Yote Notes – Jan. 16, 2007

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

ATHLETIC NEWS:

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.

HALL OF FAME SET FOR FEBRUARY 3: A former runner, a former coach, and a national championship winning team will be inducted into the ACI Athletic Hall of Fame, during ceremonies set for Feb. 3 on the Caldwell campus. Northwest Conference champion sprinter Bernie Hamilton and longtime baseball coach Tim Mooney will become the 30th and 31st individuals in the ACI Athletic Hall of Fame, with the 1995-96 Men’s Basketball Team joining two other squads in the exclusive group. 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. Cascade College. To reserve tickets to the Wendy’s Hall of Fame luncheon, contact Dave Hahn at (208) 459-5835, or by email at dhahn@collegeofidaho.edu.

SWIMMING HOSTS HOME MEET NEXT WEEKEND: The ACI swim team will host their only home meet of the 2006-07 on Jan. 27 against Pacific Lutheran. Currently, the short-course dual meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK, TENNIS, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL INCHING CLOSER: The Coyote indoor track team is set to open their slate on Jan. 27 at the University of Washington Indoor, while the baseball and women’s tennis teams will open regular-season play the weekend of Feb. 10-11 (with the softball team hosting an exhibition game against the College of Southern Idaho). More info on the spring sports in weeks to come.

MEN’S BASKETBALL (13-3, 7-2 CCC): Coyotes close homestand vs. Corban and Concordia after big wins over Southern and OIT

COMING UP: vs. Corban, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; vs. Concordia, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

LAST WEEK: vs. Southern Oregon (W 101-88), vs. No. 7 Oregon Tech (W 87-83)

RADIO / INTERNET BROADCAST: All 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 will have all the action beginning 20-minutes prior to tip-off each night, on the Home of the Coyotes, 1490 KCID-AM – America’s Best Music. Each game is also carried live on the Internet via the ACI athletic website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm. Friday’s game vs. Corban will also be broadcast in the Willamette Valley on 90.3 KWBX-FM with Tim Seiber calling the action.

NO LIVE STATS: Live Stats are currently not available for ACI home games

COYOTES AT NO. 14 IN NAIA DIVISION II, LOOK TO MOVE UP: With a 13-3 start to the season and four wins against nationally ranked opponents, the Yotes enter the week ranked No. 14 in the nation. ACI has maintained its perfect mark in the NAIA Division II, as the Yotes have been ranked at least once in the Top-25 every season since the NAIA split into two divisions in 1991 (The Coyotes were the very first No. 1 ranked team in the NAIA Division II, topping the initial poll during the 1991-92 season). The Cascade Conference had five teams in the Top-25 – Warner Pacific ranked No. 4, Oregon Tech at No. 7, Northwest at No. 17, and Eastern Oregon at No. 25.

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 MOVE UP IN CCC POLL: With their wins over Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech, ACI moved up one spot in the weekly Cascade Conference coaches’ poll to No. 2. Unbeaten Warner Pacific continues to hold the top spot, followed by ACI. Oregon Tech is third, followed by Eastern Oregon, Northwest, and Concordia. The coaches’ poll is released each Monday morning, with the NAIA Top-25 poll released each Wednesday afternoon.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: As a team, the Yotes lead the CCC in steals per game (14.0), ranking No. 2 in the NAIA in the category. This has helped the club force over 25 turnovers a game – with four different players averaging two steals a game – Josh Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS), the league’s leader at 2.4 steals a night, Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS), Donnel Garner (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Chaparral HS), and Ike Stafford (Auburn, Wash. / Salt Lake CC) – who rank No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 in the loop.

CAREER NUMBERS: One Coyote is climbing the career record book as the 2006-07 season heads into full swing. Josh Owen currently ranks No. 5 all-time in three-point attempts (407), is No. 5 in three-pointers made (159), and is No. 3 in free throw percentage (.866, making 149-of-172 attempts). The junior needs just 102 points to become the 15th ACI player to record 1,000 points in his career.

CORBAN LOOKS FOR UPSET BID: It has been a difficult season for Corban head coach Justin Sherwood, as the Warriors (2-18, 1-8 CCC), two years removed from a NAIA Tournament berth, sit in ninth-place in the conference standings. The squad got a boost last week, topping Cascade, 80-70, to end a 13-game losing streak, but the Warriors bring a ten-game road skid into Caldwell on Friday night. Defense has been the issue for Corban – allowing 85 points a game (with opponents converting 50-percent of their field goal attempts), while being outrebounded by eight per night. The crew from Salem is led by transfer Wade Douglas (15.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg), who recorded a double-double in the Yotes 89-71 road victory on Dec. 20, and Jason Braun (12.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg), who had 21 points in that 18-point loss. It is the 60th meeting between the teams, dating back to 1977, with ACI holding a 38-21 edge.

