Yote Notes – Dec. 12, 2007

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

ATHLETIC NEWS:

PRE GAME FUNCTION PRIOR TO STANFORD GAME: There will also be a pre-game function (with President Bob Hoover and C of I All-American R.C. Owens) at the Gordon Biersch Brewery in Palo Alto from 4:30-6:30 p.m. – the cost is $35.00 at the door and includes beer and wine, along with a choice of four entrees. To reserve your place, contact Mary Bitner in The C of I Alumni Office at 459-5300.

18 COYOTES NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-CASCADE CONFERENCE TEAM: Last week, the Cascade Conference released the names of 75 student-athletes who represented the 2007 Fall Academic All-CCC Team – with nearly one-quarter of the honorees coming from The C of I. In fact, the 18 Coyotes honored were seven more than any other school. Earning the distinction were six women’s cross country members – Genny Gerke, Megan Haenszel, Molli Lee-Painter, Megan Longo, Elizabeth Peters, and Chantel Varland; five women’s soccer players – Katie Ball, Kat Becker, Laura Fink, Ryann Lagomarsino, and Courtney Mitchell; three men’s soccer players – Derek Erstad, Cameron Johnson, and Stephen Reinschmidt; three men’s cross country runners – Jesse Chlebeck, Sam Hardy, and Rich Hatch; and one volleyball player – Catherine Everist. Those honored had to be of sophomore status, maintain a 3.50 cumulative GPA, and compete in at least 50-percent of the matches/races throughout the season.

C-TOWN FIGHT NIGHT RETURNS IN JANUARY: On January 17, The College of Idaho baseball team will join forces with the Caldwell High School football team in the Third-Annual C-Town Fight Night at O’Connor Field House. The amateur boxing event pits C of I students against each other, along with CHS students against each other – all before a capacity crowd. Tickets will go fast ($30 for ringside seats, $12 for floor seats, $8 general admission) – as last year’s event was a complete sellout. To reserve your spot for C-Town Fight Night, contact Josh Hegstad, C of I associate head baseball coach, at 459-5862.

MEN’S BASKETBALL (4-8, 1-1 CCC): Coyotes head for historic exhibition game at Stanford

COMING UP: at Stanford (exhibition), Sunday, 7 p.m. (PST)

LAST WEEK: vs. Montana Western (L 90-89 OT), vs. Westmont (W 79-67)

RADIO/INTERNET: All 30 regular-season games and both exhibition games will be broadcast live in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM, the Home of the Coyotes. Sports information director Mike Safford returns for his seventh-year as Voice of the Coyotes, with the pregame show beginning 20-minutes prior to tip-off each night. The Stanford game will also be carried live on 90.1 KZSU-FM in the Bay Area with Daniel Novinson and Ben Spielberg calling the action. No internet feed of the game will be available.

GAMETRACKER: Live stats of the Stanford-College of Idaho game will be provided through the Stanford Athletic Website at http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/stan-m-baskbl-sched.html.

WATCH OUT PAC-10, HERE COMES THE YOTES: For the first time ever, The College of Idaho men’s basketball team will compete against an NCAA Division I power conference, as the Yotes travel Sunday to meet Stanford University. The game will be considered an exhibition game for both squads, as the teams are both coming off of final exams.

C OF I AGAINST DIVISION I OPPONENTS: Although the game does not count in the record books, the Yotes have played 137 previous games against current NCAA Division I opponents, posting a 45-92 record. The C of I has winning records against Sacramento State (3-0 all-time record) and Lipscomb (1-0), wins against Boise State (29-33), Idaho State (8-37), Nevada (2-7), and Weber State (2-3), while dropping all games against Cal State-Northridge (0-1), Idaho (0-3), Montana (0-2), Montana State (0-2), New Mexico State (0-1), Portland (0-2), and Utah State (0-1). The last counting Division I win for the Coyotes was during the 2002-03 season, as The C of I defeated Idaho State, 72-68 – which was coached by current Stanford assistant, Doug Oliver.

