Dec. 21 by a 74-65 margin – as the three guards combined for 48 points against the ‘Yotes. It is the 26th meeting between the teams, with ACI holding a 15-10 all-time edge. Albertson split a pair of games in the C.E. Jeffers Center last season, winning the regular-season finale, 68-57, but losing 60-57 in Salem in the CCC tournament title game.

FIRST CRACK AT CONCORDIA: The long road trip will come to a close on Saturday at Concordia, as Albertson finally meets the Cavaliers (10-8, 4-3) for the first time this season. The two teams were scheduled to play on Dec. 20, but travel problems forced the Cavs to postpone the games until the end of January. Ken Trapp’s club has quality wins over Pacific and Oregon Tech, but have lost games to Northwest Christian and Willamette at home, along with a 20-point loss to Southern Oregon. Darcy Madison (13.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg) is one of three players averaging in double figures on a team that averages just nine three-point attempts per game. Albertson has won the past seven meetings with Concordia and holds a 17-4 all-times series edge.

RECORD WATCH: Kim Strunk and Angie Gribble (Boise, Idaho / Bishop Kelly HS) continue to move up the charts on the ACI career record book. Strunk now is second all-time for free throws made (285) – needing just 42 made freebies to hold the all-time school mark. She ranks No. 4 in free throw attempts (360) and blocked shots (46), is sixth in games played (103), seventh in points scored (844), eighth in steals (107) and field goal attempts (642), ranks ninth in rebounds (526), and ranks tenth in field goals made (264). Gribble ranks fourth on the all-time steals list with (128), is sixth on the all-time three-point field goals made list (65), while ranking seventh in three-point attempts (217) and assists (219).

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Emilee Eisinger (NW) 17.2, Jori Grady (ACI) 16.6, Heidi Horobiowski (EOU) 14.2, Jenny Olson (ESC) 13.6, Darcy Madison (CU) 13.4; Rebound Average – Ashley DuBrey (OIT) 10.1, Olson 8.5, Adria Layne (EOU) 8.3, Joyce Oniah (CU) 8.3, Becky VanTine (WPC) 8.2; Field Goal Percentage – Adria Layne (EOU) .551, Sheena Henderson (EOU) .523, Brianne Carras (COR) .523, Eisinger .498, VanTine .497; Assist Average – Tosha Wilson (COR) 5.6, Samantha Gilbert (OIT) 4.4, Kelsey Haylett (OIT) 4.3, Chelsey Zimmerman (SOU) 4.3, Denise Benedict (CU) 3.9.

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.

- ALBERTSON -