CONCORDIA LOOKS FOR A REPEAT OF LAST YEAR: A year ago, Concordia came to Caldwell and scored the second-most points by an ACI opponent in J.A. Albertson Activities Center history in a 108-95 victory. The 2006-07 Cavaliers (12-7, 4-5) have won 3-of-4 and six of their last eight – and looking for a better performance than their 96-83 loss to the Yotes on Dec. 19 in Portland. Concordia is led by Alex Hartman (19.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Ernie Rama (13.3 ppg, 2.9 apg) – a duo who combined for 33 points in the first meeting of the teams. It is the 50th meeting between the clubs, daing back to 1980, with the Yotes holding a 40-9 all-time series edge.

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Scott O’Gallagher (WPC) 23.5, Adam Moore (ESC) 21.8, Alex Hartman (CU) 19.2, Ike Stafford (ACI) 18.6, Josh Jackson (WPC) 17.8; Rebound Average – Paul Carollo (EOU) 9.2, Aaron Sawyer (NU) 8.3, Joshua Wetzler (OIT) 8.1, Jalonta Martin (WPC) 7.3, Tayo Cotton (CAS) 7.0; Field Goal Percentage – Derek Brown (EOU) .687, Carollo .599, Neil Fryer (EOU) .592, A. Moore .591, Craig McGee (ACI) .589; Assist Average – Levell Hesia (OIT) 5.1, Jesse Alvarez (CU) 5.0, Jeremy Templeton (EOU) 4.9, Dwain Hicks (ESC) 4.6, O’Gallagher 4.1.

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Coyotes lead the Cascade Conference in four statistical categories – steals per game (14.0), three-pointers made per game (11.5), turnovers forced per game (25.1) and turnover margin (+9.1). Individually, Ike Stafford leads the loop in three-pointers made per game (3.6), while ranking No. 4 in scoring average (18.6) and free throw percentage (.843), No. 5 in steals per game (1.8), and No. 9 in three-point percentage (.457). Josh Owen leads the league in steals per game (2.4) and is second in the league in three’s made per game (3.0). Also among the league leaders are Brandon Nielsen (Twin Falls, Idaho / Big Bend CC), who is fifth in three-pointers made per game (2.3) and ninth in scoring average (16.1), Bryan Champ, who is second in steals per game (2.4), Craig McGee (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS), who is fifth in field goal percentage (.589), sixth in blocks per game (1.0), and sixth in rebounds per game (6.6), and Donnel Garner, who is fourth in steals per game (2.2).

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 fourth in scoring average. Individually, Ike Stafford ranks fourth in the NAIA in three-pointers made per game and Josh Owen is seventh in steals per game.

YOTES END HOME SKID AGAINST SOUTHERN: ACI forced 26 turnovers and ended a three-game home losing streak to Southern Oregon, stopping the Raiders, 101-88, in the J.A. Albertson Activites Center, on Friday night. The Coyotes had not defeated Brian McDermott's club in Caldwell since a 91-69 victory on Jan. 17, 2003 - as ACI had dropped seven-straight to the Raiders before win in Ashland last year in the Cascade Conference Ttournament. Leading 44-36 at the break, the Yotes used an 11-0 spurt to open the second half to build their biggest lead of the game.  The Raiders, who have dropped five-straight on the road, clawed to within 92-83 with four minutes left - but Josh Owen hit back-to-back treys to put the game out of reach. Ike Stafford had a game-high 23 points and five assists in the win, with Owen scoring 21 points, six steals, and four assists.  Both Brandon Nielsen and Bryan Champ chipped in with 12 points.

FOUR TIMES OVER THE CENTURY MARK: So far this season, ACI has topped the 100-point mark in a game on four occasions (129 vs. Montana-Western, 116 vs. Willamette, 111 vs. Evergreen State, 101 vs. Southern Oregon). It marks the first time since 1999 since the Coyotes have accomplished the feat, but still well off the school record for 100-point games in a season – seven, set during the 1990-91 season.

