‘Yote Notes – Dec. 26, 2006

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL (9-1, 3-0 CCC): Yotes return home to host Evergreen State and Northwest after wins in Willamette Valley

 

COMING UP: vs. Evergreen State, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; vs. No. 23 Northwest, 7:30 p.m.

 

LAST WEEK: at Concordia (W 96-83); at Corban (W 89-71)

 

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.

 

NO LIVE STATS: At the current time, no Live Stats are available for ACI home games.

 

YOTES EQUAL BEST START UNDER OWEN: The hot start to the season by the Yotes has equaled the best start to a season in the seven years Mark Owen has been head coach.  The 2001-02 squad opened the year with an identical 9-1 record, while the 2003-04 team posted a 9-2 start to the year.

 

ON PACE TO BREAK RECORDS: Four team records are in jeopardy as the Coyotes near the midway point of the 2006-07 season.  ACI has a chance to eclipse the school records for scoring average, three-point field goals made and attempted, along with steals.  The Yotes are averaging nearly 94 points a game this season, higher than the 92.8 mark turned in by the 1990-91 squad.  They are also on pace to break the mark of 331 made three-pointers (2000-01) and 774 three-point attempts (1999-00) –with fewer games played.  Also in reach is the steals mark of 376, set by the 1998-99 Coyotes.

 

COYOTES RANKED NO. 13 IN NAIA DIVISION II: Fueled by a 9-1 start to the season and three wins against nationally ranked opponents, the Coyotes remained at No. 13 in the second NAIA Division II national poll, released Dec. 13. ACI 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 – Oregon Tech ranked No. 2, Warner Pacific at No. 8, Eastern Oregon at No. 21, and Northwest at No. 23.  The next CCC top-six coaches’ poll will be released on Jan. 1, with the next Top-25 set to be revealed on Jan. 3.

 

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

 

NIELSEN RECOVERED FROM INJURY: ACI has received a big lift from Brandon Nielsen (Twin Falls, Idaho / Big Bend CC) since his return from an injury sustained in the season opener.  The senior has scored in double figures in each of his last six games, including consecutive 20-plus point outbursts at Montana-Western and Concordia.  Nielsen has been on fire outside the arc, connecting on 12 of his last 18 three-point attempts, upping his three-point percentage from 28-percent on Dec. 1, to the current 44-percent clip.

 

STEALING FRENZY: The Yotes have held a sizable edge in steals in all but one game this season, and have recorded 12-or-more steals as a team six time this year.  ACI players hold down four of the top five spots in the CCC steals list – including Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS), who has recorded at least one steal in all ten ball games in 2006.

 

GREEN MACHINE, GREEN MACHINE: The Yotes will put their four-game win streak on the line Friday night against Evergreen State, one of the more athletic teams in the CCC.  The Geoducks (6-8, 2-2 CCC) are much better than their overall record indicates, thanks to a brutal preseason slate that pitted the state school against Portland State, Eastern Washington, Lewis & Clark, and Linfield.  Seattle University transfer Adam Moore (21.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) has been outstanding this season, recording four games of 28 points or more.  He is complimented by guard Greg Shadowvine (15.1 ppg) and a deep supporting cast.  The Clams are looking for back-to-back wins in Caldwell for the first time – as Tom Kenna’s bunch stopped the Coyotes, 74-59, late last season.  ACI, however, holds the all-time series edge, 11-4, dating back to 2000.

 

ANOTHER NATIONALLY RANKED FOE: ACI will meet their fourth nationally-ranked opponent on Saturday night, as Northwest brings a No. 23 NAIA Division II ranking to the Activities Center.  The Eagles (12-4, 2-2) began the year ranked No. 13 and feasted on NCCAA and Canadian competition, averaging 108 points in six victories – and have split four conference games (lopsided losses to Warner Pacific and Oregon Tech, lopsided wins over Southern Oregon and Cascade).  All-America candidate Aaron Sawyer (16.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg) is one of the top big-men in the league, with returning starters Chris Keller (14.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Stephen Ishmael (11.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg), and Kendrick Holley (11.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg) helping an attack that averages nearly 90 points a night.  NU won 2-of-3 games against the Yotes last season, including an 81-70 decision in the CCC tournament semifinals.  It is the 22nd meeting between the teams, with ACI holding a 14-7 all-time series edge, dating back to 1998.