COYOTES IN EXHIBITION GAMES: Since the NAIA allowed teams to schedule exhibition games against four-year schools, beginning in 2004, The C of I has posted a 4-2 record in non-counting games. The Yotes have wins over Boise State and three over Northwest Nazarene, while losing games to Boise State and Idaho State.

ABOUT THE CARDINAL: One of the premier basketball programs in the Pac-10 and beyond, Stanford has advanced to 15 NCAA Tournaments – including a pair of Final Four’s, winning the 1942 national title. The 2007-08 Cardinal (8-1) are coming off their first NCAA tourney appearance in three seasons and were ranked in the ESPN/USA Today and Associated Press Preseason Polls – and currently receive votes in both polls. Head coach Trent Johnson, a former standout at Boise State, has his team riding a four game win streak and are outscoring their opponents by 21 points a game. The Cardinal have been off since Dec. 2, when they pounded Colorado, 67-43, in Boulder. Stanford has three players that average in double-figures – guard Anthony Goods (13.0 ppg), seven-foot forward Robin Lopez (11.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 26 blocks), and 6-8 forward Lawrence Hill (10.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg).

REBOUNDING MISMATCH?: The numbers might suggest that the Yotes may not get a rebound in the game on Sunday. The C of I ranks last in the Cascade Conference in rebound margin (-8.7) and are currently 144th out of 151 NAIA Division II teams in the category. On the other side, Stanford has dominated its opponents on the glass, averaging over 13 more rebounds per game than their opponents.

TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets in the Yotes block at Maples Pavilion can be secured by contacting The C of I Alumni Office at (208) 459-5300. Each ticket is $25.00 and can be paid at the Will Call Booth on game day.

SPINKS, SINFIELD HEADED HOME: This weekend will mark the first time that guard Steffen Spinks (Manteca, Calif. / East Union HS) will get to play in his home state – as the Yotes will be less than two hours from his East Bay hometown. The sophomore is having an outstanding season, averaging 13 points and three rebounds a game – including a career-high 24 points in the overtime loss to Montana Western on Friday. Spinks has scored in double-figures in ten of the 12 games this season and ranks second on the team in minutes played per game (29.6). It will also mark a homecoming for post Ryan Sinfield (Redwood City, Calif. / St. Francis HS), who grew up in the shadow of Stanford.

OWEN CLIMBS IN THE RECORD BOOK With a pair of double-figure games last weekend, Josh Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) continued his assault up The C of I career record book. The senior is now No. 8 on the all-time scoring list with 1,208 points, trailing his father, head coach Mark Owen and the No. 7 spot, by just 34 points. He is third all-time in three-pointers made (208) and attempted (549), fifth in field goal attempts (939), eighth in assists (250) and steals (134), and ninth in field goals made (390).

MAGGARD FILLING IN NICELY: The Yotes have been pleased with the play of forward J.R. Maggard (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) since entering the line-up after the wrist injury to Craig McGee (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) on November 16. The senior is averaging 11 points and six rebounds as a starter, converting on 74-percent of his field goal attempts (25-of-34) in 27 minutes per game. Maggard recorded his first career double-double last Friday against Montana Western, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

CHAMP RANKS SECOND IN NATION IN STEALS: Guard Bryan Champ (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS) continues to show why he was named 2007 Cascade Conference Defensive Player of the Year. The junior recorded a career-high seven steals against Southern Oregon on Dec. 1 – and with three steals vs. Westmont, it was the eighth time in ten games that Champ has recorded three-or-more steals in a game, while recording at least two steals in 19 of his last 22 outings. He continues to lead the CCC and ranks second in the NAIA Division II in steals per game (3.3).