COYOTES WIN ONE FOR PETE: The victory for the Yotes was bittersweet for the Owen family, as head coach Mark Owen lost his father, Pete, to a heart attack while hunting, last Wednesday. The eldest Owen, a U.S. Navy veteran and longtime hunter, fisherman, and trapper, was 66 years old.

ACI UPSETS SEVENTH-RANKED OWLS: Craig McGee scored 19 points and had a career high 14 rebounds, but it was his three free throws in the final 14 seconds that helped ACI upset No. 7 ranked Oregon Tech, 87-83, before 2,300 fans at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. After the No. 14 ranked Coyotes saw a 12-point second half lead cut to two, the sophomore canned 3-of-4 free throws in crunch time to withstand the furious Tech comeback. Leading 84-72 with 4:41 remaining, the Yotes would not convert a field goal the rest of the way, as OIT forced nine turnovers that helped the Owls close to 84-82 on a pair of Ryan Fiegi free throws with 1:45 left.  Tech would have four chances to tie or take the lead, but Fiegi was called for a pair of charges, and Lavell Hesia missed a trey, then a driving lay-up with 16 seconds left.  McGee would split a pair of free throws to make it 85-82, but ACI fouled Hesia with five seconds left.  The All-American hit the first of two, but missed the second, with McGee securing the rebound - and made two freebies to ice the game. Brandon Nielsen had 17 points and Ike Stafford added 14 in the win. 

BIGS COME THROUGH: The three rotating posts did the damage on Saturday against OIT, helping ACI record a rebounding edge for just the second time all season. Along with Craig McGee’s 19 points and 14 rebounds, J.R. Maggard (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) had 11 points and a season-high seven rebounds, with Kurt Nielson (Rexburg, Idaho / Eastern Utah CC) adding his second eight-rebound game in his last three contests.

ALUMNI REPORT (COACHES): Currently, seven former Coyotes are coaching within the collegiate ranks – including ACI head coach Mark Owen. Three of the alums are assistants at the NCAA Division I level – Damon Archibald at New Mexico State, Kenny Johnson at Tennessee, and Mark Amaral at UC-Santa Barbara (with the three clubs posting a combined 38-12 record this season). Three former Yotes are head coaches – Mike Hultz at Minot State, Ben Riley at Lassen CC, and Billy Offill at the College of the Siskiyous.

ALUMNI REPORT (PLAYERS): Currently, seven former Coyotes are continuing their playing careers in the professional ranks. Ty Shaw is in his fourth season as a pro, currently playing for Langen in the German Second Division. The former All-American is averaging 18 points and is converting 67-percent of his field goal attempts. Also in his fourth year as a pro is Mike Homik, who recently completed a pair of tours with the New Zealand national team – playing in the Commonwealth Games and a three-game tour of India. Homik is a starting forward for the Harbour Heat in the New Zealand First Division. A trio of former Coyotes play in England – with Andy Harper and Tom Perkes playing for the Worcester Wolves, and Steve Humphreys playing for the Reading Rockets. Harper is averaging 20.2 points a game and Perkes 18.4 points a night, with Humphreys averaging 16 a night before an ankle injury has put him on the shelf for eight weeks. In Mexico, Eric Hare helped the Durango Lobo Grises to the semifinals of the National Basketball League, averaging nine points and six rebounds. Rounding out the group is Dan McFaul, who signed a contract last week to play for the Seattle Mountaineers of the International Basketball League.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and information regarding the ACI men’s basketball program, head to the official site Coyote Basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (13-5, 9-0 CCC): Front running Lady Yotes set for tough weekend set vs. Corban and Concordia

COMING UP: vs. Corban, Friday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Concordia, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

LAST WEEK: vs. Southern Oregon (W 83-66), vs. Oregon Tech (W 76-68)

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 Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM. Friday’s game vs. Corban will be broadcast live in the Willamette Valley on 90.3 KWBX-FM with Tim Seiber calling the action.

NO LIVE STATS: Live Stats are currently not available for ACI home games

LADY YOTES WITH TWO GAME LEAD AT THE MIDWAY POINT: The ACI women’s basketball team continued their winning ways, improving to 9-0 in Cascade Conference play and 5-0 in league play at home with wins against Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech. The Lady Yotes are the lone remaining unbeaten team in the loop, holding a two-game lead on Corban, with a full three-game lead on Oregon Tech and Eastern Oregon. The 9-0 start by the Coyotes is their best start in league play in school history.

