‘Yote Notes – Nov. 21, 2005

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

ATHLETIC NEWS:

LAST CHANCE AT ORANGES: Be on the lookout around the Treasure Valley for the Albertson baseball team, as the annual Orange Sale will take over Canyon County.  If you cannot locate a player to purchase the boxes oranges or grapefruits, contact head coach Shawn Humberger at 459-5861.

 

ROOTER BUS TO LA GRANDE: Reservations are being taken for a booster bus to accompany the men’s and women’s basketball teams to La Grande for the conference opening contests against Eastern Oregon.  Cost is $10.00 per person – RSVP with Mary Bitner in the alumni office at 459-5300.

 

C.A.A. DINNER: The next Coyote Athletic Association dinner will be December 5th at the Simplot Dining Hall on the Albertson College campus.  To RSVP, contact Dave Hahn at 459-5835.

 

CROSS COUNTRY: Coyotes fare well at NAIA Championships

 

LAST WEEK: at NAIA National Championships, Louisville, Ky. – men’s team placed 17th.

 

EDWARDS SOLID IN WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS: A gutsy performance by Albertson runner Shannon Edwards (Sherwood, Ore. / Eastern Oregon U.) helped her to a Top-50 finish at the NAIA National Championships at Tom Sawyer State Park.  The senior placed 48th in a time of 18:49.80, just ten seconds off her own Coyote record over a 5,000-meter course (set earlier this season at the Willamette Invitational).  "I have never seen a runner compete as hard as Shannon did today," said a jubilated head coach Pat McCurry about Edwards.  "It brought tears to my eyes - she ran to complete exhaustion."

 

MORE ON THE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: Simon Fraser claimed their third-consecutive NAIA title by dominating the field on the Ohio River.  The top Cascade Conference runner was Chelliey Corder of Eastern Oregon, who placed 46th, just five tenths of a second faster than Edwards.

 

MEN PLACE 17TH: The Albertson men’s cross country team finished 17th in a field of 26 teams – their first ever trip as a team to nationals.  David Fluckiger (Herisou, Switz. / Va. Commonwealth), placed 36th in 25:26.00, just missing All-America consideration.  "It was the best cross country race that David has run in his career," said McCurry of the senior, who finished ahead of all other Cascade Conference competitors.  "The course was as difficult as I have ever seen, and for him to run as fast as he did at Willamette, which was an easy course, was unreal."  Both Jacob Haas (Portland, Ore. / Eastern Oregon) and Jesse Chlebeck (Eagan, Minn. / Eagan HS) finished in the Top-100 for the 'Yotes, with Haas finishing in 90th-place in 26:07.60 and Chlebeck in 100th-place in 26:14.20.

 

MORE ON THE MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: Virginia Intermont won their second-straight national title by dominating a strong field.  The top Cascade Conference finisher was Southern Oregon, who placed tenth.

 

MORE INFORMATION: Updated information on the 2005 cross country team, including meet-by-meet results and top times, can be found on the Albertson cross country official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/xc.htm.   

 

VOLLEYBALL (25-5): Lady ‘Yotes headed for NAIA Championships after taking NAIA Region I crown

 

LAST WEEK: at NAIA Region I Tournament, Salt Lake City Utah – vs. Carroll (W 3-1), vs. No. 12 Southern Oregon (W 3-1), vs. Oregon Tech (W 3-2), vs. No. 18 Northwest (W 3-2)

 

COMING UP: at NAIA Championships, San Diego, Calif. – November 30-December 3.

 

CARDIAC COYOTES RALLY TO WIN REGIONAL CROWN: No one could have imagined a run like this when the Albertson College volleyball team was 6-3 on the season, having dropped a convincing 3-0 match to Southern Oregon.  Since that fateful day in mid-September, something lit a fire under the Lady ‘Yotes, and they have not allowed anything to get in their way.  Albertson has won 19 of their last 21 matches, including four-straight over the weekend in Salt Lake City to claim the school’s first-ever NAIA Region I title, earning an automatic berth to the NAIA national championships in San Diego.  The Coyotes rallied from a two games to one deficit in the best-of-five matches in both the semifinal against Oregon Tech and the title match against Northwest to claim the trophy.  Albertson is a perfect 7-0 in postseason play, including four wins against nationally-ranked opponents.