RESERVES GOT A BOOST: The Coyotes got a boost off their bench last weekend, as Anton Coleman (Las Vegas, Nev. / Eldorado HS) made his first appearance in three weeks after sustaining a concussion in practice in mid-November. The sophomore logged ten minutes a night for the Yotes scoring five points with three rebounds in the loss to Montana Western, and adding four points in the win over Westmont. Also playing well off the bench was Tucker Long (Pocatello, Idaho / Century HS), who had career-high 14 points in the loss to Western. Long, who added six rebounds Saturday against Westmont, is connecting on 55-percent of his field goal attempts and is 6-for-10 from outside the arc.

CASCADE CONFERENCE TOP-SIX: The final Cascade Conference Top-6 Coaches Poll of 2007 was released on Monday – with a shake-up at the top. Eastern Oregon took over the No. 1 spot, while Warner Pacific, who dropped an 82-79 decision to Montana State-Northern, fell to No. 2. Oregon Tech remained at No. 3, followed by Evergreen State, Northwest, and Concordia. In the latest NAIA Top-25 poll, Eastern Oregon is ranked No. 6, Warner Pacific is ranked No. 13, and Oregon Tech is No. 17 – with Evergreen State receiving votes. The C of I has a streak of 15 consecutive years of Top-25 rankings on the line in 2007-08.

CASCADE CONFERENCE STATS: The Coyotes continue to lead the CCC as a team in turnover margin (+4.7), while ranking second in the loop in steals per game (9.7), and fourth in both assist-to-turnover ratio (+0.9) and three-pointers made per game (7.0). Individually, Bryan Champ leads the league in steals per game (3.3), with Josh Owen ranking fourth in three-pointers made per game (1.9).

CASCADE CONFERENCE LEADERS: Scoring Average –Scott O’Gallagher (WP) 22.4, Nate Menafee (ESC) 20.8, Wade Douglas (CRB) 20.4, Josh Jarrett (NCC) 19.5, Eric Taylor (CAS) 19.4; Rebound Average –Ryan Barker (CAS) 8.4, Jarrett 8.1, Christian Cavanaugh (OIT) 7.9, Joshua Wetzler (OIT) 7.9, Cody Aker (CU) 7.5; Field Goal Percentage – Wetzler .731, Julio Feliciano (ESC) .618, Douglas .615, Kyle Janke (EOU) .600, Cavanaugh .600; Assist Average – Ryan Fiegi (OIT) 6.6, Jeremy Templeton (EOU) 5.2, Jesse Alvarez (CU) 4.9, Luke Hammond (NU) 4.4, Kao Saelee (CAS) 4.1.

TIP-IN GIVES WESTERN WIN OVER YOTES: Aaron Sims tipped home a missed three-pointer with one-tenth of a second remaining in overtime, lifting the University of Montana Western to a 90-89 victory over the Yotes on Friday night. After Josh Owen split a pair of free throws with seven seconds remaining to give the Coyotes an 89-88 lead, the Bulldogs rushed the ball up floor, with Gus McDonald launching a three.  The ball drew iron, but caromed to Sims, whose tap fell over the front iron and in - ending a ten-game losing streak to The C of I. Leading 40-28 late in the first half, the Bulldogs watched as the Yotes went on a 18-0 run spanning the two halves, and built a 67-55 lead with six minutes remaining.  However, The C of I would not convert a field goal over the final 3:37 of regulation, missing two crucial free throws late, as Layne Glaus connected on two freebies with three seconds remaining to send the game to overtime. Sims led Western with 23 points and 15 rebounds, with Glaus scoring 21 points - including 9-of-11 free throw shooting. Steffen Spinks had a career-high 24 points, but was just 5-of-10 from the line.  J.R. Maggard had his first career double-double, scoring 15 points with 12 rebounds, but made just 3-of-12 freebies.  Tucker Long added 14 off the bench.