WIN STREAKING: The wins helped ACI to extend their win streak to nine games, as the Coyotes have won 12 of their last 13 games. The nine-game streak is the longest under sixth-year head coach Reagan Rossi, and equals the second-longest win streak in program history. The Lady Yotes set a school record with 13 straight wins from Nov. 29, 1996-Jan. 11, 1997, with the team recording nine straight victories from Jan. 20-Feb. 17, 2001. ACI has won six games in a row on three occasions, the last during the 2004-05 season.

YOTES HOLD TOP SPOT IN CCC POLL: For the third straight week, the Lady Yotes hold the top spot in the Cascade Conference weekly coaches’ poll. ACI was the unanimous No. 1 team for the second-straight week, earning seven first-place votes (three teams did not vote). They are followed by Corban, Oregon Tech, Eastern Oregon, Southern Oregon, and Northwest rounding out the top-six. The CCC poll will be released each Monday for the remainder of the regular-season.

VOTES IN THE NATIONAL POLL: Last week, the fourth NAIA Division II Top-25 poll was released, and ACI received votes in the poll for the second-consecutive week. The Lady Yotes were locked in at No. 28 for the second time, this time with 78 points (13 more points than the previous week) – the third team listed in the others receiving votes category. Indiana Wesleyan was the unanimous No. 1 team, followed by the Ozarks (Mo.), St. Francis (Ind.), MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), and Cedarville (Ohio). Corban was the only other CCC team receiving votes – picking up five points in the poll.

IT’S BEEN A WHILE: The last time the squad was in the Top-25 was in the 2001-02 preseason poll, went the Lady Yotes opened the season ranked No. 24. 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.

NEARING AN ACTIVITIES CENTER MILESTONE: Playing at home has always been a big key for the Lady Yotes, as ACI has posted a 98-40 all-time record in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center – needing just two wins to reach the coveted 100-win plateau on their home floor. This year’s team has excelled in Caldwell, with a 8-1 record at home.

SCORING PACKS A PUNCH: Through 18 games this season, the Lady Yotes lead the CCC in scoring offense, averaging 73.4 points per game – upping that to 77.9 points a night in league play. ACI has already scored 70-or-more points in a game 13 times this season, going over the 80-point mark five times. During the 2004-05 and the 2005-06 seasons – the Coyotes managed just nine 70-point games in each year. The most 70-point games in a season by an ACI team is 19 – set by both the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 clubs. Interestingly, the 1996-97 team, which holds the school record for scoring average in a season (73.4), had only 14 70-point games.

STEALING FRENZY: As a team, the Yotes lead the CCC and rank second nationally in steals per game (17.6), with the 316 steals just 70 off the current school record, set in 2005. A staggering number is the fact that ten different ACI players have recorded 20-or-more steals this season – while a total of 26 other players from the nine other conference teams have accomplished the same (with seven of the players hailing from Northwest University).

BATTLE AT THE TOP OF THE CONFERENCE: The Lady Yotes will have their stiffest home challenge to date on Friday night, as Corban brings a five-game win streak to Caldwell. The Warriors (15-5, 7-2 CCC) have won 10-of-11 games, with the lone loss a 73-69 defeat at the hands of ACI on Dec. 20 in Salem. Corban is a talented team which averages 72 points a game and makes 74-percent of their free throw attempts, but typically play just seven players a night. Four of the five starters for Dr. Dave Bale’s team are seniors – led by Jessi Norton (14.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Jessica Steigleman (14.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg), the lone junior of the group, and Tosha Wilson (10.5 ppg, 5.3 apg), all of whom have passed the 1,000-point mark in their careers. The group has also never lost at ACI, as Corban has won the past three meetings in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center – however, the Lady Yotes hold the all-time series edge, 16-11.

CONCORDIA BRINGS WIN STREAK EAST: Saturday night, Concordia heads to the Treasure Valley, hoping to extend their three-game win streak. The Cavaliers (7-14, 3-6) had lost eight-straight games prior to last Tuesday, when the topped Northwest Christian, followed by home wins against Warner Pacific and Cascade. Utilizing a zone defense, Concordia tries to slow the tempo of games – including the Yotes 67-60 win in Portland on Dec. 19. The Cavs are led by transfer Maryam Razavi (13.5 ppg, 4.1), who averages 16 shot attempts per game, and Denise Benedict (11.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg), but CU musters just 59 points a game and is last in the league in three-point field goals made. ACI holds a 20-4 all-time series edge and looks to add to a ten-game win streak over Concordia.