 

FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE?: The CCC and NAIA Region I tournament titles were the first-ever by a Coyote volleyball team, but not the first championship by the Lady ‘Yotes.  The 1982 College of Idaho spikers, under the direction of Don Braunecker, won the Cascade Conference championship, but lost at the NAIA District II tournament.

 

25-WIN PLATEAU: With the four wins over the weekend, the Coyotes reached the 25-win mark for only the second time in school history.  The mark eclipsed the 24 wins that the 2000 team achieved on their way to the NAIA championships, and trails only 28 wins from the 1982 club.

 

100 WINS: The Lady ‘Yotes are inching head coach Liz Mendiola closer and closer to a personal milestone.  The fifth-year leader currently has an all-time record of 99-50 – with a win at the national tournament giving Mendiola an even 100 victories.

 

OFF TO NATIONALS: The NAIA Volleyball Championships will be held November 30 through December 3 on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Calif.  A total of 20 teams qualified through their respective regional tournament (13 regional winners, four at-large selections, and three wild card selections).  Four pools of five teams will play round-robin competition, with the top-two teams in each pool advancing to the national quarterfinals.  The eight remaining teams will play a single-elimination bracket to determine the national champ.

 

IN THE YEAR, 2000: Albertson has advanced to nationals on one other occasion, as the Lady ‘Yotes earned an at-large berth after a runner-up finish at the 2000 NAIA Region I tournament.  The ‘Yotes would travel to Palm Beach, Fla., where they would go 1-3 in pool play – winning a match against Bloomfield (N.J.), but losing matches to Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.), St. Mary (Neb.), and Madonna (Mich.).

 

ENDING HER CAREER WHERE IT STARTED: For Albertson College senior Fran Hartman (Lakeview, Ore. / Lakeview HS), San Diego will be the beginning and the end of her collegiate volleyball career.  As a true freshman, the middle blocker was a member of the 2002 Coyote team that began the season at the Point Loma Invitational – playing her first-ever college match in Golden Gymnasium.  When the curtain falls in two weeks on the 2005 season – also in Golden Gymnasium, Hartman will have racked up well over 1,000-kills and 250-blocks in her Lady ‘Yote career.

 

RECAP OF REGIONAL POOL PLAY: The No. 24 ranked Albertson College volleyball team opened up pool play at the NAIA Region I Tournament with a 28-30, 30-26, 30-24, 30-25 victory over Carroll College, then knocked No. 12 Southern Oregon out of the tournament with a 30-24, 24-30, 30-28, 30-23 victory at Payne Gymnasium, on Thursday night in Salt Lake City. The victory for the Lady 'Yotes over Carroll avenged the only loss thus far this season to a team not ranked in the NAIA Top-25, with the win over Southern their third over a ranked team in seven days. "I felt we started slowly in terms of ball control," said head coach Liz Mendiola.  "Once we fixed that, we were able to stop the middle blockers and turn the game around."  Fran Hartman and Kathryn Ely (La Grande, Ore. / La Grande HS) led the way for Albertson with 18 kills, while Charity Gaston (Harrisonberg, Va. / James Madison U.) racked up 24 digs against Carroll.  Against SOU, the 'Yotes rallied from a 27-23 in Game 3 for the win, taking control of the match.  Anne Parker (Pocatello, Idaho / Century HS) led five players in double-figure kills with 15.

