Yote Notes – Jan. 10,
2007
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Mike Safford Jr. – Sports
Info. Director
msafford@collegeofidaho.edu
ATHLETIC
NEWS:
COYOTE
ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DINNER JANUARY 10: The next
C-TOWN
FIGHT NIGHT RETURNS: After great success last year, both the ACI baseball
team and the Caldwell High football team have joined forces again for the
Second-Annual C-Town Fight Night. The
amateur boxing event will take place at O’Connor Fieldhouse
on February 7, with the first bout set for 7 p.m. Tickets for the event will go on sale next
Monday (January 15) by calling Josh Hegstad at
459-5862, or by email at jhegstad@collegeofidaho.edu.
TAILGATE
PARTY PRIOR TO SOUTHERN OREGON GAME: The ACI alumni office will be hosting
a tailgate party prior to the basketball games Friday night against
HALL OF
FAME: 2007 Class to include Mooney, Hamilton, and 1995-96 Men’s Basketball Team
Albertson College of Idaho will induct a former runner, a former coach,
and a national championship winning team into the ACI Athletic Hall of Fame,
during ceremonies set for Feb. 3 on the
Festivities will begin with a 12:30 p.m. induction luncheon, sponsored by
Wendy’s, in the Simplot Dining Hall. A
special ceremony will also take place that evening at halftime of the men’s
basketball game vs.
Mooney coached the
The 1995-96
For tickets to the Wendy’s Hall of Fame luncheon, contact Dave Hahn at
(208) 459-5835, or by email at dhahn@collegeofidaho.edu.
MEN’S
BASKETBALL (11-3, 5-2 CCC): Yotes open homestand
with games vs.
COMING
UP: vs. Southern Oregon, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; vs. No. 7
LAST
WEEK: at Cascade (W 82-66), at No. 5 Warner Pacific (L 99-86)
RADIO /
INTERNET BROADCAST: All
regular-season men’s basketball games will be broadcast live in the
NO LIVE STATS: Live Stats are currently not
available for ACI home games.
COYOTES REMAIN AT NO. 13 IN NAIA
DIVISION II: With a 11-3 start to the season and three wins against nationally
ranked opponents, the
18-STRAIGHT YEARS: The ranking of the Yotes last week
extended the overall mark to 18 consecutive years that the ACI men’s basketball
team has been in the Top-25 – including all seven years under head coach Mark
Owen. The following are the high-water mark each season since Coach “O” has
been at the helm
2000-01 No.
24 2001-02 No.
8 2002-03 No.
15
2003-04 No.
3 2004-05 No.
5 2005-06 No.
16
2006-07 No. 13
YOTES STILL THIRD IN CCC POLL: ACI remained at No. 3 in the weekly
Cascade Conference top-six coaches’ poll, released Monday. Warner Pacific, with its wins over ACI and
TROUBLE IN THREE-LAND: It is safe to say that if the
three-point shot is not falling for the 2006-07
NIELSON HAS NICE WEEKEND: The Yotes did get inspired play this
weekend from Kurt Nielson (
MCGEE BECOMING A FORCE: Post Craig McGee (
CAREER NUMBERS: One
SOUTHERN HEADS TO
GUARD LADEN TECH MAKES TREASURE
VALLEY APPEARANCE: Saturday
night, Danny Miles brings his latest bunch from Oregon Tech to the
MORE ON COACH MILES: In his 36th-year at Oregon Tech, Dan
Miles became the tenth coach in college basketball history to win 800 games in his
career with a victory in December against George Fox. The longest-serving coach in the Northwest
has achieved an 806-352 mark while at OIT, leading his team to nine NAIA
Tournament appearances in the last 11 years.
CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average –
Scott O’Gallagher (WPC) 23.4, Adam Moore (ESC) 22.0,
Alex Hartman (CU) 19.5, Ike Stafford (ACI) 18.6, Josh Jackson (WPC) 17.9;
Rebound Average – Paul Carollo (EOU) 9.1, Joshua Wetzler (OIT) 8.6, Aaron Sawyer (NU) 8.6, Jalonta Martin (WPC) 7.4, Tayo
Cotton (CAS) 7.0; Field Goal Percentage – Derek Brown (EOU) .683, Erion Moore (SOU) .626, Carollo .594,
A. Moore .591, Jackson .583; Assist Average – Levell Hesia (OIT) 5.4, Jesse Alvarez (CU) 5.0, Dwain Hicks (ESC)
4.6, Jeremy Templeton (EOU) 4.6, O’Gallagher 3.8.
AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the
ON THE NATIONAL FRONT: As a team, the
Yotes lead the NAIA Division II in turnover margin, ranking second in both
three-pointers made per game and steals per game, and third in scoring average. Individually, Ike Stafford ranks fourth in
the NAIA in three-pointers made per game.
BIG MEN LEAD YOTES OVER CASCADE: The ACI posts combined for 35 points
and nine rebounds as the
LATE FLURRY LIFTS WARNER PAST ACI: A 12-1 run at the eight minute mark
of the second half lifted No. 5 Warner Pacific to a key 99-86 victory over No.
13 ACI at C.C. Perry Gym on Saturday night.
After the visiting
GET WELL SOON, BART: One thing was missing on Saturday
night when the Yotes played at Warner Pacific, Knights head coach Bart
Valentine. The longtime WPC leader
sustained an injured quadriceps a week earlier that needed surgery – forcing him
to miss the games against ACI and
THREE TIMES OVER THE CENTURY MARK: So far this season, ACI has topped
the 100-point mark in a game on three occasions (129 vs. Montana-Western, 116
vs. Willamette, 111 vs.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and
information regarding the ACI men’s basketball program, head to the official
site
WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL (11-5, 7-0 CCC): Lady Yotes run win streak to
seven, open four-game homestand Friday night
COMING
UP: vs. Southern Oregon, Friday, 5:30 p.m.; vs.
LAST
WEEK: at Cascade (W 76-58); at Warner Pacific (W 90-58).
RADIO/INTERNET
BROADCAST: All Cascade Conference women’s games will be carried
live on the ACI athletic website (www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm)
with Mike Safford calling the play-by-play, beginning at 5:30 p.m. All CCC women’s road games will also be
carried live on radio in the
NO LIVE STATS: Live Stats are currently not available
for ACI home games
LADY
YOTES WITH TWO GAME LEAD: The ACI women’s basketball team continued
their winning ways, improving to 7-0 in Cascade Conference play and 4-0 in
league play on the road with lopsided wins at Cascade and Warner Pacific. The Lady Yotes are the lone remaining
unbeaten team in the loop, holding a two-game lead on a trio of teams – Oregon
Tech, Corban, and
WIN
STREAKING: The wins helped ACI to extend their win streak to
seven games, as the
YOTES
HOLD TOP SPOT IN CCC POLL: For the second straight week, the Lady Yotes
hold the top spot in the Cascade Conference weekly coaches’ poll. ACI was the unanimous No. 1 team, earning
seven first-place votes (three teams did not vote). They are followed by Corban,
with
VOTES IN
THE NATIONAL POLL: Last week, the third NAIA Division II Top-25 poll
was released, and ACI received votes in the poll for the first time since the
2002-03 season. The Lady Yotes were
ranked No. 28 with 65 points – the third team listed in the others receiving
votes category. Indiana Wesleyan was the
unanimous No. 1 team, followed by the Ozarks (
IT’S
BEEN A WHILE: The last time an ACI women’s basketball team had
earned votes in the national poll was on Jan. 7, 2003, when the
THERE
WAS A STREAK: Years ago, ACI was a staple in the NAIA Division II
poll, climbing all the way to a high-water mark of No. 4 during the polling
period conducted Jan. 16, 2001. In fact,
the Lady Yotes were in the Top-25 or others receiving votes each poll from Jan.
11, 2000 through Jan. 7, 2003 – a span of 20-consecutive rankings.
COULD
THEY MOVE INTO THE TOP-25?: ACI has a solid chance to move
into the Top-25, as three of the five teams ranked No. 21-25 lost games, as did
four of the six teams at the top of the others’ receiving votes category.
NEARING
AN ACTIVITIES CENTER MILESTONE: Playing at home has always been a
big key for the Lady Yotes, as ACI has posted a 96-40 all-time record in the
J.A. Albertson Activities Center – needing just four wins to reach the coveted
100-win plateau on their home floor.