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Nicole Brown (WP) 18.0, Whitney Clark (ACI) 15.9, Christie Weaver (EOU) 15.4, Jessi Norton (CRB) 14.6, Jessica Steigleman (CRB) 14.4; Rebound Average – Te Awhina Arunui (CAS) 10.0, Jackie Spear (SOU) 8.5, Jennifer Solberg (ESC) 8.2, Brianne Carras (CRB) 7.7, Denise Hill (ACI) 7.7; Field Goal Percentage – Carras .564, Kelsey Richards (SOU) .552, Rebekah Johnson (NU) .541, Lindsey Diaz (CAS) .533, Tosha Wilson (CRB) .532; Assist Average – Whitney Leman (EOU) 5.4, Wilson 5.3, Chelsey Zimmerman (SOU) 4.7, Kelsi Haylett (OIT) 3.7, Lindsey Wells (WPC) 3.6.

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Lady Yotes lead the CCC in steals per game (17.6), turnover margin (+6.2), turnovers forced per game (28.8), and scoring average (73.4). Individually, Whitney Clark (Jerome, Idaho / Northwest Nazarene U.) ranks second in the loop in scoring average (15.9), is third in free throw percentage (.835), and is seventh in three-pointers made per game (1.7) and steals per game (2.4), with Jori Grady (Roseburg, Ore. / Umpqua CC) ranking third in the lead in steals per game (2.8) and No. 8 in assists per game (2.9). Christon Vander Esch (Grangeville, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) ranks third in the CCC in blocked shots per game (1.1), and is sixth in rebounds per game (7.6) and steals per game (2.4). Also among the league leaders are Denise Hill (Eugene, Ore. / Boise State U.), who is fifth in rebound average (7.6), and Savannah Ames (Skagway, Alaska / Skagway HS), who is third in three-point percentage (.426) and eighth in field goal percentage (.493). In league-only counters, Clark leads the league in scoring average (18.1) and free throw percentage (.864).

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 (84), is No. 6 in three-point attempts (255), is No. 7 in free throws made (164), and is No. 10 in free throw attempts (208). Grady is No. 8 in three-pointers made (61) and attempted (159), and is No. 9 in steals (101). Both are nearing the top-ten in scoring, with Grady having scored 633 and Clark 624 career points.

YOTES TAKE OUT SOUTHERN: Freshman Whitney Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) hit a trey, and Savannah Ames added two more to start a 20-1 ACI run, as the Lady Yotes notched a 83-66 victory over Southern Oregon Friday night. The Lady Yotes forced 38 turnovers on the night and held Southern without a field goal for nearly a 12 minute stretch in the second half. Leading 44-32 at the break, ACI was held without a field goal for the opening six minutes, as the Raiders scored 15 straight points to take a 47-44 lead.  SOU held a 55-52 edge, but Owen canned her trey, and Ames hit triples on back-to-back possessions, to give the Lady Yotes the lead for good.  Defense did it the rest of the way, as ACI limited Southern to an Andi Peterson runner with 75-seconds left - the only bucket scored in the last 13 minutes of the game for the visitors. Whitney Clark led the Coyotes with 22 points and five steals, with Ames scoring 13 - her fourth-straight double-figure game off the bench.  Both Christon Vander Esch and Denise Hill had 11, with Owen scoring nine points, to go with three rebounds.

DREADFULWATER HELPS ACI STOP OREGON TECH: Allie Dreadfulwater (Grangeville, Idaho / Grangeville HS) hit a three-pointer with 4:07remaining, keying a10-0 run that helped the Lady Yotes defeat Oregon Tech, 76-68, Saturday night. In a game that saw six ties and 16 lead changes, OIT took a 62-60 lead on a Cora McVey three-point play.  However, the freshman from Grangeville canned the three, Christon Vander Esch, a prep teammate of Dreadfulwater, buried a triple, to make it 66-62.  Denise Hill would split two free throws and Dreadfulwater would cap the run with a second three to make it 70-62 with 2:51 left. Hill led ACI with 16 points and nine rebounds, with Whitney Clark adding 12 points and six steals, and Vander Esch scoring ten points and eight rebounds.

OVER 90-POINTS: On Jan. 6, ACI registered a 90-58 victory at Warner Pacific – 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 Maine-Fort Kent during the 2000-01 season.

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.

ALPINE SKIING: Season Preview

COMING UP: at NWCSC Qualifier #1, 49-Degrees North Resort, Chewelah, Wash., Saturday and Sunday.