 

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Scott O’Gallagher (WPC) 21.8, Adam Moore (ESC) 21.4, Alex Hartman (CU) 19.9, Ike Stafford (ACI) 19.4, Josh Jackson (WPC) 17.4; Rebound Average – Paul Carollo (EOU) 8.9, Joshua Wetzler (OIT) 8.7, Jalonta Martin (WPC) 7.6, Aaron Sawyer (NU) 7.5, Tayo Cotton (CAS) 7.0; Field Goal Percentage – Derek Brown (EOU) .661, Erion Moore (SOU) .639, Carollo .625, Jackson .620, A. Moore .604; Assist Average – Levell Hesia (OIT) 5.5, Jesse Alvarez (CU) 5.0, Jeremy Templeton (EOU) 4.5, Dwain Hicks (ESC) 4.1, Casey Britton (CAS) 3.9.

 

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Coyotes lead the Cascade Conference in five statistical categories – scoring average (93.2), three-point field goal percentage (.422), steals per game (14.4), three-pointers made per game (12.7), and turnover margin (+10.4).  Individually, Ike Stafford (Auburn, Wash. / Salt Lake CC) leads the loop in three-pointers made per game (4.5), while ranking No. 4 in scoring average (19.5) and No. 5 in steals per game (1.9).  Josh Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) lead the league in steals per game (2.7), while sitting in fourth-place in three-pointers made per game (2.7).  Also among the league leaders are Brandon Nielsen, who is second in three-pointers made per game (2.9), Bryan Champ, who is third in steals per game (2.3), Craig McGee (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS), who is fourth in blocks per game (1.1), and Donnel Garner (Scottsdale, Ariz. / Chaparral HS), who is fourth in steals per game (2.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.18).

 

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, third in scoring average, and fourth in three-point percentage.  Individually, Ike Stafford leads the NAIA in three-point field goals made per game and is tenth in three-point percentage, with Josh Owen sitting at No. 8 in steals per game.

 

BIG THREE CARRIES LOAD AT CONCORDIA: Brandon Nielsen and Ike Stafford each scored 26 points, as the Yotes earned a key 96-83 road win tonight at Concordia last Tuesday.  ACI trailed just once in the contest (at 2-0), and won their fifth-straight game against CU on their home floor.  As a team, ACI connected on 15 three-pointers for the second-straight outing, and won their 40th game against CU in 49 tries.  Josh Owen had 17 points in the win, with Nielsen making 10-of-13 shots from the floor as part of his big night.

 

MCGEE TURNS IN DOUBLE-DOUBLE IN WIN AT CORBAN: Craig McGee had the first ACI double-double of the 2006-07 season, as the Coyotes completed a road sweep in the Willamette Valley, stopping Corban College, 89-71, in the C.E. Jeffers Center, Wednesday night.  The win was the fourth in a row for the Yotes, pulling ACI within a half-game of first-place in the league standings.  McGee led the Yotes with 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in the win.  After Corban used a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 32-30, Donnel Garner took over, hitting a pair of free throws and back-to-back three's to give ACI the lead for good.  The Coyotes would build a 23-point second half lead and were never seriously threatened.  Ike Stafford canned five three-pointers as part of his 17 point night, with Brandon Nielsen adding 16 points, and Garner tying a career-high with 15.  Jason Braun led all scorers with 22 points for the Warriors, who have dropped ten in a row.

 

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 (7-5, 3-0 CCC): Lady Yotes complete road sweep, head home to meet Evergreen State and Northwest

 

COMING UP: vs. Evergreen State, Friday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Northwest, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

 

LAST WEEK: at Concordia (W 67-60), at Corban (W 73-69)

 

RADIO/INTERNET BROADCAST: All Cascade Conference women’s road games will be broadcast live in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford calling the play-by-play.  Each of the remaining 15 games will also be carried live on the Internet, via the ACI athletic website (www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm).