 

OVERCOMING THEODDS VS. OIT: The Albertson College volleyball team had a flair for the dramatics at the NAIA Region I tournament.  The Lady 'Yotes rallied from a 9-2 deficit in the fifth and deciding game to stun Oregon Tech 30-23, 24-30, 21-30, 30-27, 19-17, advancing to their second regional title game in school history.  Four OIT kills and for Coyote attack errors helped the Owls stake the big lead and seemingly have a trip to their first finals sewn up.  However, the 'Yotes would rally, using a 8-1 push to close to 10-9, then use a Fran Hartman spike to tie the game at 13-13.  Albertson would then stave off two Tech match points, before scoring the final three points, the last on a Kathryn Ely kill to notch the win.  Fran Hartman and Katie Hogue (Sparks, Nev. / Reed HS) led the way with 16 kills each, while Charity Gaston continued her torrid defensive streak, recording 37 digs.  Erin Cherrington (Granby, Colo. / Middle Park HS) added 60 assists and ten digs.

 

THE TITLE MATCH: The Albertson College volleyball team won their first-ever NAIA Region I championship, defeating No. 18 ranked Northwest University 28-30, 30-27, 23-30, 30-24, 15-10 in Payne Gymnasium, on Saturday afternoon.  The Lady 'Yotes  ran their post-season record to 7-0 by rallying against the Eagles - earning their second national tournament berth in program history.  Leading 10-9 in the decisive Game 5, Albertson got a kill from Katie Hogue and a Northwest attack error to take a three-point lead.  Back-to-back kills from Anne Parker got the 'Yotes to match-point, and after a Coyote hitting error, Parker spiked home the winner.  Parker and Hogue each had 15 kills and six blocks to lead the way for Albertson, with Fran Hartman adding 11 kills, ten digs, and three blocks.  Erin Cherrington recorded 53 kills and 13 digs, while Charity Gaston recorded 37 digs - going over the 600-dig mark on the season.

 

NATIONAL RANKING: The surging Lady ‘Yotes cracked the final NAIA Top-25 national poll last Wednesday, as the 13 coaches on the voting committee selected the Lady 'Yotes the No. 24 ranked team in the nation.  It marks the third-time in school history that the Coyotes have been ranked nationally, coming at the heals of eight consecutive weeks of receiving votes in the national poll.  Albertson was ranked No. 15 in the 2001 NAIA Preseason Poll, dropping to No. 19 in the first regular-season poll of the 2001 season.  They had not been in the Top-25 since.  Southern Oregon fell to No. 12 and Northwest fell to No. 18 in the latest poll.  Unbeaten Fresno Pacific and National American claimed the top-two spots.

 

SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS FALL: The 2005 Lady ‘Yotes look to make a dent in the single-season record book over the weekend in Salt Lake.  Charity Gaston eclipsed the single-season record for digs with 615, blowing past the old record of 550, set by Brecia Gamett in 2000.  Gaston’s digs per game average of 5.64 is nearly five-tenths of a dig per game more than the current record.  Katie Hogue broke the single-season record for aces against Northwest, recording her 62 ace in the Game 4 win.  Hogue surpassed the total set by Jesse Evett during the 1994 season.  Erin Cherrington is on pace to destroy her own school record for assists per game in a season, as her current average of 13.28 assists per game is well ahead of the record (12.54) she set last year.  Fran Hartman is also ahead of the pace to break the hitting percentage record.

 

CAREER RECORD BOOK: Four players are climbing on the career record list heading into the NAIA national championships.  Erin Cherrington reached the 3,400 career assist mark last week (3,438, third-most in school history), while remaining in fourth-place on the all-time ace list with 136.  Fran Hartman became the fourth player in school history to record 1,000-or-more kills in a career, vaulting into fourth-place all-time with 1,013 (just ten kills away from the No. 3 slot).  She also moved into fourth-place all-time with 260 blocks, and ranks No. 9 all-time with 382 games played.  In less than two seasons, Katie Hogue now has 246 blocks, sixth-place all-time, while Charity Gaston, in less than two seasons, has recorded 918 digs – ninth-most in school history.