SECOND HALF SURGE LIFTS COYOTES PAST WESTMONT: A 16-4 run to open the second half lifted the Coyotes to a 79-67 victory over Westmont College in the final game of the 1st Annual Wendy's Classic Saturday night. The Yotes shook off a poor free throw shooting night on Friday to connect on 17-of-18 second half freebies in notching the win. Trailing 42-37 at the break, the Coyotes put on the defensive stops - forcing the NAIA Division I Warriors to 1-of-9 shooting from outside the arc and just 29-percent shooting for the period.  Josh Owen connected on three second half three-pointers, scoring 15 of his 17 points after halftime. Bryan Champ led four C of I players in double figures with 18 points, with Steffen Spinks tallying 12 and J.R. Maggard added 11.

AGAINST THE GSAC: The game vs. Westmont marked the ninth Golden State Athletic Conference team The C of I has faced in program history (only Cal Baptist and Fresno Pacific have eluded the Coyotes schedule). The win ended a four-game losing streak against the GSAC and upped the Yotes all-time record vs. the Southern California conference to 14-12.

COYOTES/CRUSADERS RAISE $10,000 FOR WEDNESDAY’S CHILD: The 1st Annual Wendy's Classic Men's Basketball Tournament was a success for both The C of I and Northwest Nazarene University, as the two schools, along with Treasure Valley Wendy's restaurants combined to give back to the community. In conjunction with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Wendy's Wonderful Kids-Idaho, all ticket sales from Friday night's doubleheader were donated to Boise's Wednesday's Child adoption program.  The proceeds, along with a matching gift from a Family Foundation for matching gifts, will give $10,252 to Wednesday's Child, helping children in need in the Treasure Valley this holiday season.

NEXT YEAR, TOURNEY HEADS TO NAMPA: As part of the arrangement of the Wendy’s Classic, the tournament shifts to the NNU campus next season, with games in the Johnson Sports Center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Coyotes, head to the official homepage of The C of I men’s basketball – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (4-4, 1-1 CCC): Lady Yotes get week off after tough losses in Lewiston

COMING UP: Idle until 12/18 at Warner Pacific, 5:30 p.m. (PST)

LAST WEEK: at Wells Fargo Invitational – vs. No. 8 Carroll (L 70-66), vs. No. 17 Lewis-Clark State (L 98-63)

INTERNET/RADIO: All ten College of Idaho women’s basketball Cascade Conference road games will be carried live on radio in the Treasure Valley on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action. In addition, the remaining eight home games will be carried live on the World Wide Web at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/caa/radio.htm. Currently road games are not available via The C of I internet.

HILL EARNS ALL TOURNAMENT HONORS: The lone Lady Yote to receive All-Tournament Team honors at the Wells Fargo Invitational was Denise Hill (Eugene, Ore. / Boise State U.), who averaged 14 points and five rebounds in the two games. The senior, who averages 17 points and eight rebounds a game, did see her consecutive double figure scoring streak ended at 11 on Saturday, as she managed just eight points in a season-low 21 minutes of action against Lewis-Clark State.

PUGSLEY, DUFURRENA HAVE TOP GAMES OF SEASON: The L-C game did see a pair of Lady Yotes have their best games of the season. Transfer Josie Pugsley (Park Valley, Utah / Snow CC) led the club with a season-high 17 points, converting seven field goal attempts in 21 minutes of work. The effort upped the junior’s scoring average to over six points per game. Also playing well was Magen Dufurrena (Denio, Nev. / Lowry HS), who had a solid all-around game. “Duff” was 2-for-2 from the field and grabbed a season-high eight rebounds, to go along with two assists – all in just 14 minutes of action.

VANDER ESCH PLAYS CLOSE TO HOME: The weekend in Lewiston was a homecoming of sorts for Christon Vander Esch (Riggins, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC), who played her high school ball just an hour away in Grangeville. The junior did not disappoint on Friday night, scoring a season-high 16 points to go along with eight rebounds in the narrow loss to Carroll. Vander Esch continues to lead the CCC and rank No. 10 in the NAIA Division II in steals per game, recording a steal in every game this season – and recording a swipe in 17 of her last 18 games played.