 

LIVE STATS: Live Stats are currently not available for ACI home games.

 

ROAD SWEEP KEEPS LADY YOTES UNBEATEN: The ACI women’s basketball team completed a road sweep at Concordia and Corban during a rare midweek trip to the Willamette Valley, pushing their CCC record to 3-0.  The Lady Yotes join Oregon Tech and Warner Pacific as the lone unbeaten teams in the loop – two games ahead of their closest competitors.

 

ON A ROLL: The wins helped ACI to their second three-game win streak of the season, as the Coyotes have won six of their last seven games.  With the victory at Concordia, ACI moved above the .500 mark for the first time this season.

 

CLARK NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: For her efforts in the Lady Yotes two wins last week, guard Whitney Clark (Jerome, Idaho / Northwest Nazarene U.) was named CCC Player of the Week.  The junior averaged 20.5 points per game in the road victories and has recorded double figure scoring games in her last nine games and 11-of-12 games this season.  It is the second time in her career that she has earned the award.

 

NATIONAL POLL: The second NAIA Division II Top-25 poll was released on Dec. 13, with Oregon Tech the lone Cascade Conference school represented, sitting at No. 24 in the rankings.  The national Top-5 has Indiana Wesleyan in the top spot, followed by the College of the Ozarks (Mo.), Northwestern (Iowa), St. Francis (Ind.), and Minot State (N.D.).  The next CCC coaches’ Top-6 poll will be released next Monday, with the next Top-25 released next Wednesday afternoon.

 

SUCCESS IN THE ACTIVITIES CENTER: Playing at home has always been a big key for the Lady Yotes, as ACI has posted a 94-40 all-time record in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  This year’s team is 4-1 at home.

 

EVERGREEN STATE OPENS UP WEEKEND SET: The Lady Yotes return home on Friday night to open a two-game weekend homestand, beginning with Evergreen State.  The Geoducks (2-10, 1-3 CCC) have managed just two wins this season, topping rival St. Martin’s for the first time ever, along with Cascade – both by three point margins.  However, Monica Heuer has watched her club in stay in the thick of every game – as Evergreen has only one of their ten losses by more than 15 points, despite having just nine players on their roster.  Scoring has been the issue, as the Clams average just 52 points a game as a team, while shooting a league-worst 60-percent from the line.  They do, however, have explosive players – including All-CCC wing Jenny Olson (9.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg), along with newcomer Jennifer Solberg (11.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg).  It is the 19th meeting between the teams, with ACI holding a 16-2 series edge, dating back to 1999.

 

MIRROR IMAGE HEADS TO CALDWELL: Expect a lot of points on the board Saturday night, as the Lady Yotes meet Northwest.  The Eagles (7-9, 2-2) enjoy an up-tempo style of play – very similar to that of ACI, as the team averages over 70 points a game.  The squad played a difficult preseason slate, which included a 68-63 victory over Westminster – a team ACI dropped a pair of game to.  Led by a trio of players scoring in double figures – Kim Sandberg (12.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Brittany Bowsher (11.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg), Rebekah Johnson (11.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg), Northwest has the ability to outscore its opponents every night.  The team leads the league in free throw percentage (.749), but ranks last in the loop in opponents’ three-point percentage (.359).  It is the 24th meeting all-time between the schools, with the Yotes holding a 18-5 series edge, dating back to 1998.

 

FORMER LADY YOTE RETURNS: Saturday’s game vs. Northwest is a homecoming for a former Lady Yote player.  Annie Roeser, who played at ACI from 2003-06, is the top-assistant for Lori Napier and the Eagles.  The Homedale native joins Heidi Goicoechea, an assistant coach at Whitworth College, and Alyssa Latham, an assistant at Walla Walla College, as collegiate coaches who played under Reagan Rossi.