 

POOL PLAY SCHEDULES TO BE RELEASED: The pool play assignments and schedule for the NAIA championships will be released late in the day on Monday (after ‘Yote Notes deadline).  A run-down of the Albertson opponents in San Diego will be a focus of next week’s report.

 
MORE INFORMATION: Updated information and statistics on the 2005 volleyball team can be found on Albertson volleyball official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball.htm.  Up-to-date Cascade Conference standings can be found online at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/vball/stats/standings.htm.

 

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (3-3): Coyotes stop Bethany, set to host Best Western Inn and Suites Lady ‘Yote Classic

 

LAST WEEK: vs. Bethany (W 72-60

 

COMING UP: host Best Western Inn and Suites Lady ‘Yote Classic – Friday vs. Westminster, 7 p.m.; Saturday vs. Whitman, 5 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.

 

COYOTES STOP BETHANY: Jori Grady (Roseburg, Ore. / Umpqua CC) scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Albertson College women's basketball team won their 2005-06 home opener, a 72-60 victory over Bethany University in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center on Friday afternoon.  Grady had 13 first half points, as the Lady 'Yotes took a 41-23 edge at the break.  The bench proved to be the difference, outscoring the Bruins, 33-10.  Whitney Clark (Jerome, Idaho / Northwest Nazarene) and Merilee Caldwell (Pocatello, Idaho / Boise State) each canned a pair of three's in the opening half outburst.  Kim Strunk (Twin Falls, Idaho / Twin Falls HS) went just 2-of-7 from the floor, yet still managed 13 points and ten boards, as Albertson won the battle on the glass, 45-39.  Vanessa Irving led Bethany with 14 points and ten rebounds.

 

GOTTA LOVE THE CAL-PAC: The win over Bethany allowed the Lady ‘Yotes to improve their record to 12-0 all-time against the California Pacific Conference.  Included in that ledger is a 75-67 victory last year over Dominican, then ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Division II.

 

GREAT EFFORT WITHOUT TWO STARTERS: The win was sweeter for the Coyotes due to the fact they had to play without a pair of starters – Desirae Smoot (Provo, Utah / Western Wyoming CC), who was out with a foot injury, and Krystn Patterson (Wells, Nev. / College of Southern Idaho), who missed the game due to illness.  Sophomore Magen Duferrena (Denio, Nev. / Lowry HS) stepped into the starting role, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds, while freshman post Kara Myers (Nampa, Idaho / Nampa HS) added five boards in 19 minutes of action.

 

EXHIBITION LOSS AT BOISE STATE: Nadia Begay scored 31 points, including back-to-back three-pointers to open the game, as Boise State handed the Albertson College women's basketball team a 91-57 exhibition loss Tuesday night at Taco Bell Arena.  The Broncos opened the game on a 14-0 run, keyed by the Begay three's, two Jessica Thompson free throws, and back-to-back jumpers from Jackie Lee, all in the first five minutes of the contest.  The lead would balloon to 21-4 after a Lee three-pointer.

The Lady 'Yotes would rally to within 23-13 on a Jori Grady jumper at the 11 minute mark, but the NCAA Division I club would force 19 first half turnovers to build a 49-20 lead at the break.  Former BSU player Whitney Martin (Rupert, Idaho / Boise State) had her best game as a Coyote, scoring 15 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while Whitney Clark came off the bench to score 13.  Sophomore Magen Dufurrena added four points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes of action.

 

HISTORY OF THE LADY ‘YOTE: This weekend, the Lady ‘Yotes will play host to the 7th-Annual Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  The tournament has been an on-again, off-again event in Caldwell, with the Coyotes holding the tourney in 1996 and 1997, from 2000-to-2002, and then again last year.  A total of 12 different teams have participated in the past, including all of this year’s teams.  Albertson has won four of the six previous tournaments – including last year, boasting a 10-2 all-time mark at the Lady ‘Yote Classic.