LAST YEAR: The men's and women's alpine teams claimed their fourth-consecutive NWCSC team championships, with both teams qualifying for the Western Region Championships and the USCSA National Championships.  At the regional, the ACI women took home the title for the first time since 2003, while the men's team finished fourth.  At nationals, the Yotes struggled in tough conditions - with both teams placing eighth.

HISTORY: Since 1979, the ACI ski program (alpine, nordic, snowboard) has won a combined 21 NCSA or USCSA team national championships, along with 15 individual NCSA or USCSA national championships.  Current snowboarder Evan Williams is a two-time national champ - winning the 2005 Snowboardcross and 2006 Halfpipe championships.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: Both the ACI men and the ACI women were ranked No. 8 in the USCSA preseason poll, released in November.

ABOUT THE COACH: Ron Bonneau is in his 17th season as head coach for the ACI alpine ski programs.  During his tenure at ACI, the native of New Hampshire has seen the Coyote men's team qualify for the USCSA championships on nine occasions, with the women's team making appearances 12 times.  His 2004 women's squad finished second in the nation and fourth in the alpine combined.  The Yotes have seen much success in the 21st Century, as both the men's and women's programs, under Bonneau's direction, have won four-consecutive Northwest Collegiate Ski Conference championships, with the Lady Yotes taking home Western Region championships in 1999, 2003, and 2006.  His women's teams have advanced to eight-straight USCSA championships, finishing in the Top-8 on each occasion.  Bonneau, a graduae of Plymouth State College, replaced Tom Olson as the alpine coach in 1991 - and worked with Chris Melgaard on the nordic side, to claim the women's nordic national championships in 1994 and 1995.  During his tenure, Bonneau has coached five national champions, 30 All-Americans, and 60 All-America Scholar-Athletes.

MEN'S TEAM: The Coyotes will have to replace a pair of All-NWCSC selections in Matt Sylvester and Justin Rackley with a group of six skiers.  Leading the group are seniors Kevin Makinson (Richland, Wash. / Richland HS) and William Moss (Bountiful, Utah / Western State Coll.), along with junior Aaron Flynn (St. Paul, Minn. / Central HS), all of whom were All-NWCSC last season - placing in the Top-9 in the Northwest.  The group will be pushed by juniors Matt Weaver (Aurora, Ohio / Aurora HS) and Tom Elias (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Oakland U.), who both had Top-10 finishes in NWCSC events last year, along with Roger Wilson (Hood River, Ore. / Columbia HS), another junior.  "These kids have been waiting in the wings," said head coach Ron Bonneau.  "It is their turn to step up."

WOMEN'S TEAM: The Lady Yotes lost a great senior class to graduation - including four-time All-American, Cassie Marcial, and All-NWCSC selections, Kelly Farmin and Emma Wilson.  ACI will look toward a youthful group for success this year, as only one senior, All-American Molly Bullard (Boring, Ore. / Sandy HS), returns.  Bullard, who placed second in the NWCSC individual standings the past two seasons, will be complemented by a bevy of sophomores - Nicki Maxwell (Belfry, Mont. / Red Lodge HS), Jessica Wise (Reno, Nev. / Wooster HS), LaRue Seitz (Livingston, Mont. / Park HS), slalom specialist Rebecca Anderson (Eagan, Minn. / Eagan HS), and junior Monica Taylor (Sylvania, Ohio /Northview HS) .  "We have the experience on the women's side," said Bonneau.  "The question is that we need to be convinced of our abilities and what we can do.  We cannot look over our shoulders - we need to unify and work together.  If we do this, this will be a speical year."

THE COMPETITION: The Northwest Collegiate Ski Conference will have nine teams competing in four two-day qualifiers (49-Degrees North, Tamarack/Brundage Mountain, Silver Mountain, and Mount Hood Meadows), with two qualfiers focusing on the giant slalom, and two qualifiers focusing on the slalom.  Joining the Yotes in the NWCSC are the University of British Columbia, which has finished as the team runner-up each of the last three years, the University of Puget Sound, Seattle University, Oregon State University, University of Washington, University of Idaho, University of Oregon, and Washington State University.

PRACTICE: The Yotes hold all of their ski practices at Bogus Basin Resort, typically on weekday afternoons.

MORE ON THE COYOTES: For more information on the Coyote ski program, including results and NWCSC standings, head to the official homepage of the ACI ski team, www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/skiing.htm.