This year’s team has excelled in
RESURGENT
RAIDERS HEAD TO TREASURE VALLEY: After three consecutive sub-par seasons, the Southern Oregon women’s basketball team is back on the map, as the Raiders (11-6, 4-3
CCC) sit in fifth-place in the CCC after four straight wins and victories in
7-of-8 – prior to Friday’s game in Caldwell.
Second-year head coach Lynn Kennedy has his team playing an uptempo style, averaging 72 points a game – scoring
80-or-more points four times this season.
The Raiders are led in scoring by a trio of guards – Chelsey
Zimmerman (13.2 ppg, 4.7 apg),
Whitney Scott (11.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg), and Andi Peterson
(11.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg). It is the 26th meeting between the teams,
with SOU holding a slim 13-12 all-time series edge, although ACI holds a
four-game win streak.
WHICH
TECH WILL WE SEE?: The past two
Saturday nights have not been kind to the Oregon Tech women’s basketball team, as the Owls (13-4, 5-2) have failed to break the
50-point barrier in losses to Cascade and Southern Oregon – with OIT headed to
the J.A. Albertson Activities Center this Saturday night. Shooting woes have plagued Tom Loney’s bunch in CCC play (.32-percent field goal clip),
making just 19-percent of their field goals against Cascade, and 21-percent
against SOU. OIT, which spent two weeks in the NAIA poll, lives from
outside the arc (averaging 23 three-point attempts a game) – and has the
shooters to make it happen in Cora McVey (13.3 ppg,
7.3 rpg, 49 steals), Jenna Ball (9.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg), and Homedale
native Kelsi Haylett (7.9 ppg, 3.4 apg). It is the 12th meeting between the teams,
with Tech holding an 8-3 edge, including three-in-a-row.
CONFERENCE
LEADERS: Scoring Average – Nicole
Brown (WP) 18.0, Whitney Clark (ACI) 15.8, Christie Weaver (EOU) 15.2, Jessi Norton (CRB) 14.9, Jessica Steigleman
(CRB) 14.1; Rebound Average – Te Awhina Arunui (CAS) 9.7, Jackie Spear (SOU) 8.1, Jennifer Solberg
(ESC) 8.1, Denise Hill (ACI) 7.7, Brianne Carras
(CRB) 7.7; Field Goal Percentage – Kelsey Richards (SOU) .563, Carras .546, Rebekah Johnson (NU)
.545, Lindsey Diaz (CAS) .543, Tosha Wilson (CRB)
.539; Assist Average – Wilson 5.2, Whitney Leman (EOU) 5.2, Chelsey
Zimmerman (SOU) 4.7, Lindsey Wells (WPC) 3.8, Denise Benedict (CU) 3.4.
AMONG
THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Lady Yotes lead the CCC in
steals per game (16.9), turnover margin (+5.9), turnovers forced per game
(28.1), and scoring average (72.6).
Individually, Whitney Clark (Jerome,
Idaho / Northwest Nazarene U.) ranks second in the loop in scoring average
(15.8), is third in free throw percentage (.838), and eighth in three-point
percentage (.356), with Jori Grady (Roseburg, Ore. / Umpqua CC) ranking
second in the lead in steals per game (2.8) and No. 8 in assists per game
(3.0). Christon Vander Esch (Grangeville, Idaho /
Treasure Valley CC) ranks fourth in the CCC in blocked shots per
game (0.9), is sixth in rebounds per game (7.6), and is seventh in steals per
game (2.5). Also among the league
leaders is Denise Hill (
CAREER
RECORDS: Both Whitney Clark and Jori Grady are inching
up the ACI career record book as the 2006-07 season rolls on. Clark currently ranks No. 5 all-time in
three-pointers made (79), is No. 7 in free throws made (155), is No. 8 in
three-point attempts (238), and is No. 11 in free throw attempts (197). Grady is No. 8 in three-pointers made (61),
No. 9 in three-point attempts (154), and No. 11 in steals (96). Both are nearing the top-ten in scoring, with
Grady having scored 619 and
YOTES WIN AT CASCADE: A 20-4 spurt over the opening six
minutes of the game was all ACI needed, as the Lady Yotes extended their win
streak to six games with a wire-to-wire 76-58 victory at Cascade College on
Friday night. Jori
Grady scored the first five points, with Savannah Ames connecting on three
consecutive three-pointers as part of the opening surge, as ACI remained
unbeaten in Cascade Conference play. The
T-Birds, who were playing their first game under interim head coach