 

LAST YEARS TOURNEY: Six Albertson College women's basketball players scored in double-figures, as the Lady 'Yotes pulled off their biggest upset since the 2000-01 season, topping No. 6 ranked Dominican, 75-67, in the opening game of the 2004-05 tournament.  The victory for Albertson was their first against a top-ten team since a 69-68 win over No. 3-ranked Briar Cliff (Iowa) in the 2001 NAIA Tournament.  The Lady 'Yotes trailed only once, at 2-0, as the built an 11-point first half edge.  With Kasey Hooter and Kim Strunk on the bench with three fouls each, freshman reserve Libby Baker (Dillon, Mont. / Beaverhead County HS) canned a pair of clutch treys in the final five-minutes of the period, as Albertson took a 39-32 lead to the break.After Albertson took a 57-46 lead with 11-minutes left, the Penguins,  got seven points from Catherine Gravelle as part of an 11-1 run to cut the margin to one.  However, the Coyotes hit 14-of-16 free throws in the final four minutes to get the upset win.  The ‘Yotes would then lose a heartbreaking 62-58 decision to Westminster on Saturday night, as the Griffins erased a 58-57 lead with back-to-back three’s in the final minute.  The game would later be forfeited back to the Coyotes due to the usage of an ineligible player.  Eastern Oregon split their tournament games, defeating Westminster, but falling to Dominican.

 

ABOUT THE TEAMS: Joining the ‘Yotes for the post-Thanksgiving festivities in Caldwell is Cascade Conference rival Eastern Oregon, who will not play Albertson.  The Mountaineers (4-1) are coming off a championship at the Judson College Tournament in Illinois.  Heidi Horobiowski (12.2 ppg) was named tournament MVP, leading Eastern to wins over Huntington (Ind.) and Missouri Baptist.  Leading scorer Christie Weaver (15.2 ppg) is hitting 56-percent of her three-point attempts, including a CCC-record ten three’s in a win at Montana Tech.  EOU is 6-4 all-time in the Lady ‘Yote Classic and shared the 2001 crown.  NCAA Division III foe Whitman College makes their second appearance in the tournament.  The Missionaries (1-1) played this past weekend at the University of Chicago Tournament, defeating Ohio Wesleyan, but losing at the buzzer to the tournament hosts.  All-Northwest Conference forward Katie Patenaude scored 27 points in both games over the weekend for Whitman, who was picked to finish second in the nine-team conference.  Albertson is 4-1 all-time vs. Whitman, despite losing to the Whits, 69-46 last year.  Rounding out the field is Westminster, whom the Lady ‘Yotes defeated in overtime, 83-78, two weeks ago.  The Griffins (3-4) are coming off a split at the Lewis-Clark State Tournament, defeating Cascade College, but losing a good battle with Corban.  Shalee Fackrell had 35 points and 17 rebounds in the loss to Albertson.  The ‘Yotes lead the all-time series, 6-2.

 

CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS NEXT WEEK: All ten Cascade Conference teams will begin league play next weekend, with the Lady ‘Yotes opening on the road at Eastern Oregon.  Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon will head to Corban and Concordia, while Evergreen and Northwest will host Warner Pacific and Cascade.

 

NAIA NATIONAL POLL: Two-time defending national champion Morningside of Iowa was named the unanimous choice as the No. 1 team in the NAIA Division II in the preseason Top-25 poll.  Two Cascade Conference teams were in the poll – Corban was ranked No. 27, while Oregon Tech was ranked No. 38.  Two other opponents in the NAIA Division I were ranked – Montana-Western, whom the Lady ‘Yotes play twice this season, is No. 18, and MSU-Northern at No. 36.

 

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. 

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL (2-2): ‘Yotes head to Salt Lake for rematch with Westminster, game with Lubbock Christian

 

LAST WEEK: hosted 19th Annual Duane Wolfe Memorial Golden Rule Shoot-Out – vs. Bethany (W 65-62), vs. No. 17 Westminster (L 79-72).