EVERYONE GETTING A PIECE OF THE ACTION: Just as they did last season, the Lady Yotes are spreading the playing time around, as ten different players are averaging ten-or-more minutes per game. In fact, only four players – Denise Hill, Christon Vander Esch, Whitney Clark (Jerome, Idaho / Northwest Nazarene U.), and Whitney Owen (Caldwell, Idaho / Vallivue HS) play more than 20 minutes a game.

TOUGHEST PRESEASON SCHEDULE?: In a season where most of the CCC has played a soft-to-average preseason schedule, the Lady Yotes have not ducked anyone, taking on all comers. Of their eight games played, all eight teams they have played have a record above .500 – with five of the teams (Westminster, MSU-Northern, Southern Oregon, Carroll, and Lewis-Clark State) either ranked or receiving votes in the latest NAIA poll. The combined overall record of the teams The C of I has played this season is 69-21, with four of the losses to the Lady Yotes.

FINALS WEEK EQUALS NO GAMES: With final examinations being conducted on The C of I campus this week, the Lady Yotes have stepped aside for competition. They will return to the court next week – continuing on their seven-game road trip, meeting Warner Pacific on Tuesday and Cascade on Wednesday.

RECORD BOOK: A pair of Lady Yotes are among the top-ten in The C of I career record book. Whitney Clark finds herself in nine different categories – No. 3 in three-point attempts (352), No. 5 in free throws made (228) and attempted (298), along with three-pointers made (110), is No. 8 in both points scored (881) and field goal attempts (710), No. 10 in both field goals made (270) and steals (110), and No. 11 in assists (149). Also on the list is Christon Vander Esch, who is seventh all-time in blocked shots (42), while ranking No. 12 in steals (90).

CCC TOP-6: Not much changed this week as the second CCC top-six coaches vote was released, with unbeaten Eastern Oregon continuing to record all 11 first-place votes. They were followed by Southern Oregon, the Lady Yotes, Oregon Tech, Northwest Christian, and Corban. EOU remains the lone team in the NAIA Division II Top-25, rising one spot to No. 22, while Southern received 11 votes in the poll. The next polls will not be conducted until after the New Year.

CONFERENCE STATS: As a team, the Lady Yotes continue to lead the CCC in steals per game (15.5), while ranking in the top-four in six other categories – No. 2 in turnover margin (+5.1), No. 3 in scoring average (76.1), three-point percentage (.360), and three-pointers made per game (6.8), and are No. 4 in free throw (.686) and field goal (.428) percentages. On the opposite end of the spectrum, The C of I ranks dead last in the 11-team CCC in scoring defense (74.9) and opponents three-point percentage (.398).

INDIVIDUAL CASCADE CONFERENCE NUMBERS: Four Lady Yotes remain in the CCC top-ten in their latest statistical report, led by Denise Hill, who is in four different categories – No. 4 in field goal percentage (.563), No. 5 in scoring average (16.9), No. 6 in steals (2.1), and No. 9 in rebounds (7.5). Christon Vander Esch leads the league in steals (3.5) and is fourth in blocked shots (1.3), with Whitney Owen sixth in steals (2.1) and Kayla Brewer (Arco, Idaho / Butte County HS) fourth in three-point percentage (.478).

CASCADE CONFERENCE INDIVIDUAL TOP-FIVE: Scoring Average – Emily Gray (NCC) 20.4, Brittany Bowsher (NU) 17.7, Crystal Idrogo (OIT) 17.3, Raquel Morin (CAS) 17.3, Hill (C of I) 16.9; Rebound Average – Cora McVey (OIT) 10.0, Te Awinha Aranui (CAS) 9.9, Jackie Speer (SOU) 9.8, Jennifer Solberg (ESC) 9.4, Sheena Henderson (EOU) 9.2; Field Goal Percentage – Emily Goette (CRB) .640, Ann Snodderly (CU) .585, Tiffanie Ulmer (EOU) .571, Hill .613, Danielle Clauson (CU) .546; Assist Average – Meagan Miyasaka (OIT) 5.4, Jenny Fiso (EOU) 4.7, Kailey Bostwick (CRB) 4.7, Phibean Mulatu (CAS) 4.7, Amy Croll (NCC) 4.0.