 

CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average – Nicole Brown (WP) 18.8, Whitney Clark (ACI) 15.8, Christie Weaver (EOU) 14.5, Jessi Norton (CRB) 14.3, Jessica Steigleman (CRB) 14.0; Rebound Average – Te Awhina Arunui (CAS) 9.0, Jackie Spear (SOU) 8.2, Denise Hill (ACI) 7.8, Brianne Carras (CRB) 7.7, Tiffanie Ulmer (EOU) 7.3; Field Goal Percentage – Rebekah Johnson (NU) .571, Kelsey Richards (SOU) .545, Carras .537, Tosha Wilson (CRB) .530, Sam McCracken (NU) .529; Assist Average – Wilson 4.9, Whitney Leman (EOU) 4.8, Chelsey Zimmerman (SOU) 3.9, Lindsey Wells (WPC) 3.8, Denise Benedict (CU) 3.6.

 

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Lady Yotes lead the CCC in steals per game (16.8), turnover margin (+6.7), and turnovers forced per game (28.9).  Individually, Whitney Clark (Jerome, Idaho / Northwest Nazarene U.) ranks second in the loop in scoring average (14.8), with Jori Grady (Roseburg, Ore. / Umpqua CC) and Christon Vander Esch (Grangeville, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) tied for the league lead in steals per game (2.9).  Also among the league leaders is Denise Hill (Eugene, Ore. / Boise State U.), who is third in rebound average (8.1).

 

NATIONAL LEADERS: As a team, the Lady Yotes rank No. 2 in the NAIA in steals per game and rank No. 10 in turnover margin.  Individually, Jori Grady ranks No. 14 in the nation in steals per game.

 

COYOTES WIN TENTH STRAIGHT VS. CONCORDIA: The Yotes never trailed after allowing the opening bucket, as ACI defeated Concordia, 67-60, Tuesday night in Portland.  It was the tenth-straight victory over the Cavaliers, as head coach Reagan Rossi improved to 11-1 against CU.  Whitney Clark scored 17 of her game-high 23 points in the first half, as ACI built a 27-8 lead midway through the period.  The Cavs would rally, tying the score on a pair of occasions, but clutch second half treys from Jori Grady (Roseburg, Ore. / Umpqua CC) and Kayla Brewer (Arco, Idaho / Butte County HS) helped ACI to the win.  Brewer had a career-high ten points, with Grady and Savannah Ames (Skagway, Alaska / Skagway HS) also scoring ten.

 

POSTS STRUGGLE, BUT YOTES WIN: ACI got the road victory despite seeing their top two posts limited to three points.  Both Denise Hill (Eugene, Ore. / Boise State U.) and Christon Vander Esch (Grangeville, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC) were saddled with early foul trouble in each half.  The Yotes got a boost off the bench from freshman Chelsea Williamson (Pleasant View, Utah / Weber HS), who played nine minutes, scoring two points and grabbing three rebounds.

 

BIG WIN AT CORBAN: A statement was made by the Lady Yotes last Wednesday night, as ACI knocked off preseason No. 22 Corban College, 73-69, in Salem.  After trailing the majority of the first half and falling behind by seven early in the final 20 minutes, the Coyotes used a 7-0 run to tie the score at 36-36.  The game would see five lead changes and four ties down the stretch – but a Jori Grady lay-up and two Denise Hill free throws, coupled with a pair of key defensive stops, gave the Yotes the win.  Whitney Clark scored 18 points, with Grady adding a season-high 17 in the victory, ending a three-game losing streak to the Warriors.

 

REBOUNDING WAS KEY: The Yotes used a sizeable rebounding edge to help in the victory, recording a 51-35 win on the glass.  The ACI posts recovered from a tough Tuesday to post big numbers in the C.E. Jeffers Center, combining for 30 rebounds, compared to just 15 for Corban.  Christon Vander Esch led the way with 11 boards, with Denise Hill chiming in with nine, and both Magen Dufurrena (Denio, Nev. / Lowry HS) and Whitney Martin (Rupert, Idaho / Boise State U.) nabbing five each

 

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.

 

- ACI -