 

COMING UP: at No. 17 Westminster, Wednesday, 7 p.m.; vs. Lubbock Christian (at Westminster), Friday, 6 p.m.

 

RADIO: 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. 

 

WESTMINSTER WINS GOLDEN RULE: Back-to-back three-pointers from Nick Buroker late in the second half gave Westminster College the lead for good, as the Griffins captured the championship game of the 19th Annual Duane Wolfe Memorial Golden Rule Shoot-Out with a 79-72 victory over Albertson College, Saturday night at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  After the host Coyotes erased a 12-point second half deficit to take a 60-59 lead on an Ike Stafford (Auburn, Wash. / Salt Lake CC) free throw with 4:55 left, Buroker canned two long three's on successive possessions, helping the Griffins, the No. 17 ranked team in the NAIA Division I win their third Golden Rule title in five years.

Albertson cut the margin to 69-67 and looked to have a defensive stop with 29 seconds remaining, but Kurt Nielson (Rexburg, Idaho / Eastern Utah CC) was called for a loose ball foul on the rebound.  Nick Booth canned two free throws and the 'Yotes would no recover.  Jared Ruiz led all scorers with 22 points and eight rebounds, while Buroker came off the bench to add 14.  The 'Yotes were led by 20 Josh Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) points, a career-high.

 

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM: Although Westminster won the “title” of the tournament, no trophy was award – due to the tourney being designated a “Classic.”  Earning spots on the All-Tournament team were Jared Ruiz (21.0 ppg, 10 rpg) and Danny Reeder (16.0 ppg, 9 rpg) of Westminster, Ike Stafford (14.0 ppg, 7 rpg) and Josh Owen (17.0 ppg) of Albertson, and Eric Fiegi of Corban (24 ppg, 13.5 rpg).

 

NANCOLAS HONORED: Each year, the Golden Rule Shoot-Out honors an individual, family, or group as its Humanitarian of the Year.  This year, Caldwell mayor, Garret Nancolas was honored with the award.  If one had to choose among Garret’s many strengths; compassion, visionary leadership, and fearless administrative skills quickly come to the forefront.   First, Mayor Nancolas has a heart of compassion for the community of Caldwell and particularly its youth. As an example of his connecting with the youth is his successful effort to formulate a Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council for the purpose of bridging the gap between the community’s youth and civic leadership. This group has not only flourished under his guidance but they have gained nation-wide recognition as a success story and are frequently asked to share their accomplishments with other youth around the county. The Mayor’s compassion extends to all of its citizens as witnessed by his effort to make the YMCA a reality in Caldwell. He wants all of his constituents to have the athletic opportunities that the program offers.  His vision for Caldwell is one that sees success at every turn and this has been true from the first day of his administration. Everywhere you look in Caldwell you see change and improvements such as Serenity Park, once a dilapidated and blighted area, which now has been reformed into an area of energy and beauty. More recently, he has turned his sights to downtown Caldwell by embarking on a very challenging process to daylight Indian Creek which has the prospect to totally reform Caldwell into a vibrant economic center.  As a fearless administrator, he has challenged the “old school thought” and a philosophy resistant to change. His ability to challenge the common place has helped the community turn the corner to where it is now receptive to progress and new ideas.  The ‘Yotes and the Golden Rule salute, Garret Nancolas, the 2005 Humanitarian of the Year.

 

SPECIAL VISIT FROM BRANSON: The ‘Yotes also had special guests at the Golden Rule – all the way from the NAIA Division II national tournament in Branson, Mo.  Bob and Karen Phillips, who have served as the host family of the ACI men’s basketball team during each of their trips to the Ozarks, made a 1,700 drive west to watch the tournament. The Coyotes honored the couple with a commemorative plaque, Golden Rule Shoot-Out jackets, and hospitality, Idaho style.