TOUGH LOSS TO CARROLL: Fifth-ranked Carroll College connected on 16 three-point baskets and erased a 13-point second half deficit, as the Saints rallied for a 70-66 victory over The College of Idaho in the opening game of the Wells Fargo Invitational in Lewiston on Friday. The NAIA Division I Saints made just 8-of-32 shots from inside the arc, but drained 16-of-31 treys on the night in their closest contest of the season.  Carroll came into the game outscoring their opponents by 37 points a game. The Lady Yotes rode forwards Denise Hill and Christon Vander Esch all night - Hill scoring 19 points and Vander Esch adding 16 points and eight rebounds.  Whitney Clark added ten points, five rebounds, five assists, and four steals in the loss. Jolene Fusezy, the current Frontier Conference Player of the Week, had 23 points to lead all scorers.  Fuzesy connected on 7-of-9 from outside the arc.  Laci High chipped in with 14 points for the Saints.

L-C RUNS PAST YOTES: Lewis-Clark State hit 58-percent of their first half field goals, racing out to a 21-point halftime lead en route to a 98-63 victory over The College of Idaho this afternoon in Lewiston. The No. 15 ranked Warriors had five players in double figures, as Mandy Troutt and Jade Fulbright each scored 16 points in the win. The Lady Yotes, who dropped their third-straight game, got 17 points off the bench from transfer Josie Pugsley, but struggled from outside the arc, hitting 3-of-15 treys.  The C of I, forcing nearly 30 turnovers a game, saw L-C record just 12 turnovers in the contest.

ABOUT THE COACH: Reagan Rossi is in her seventh season as head coach of the Lady Yotes. During her tenure at The College of Idaho, the native of Mukwonago, Wisc. has compiled a 101-89 overall record, with six consecutive appearances in the Cascade Conference Tournament.  The 35-year-old took a 2001-02 team that had only one returning starter and only four players with extensive collegiate experience, and brought the Lady Yotes to within one game of the national tournament. During the 2004-05 season, she did it again. The squad, which had just two players with considerable experience with the Coyotes, won 20 games, and dropped the CCC Tournament title game to Western Baptist, 60-57. This past season, she took a squad with one returning starter and five true freshmen and won 19 games, earning an NAIA Top-25 ranking, and advancing to the CCC semifinals. Rossi was no stranger to The C of I, as she was a member of Todd Corman's inaugural coaching staff for two seasons, and was on the bench when the Coyotes took to the floor for the first time on Nov. 4, 1995 against Carroll College, ending an 18-year hiatus of women's basketball at the school. Rossi has an extensive background in coaching -  having been an assistant coach at Georgetown (Ky.), a fellow NAIA institution, along with Morehead State (Ky.), an NCAA Division I program. Before coming to The C of I in 1995, Rossi was an assistant coach with the Skagway High School boys' varsity team in Skagway, Alaska. A 1994 graduate of Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, Rossi played four years of college basketball for the Queen Bees. Two of her teams qualified for the NAIA National Tournament, including the 1993-94 squad which advanced into the "Sweet Sixteen." She was the starting point-guard for two seasons, averaging ten points and six assists per game during her senior season.  In 2006, she was inducted into the Mukwonago High School Hall of Fame.  She and husband Rudy live in Caldwell - and have three-year-old twin daughters, Maggie and Darby.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on the Lady Yotes, head to the official homepage of The C of I women’s basketball – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.

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