MONSTER WIN AT WARNER: ACI avenged a last-second loss at
Warner Pacific from last season with a convincing 90-58 victory over the Knights,
Saturday night in
OVER 90-POINTS: The 90 points scored by ACI on
Saturday night was the 20th time in program history that the Lady Yotes have
eclipsed that mark. In those games, the Coyotes
are a perfect 20-0. In fact, ACI has
scored 100-or-more points on four occasions, the last a 102-17 victory over
THREE-HEADED POINT-GUARD: The Yotes rotation at point-guard
has been something that has plagued opponents throughout the 2006-07 season. The three
true freshman – Kayla Brewer, Katee Brewer (
GRADY PLAYING GREAT IN LEAGUE: After a slow start to the year, Jori Grady is in full stride as CCC play hits full
swing. The senior has scored in
double-figures in six of the seven league games, averaging 12.3 points a night
in league play – connecting on .579 percent of her field goal attempts. The 2005-06 CCC Newcomer of the Year also
averages 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.4 steals a game in league counters.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For up-to-date statistics, stories,
and information about the ACI women’s basketball team, head to the official
website for the Lady Yotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.
INDOOR TRACK: Season Preview
LAST YEAR: Last season, the ACI indoor track team
sent four individuals and one relay team to the NAIA Indoor Championships in Johnson
City, Tenn. At nationals, David Fluckiger earned All-American honors for the
second-straight season, placing sixth in the mile.
2007 MEN: The Yotes will have a solid crew set
to run during the indoor season. Leading
the group is Tyler Hopper (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS), who
will concentrate on the mile after finishing ninth in the 1,500-meters at last
year’s NAIA Outdoor Championships. Head
coach Pat McCurry
feels that Hopper could also contribute in the 800 and 3,000-meters. Two others who qualified for Nationals last
season return – Jacob Haas (Portland, Ore. / Eastern Oregon U.) and
Jesse Chlebeck
(Eagan, Minn. / Eagan HS). Both runners competed in the 5,000-meters at
the indoor championships. McCurry is also hopeful that the Yotes will be able to
qualify a Distance Medley Relay to Nationals for a second-straight year. “We have raised the bar for qualifying for
Nationals,” said the third-year head coach.
“We will not take provisional qualifiers to the Indoor Championships –
as we focus on our chances in May during the outdoor season. However, I feel we have quality runners that
have the potential to be in contention for All-America status this March.”
2007 WOMEN: A deep pool of talent surrounds the
Lady Yotes during the indoor season.
Returning CCC outdoor champion Shannon
Edwards (Sherwood, Ore. / Eastern
Oregon U.) looks to run well in the distance events – anywhere from the
mile to 5,000-meters. ACI will compete
well in the middle distances – with both Katie
Ball (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS) and
Jayne Saunders (Emmett, Idaho / Emmett HS) returning after great 2006 outdoor
seasons, while freshmen Chantel Varland (Meridian, Idaho / Mountain View HS) and
Molli Lee-Painter (Moscow, Idaho / Moscow HS) helping in the distances, after having
a great rookie cross country season.
Also expected to shine is freshman Emily
McCutchan (Eagle,
Idaho /Eagle HS), who will compete in the triple-jump. “I am really excited for our women’s team
this year,” said McCurry. “Edwards is among the best runners in the
Region in the distances, and with Saunders and Ball, we should have a nice
Distance Medley Relay. This will help us
prepare for the outdoor season, where I think we will have our best finish
yet.”
SCHEDULE: The Coyotes have scaled back their
Indoor Track schedule, competing as a full team on two occasions – at the
United Heritage and Holiday Inn Invitationals at the Jackson’s
Indoor Track in Nampa. Small groups of runners
will also compete at the University of Washington and the University of Idaho
Invites, prior to the Indoor Championships, March 8-10, in Johnson City, Tenn.
- ACI -