 

COYOTES EEK OUT WIN OVER BETHANY: Brandon Nielsen (Twin Falls, Idaho / Big Bend CC) scored 13 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, as the Albertson College men's basketball team withstood a tough Bethany University squad, 65-62 on Friday night.  Bethany dominated most of the first half, holding Albertson without a field goal for the first six-plus minutes of the game, building a 20-9 edge.  But an 11-2 run late in the half, capped by a Nielsen trey helped the Coyotes tie the game at 33-33 at the break.  The hosts would play long ball in the second half, as Nielson hit back-to-back triples, sandwiched around Ike Stafford and Josh Owen treys, as the Coyotes opened a 56-45 edge with 8:38 left.  However, the Bruins would hold Albertson without a field goal for six minutes, cutting the margin to 61-59 on a Brian Waugh three with 1:31 left.  Bethany would have a chance to tie inside the final minute, but Quentin Boston missed a jumper and the Coyotes hit freebies to clinch the win.  Owen scored 13 points and had five assists, while Stafford added 11 points and eight rebounds.  The 'Yotes held a 45-38 edge on the glass.

 

REMATCH IN SALT LAKE: It’s not often that college basketball teams play back-to-back games against opponents – but Albertson and Westminster will do that.  The Griffins (5-1), fresh off of a title at the Golden Rule, will host the ‘Yotes on Wednesday night in Salt Lake City.  Westminster will look to end a two-game home losing streak to Albertson, having dropped an 89-84 double overtime decision to the Coyotes last year.  With the win on Saturday night, Westminster closed the all-time series to 13-12, in favor of the Coyotes.

 

THANKSGIVING IN SLC:  For the third consecutive year, the Coyotes will be celebrating Thanksgiving from the comforts of a hotel in Salt Lake City.  Albertson is 4-0 during “Turkey Time” in the Beehive State, topping Westminster and Adams State last year.  The ‘Yotes are 10-2 in Payne Gymnasium under Mark Owen, dating back to the 2000 season.

 

WHO ARE THE CHAPS?: Friday in Salt Lake, the ‘Yotes close out their trip with a game against Lubbock Christian, an NAIA Division I member of the Sooner Athletic Conference.  The Chaparrals (0-2) are coming off an appearance at the 2005 NAIA Division I national tournament, but have dropped a pair of games to open the season (62-56 to Eastern New Mexico, 60-47 to Adams State).  LCU is led by guard Max Eding (16.0 ppg), but was outrebounded by eight in each of their two losses.

 

COYOTES VS. THE LONE STAR STATE: ACI is looking for their first-ever victory over a team from Texas – as the Coyotes hold an 0-2 mark against teams from the Lone Star State.  Albertson lost a 72-66 decision to Wayland Baptist at the 1986 NAIA Tournament, followed by an 81-68 loss to Saint Mary’s at the 1989 NAIA Tournament.  It is the first regular-season meeting against a team from Texas in school history.

 

‘YOTES RANKED #16 TO START SEASON: A year removed from their third consecutive trip to the NAIA Division II national tournament, the Albertson men’s basketball team was ranked No. 16 in the preseason NAIA Division II Top-25 poll.  The ‘Yotes were one of five Cascade Conference teams in the group – Southern Oregon (No. 2), Oregon Tech (No. 4), Warner Pacific (No. 36) and Corban (No. 42).  Last season, the CCC advanced four teams to the NAIA tournament – with OIT advancing to the Final Four and Southern Oregon to the Elite Eight.

 

PRESEASON RANKINGS BECOMING FAMILIAR: For the fifth-consecutive season, the Coyotes have been ranked to start the season.  Last season, Albertson began the year No. 21 and ascended as high as No. 5 in the nation.  The last team not to be ranked to start a season was the 2000-01 club, the first season with Mark Owen as head coach, a team that eventually advanced to the Elite Eight of the NAIA Tournament.

 
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.
 
 
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