PLAYER OF THE WEEK ?“ Boise State?™s Nadia Begay has been named the Xbox Live Western Athletic Conference Women?™s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 21. This is the first WAC Player of the Week of the season.
Begay, a junior from Kirtland, N.M., came in off the bench to lead the Broncos to a 91-89 double overtime win at in-state rival Idaho State. In the game she recorded team highs for points and assists with 22 and four respectively in 40 minutes of action. For the game, she shot 37.5 percent from the floor, 50 percent (5-of-10) from beyond the three-point arc, and 83.3 percent (5-of-6) from the foul line. She helped lead a Boise State rally in the second half that saw them down 12 points twice. Begay scored seven points in the final run as the Broncos pulled even late in the game to force overtime. Begay scored 16 second half points to spark the Boise State to their first victory at Idaho State since the 1999 season.
Other nominees included: Leilani Mitchell of Idaho scored 19 points with seven assists and steals … Tasha Williams of Louisiana Tech scored 22 points as the Lady Techsters fell on the road to Western Kentucky … Sherell Neal scored 11 points with three steals in as loss to Northern Arizona … Ali Marchant of Utah State scored 22 points in a close loss to Montana.
FAURHOLT EARNS PRESEASON HONORS ?“ For the second-consecutive season, Emily Faurholt was honored as a preseason
candidate for the John R. Wooden Award. The nomination pits Faurholt as one of the top 30 players in the country and as an early frontrunner for college basketball?™s most coveted trophy.
Faurholt begins the season needing 706 points to match the school record for career points. She has scored 737 points and 697 points in her previous two seasons. Faurholt begins the season needing 176 free throws to match the school record for career free throws made. She has made 172 free throws and 169 free throws in herprevious two seasons.
LOUISIANA TECH MAKES HISTORY ?“ Chris Long almost made history in his Thomas Assembly Center debut Tuesday night.
The first year Louisiana Tech head coach led his team to a 19-point come-from behind victory over Iowa as the Lady Techsters downed the Hawkeyes 95-91 in double overtime, the second largest comeback in the program?™s storied history.
Long and the 2,412 fans in attendance did witness history as Iowa senior guard Crystal Smith, a Haughton, La., native scored a Louisiana Tech opponent single game record 46 points in the loss.
Trailing 71-52 with 7:18 to play on a Smith lay-up, the Lady Techsters used a 24-5 run to end regulation and send the game into overtime, where they prevailed with reigning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year Tasha Williams sidelined due to cramps.
NEVADA TO HOST 2006 TOURNAMENT ?“ For the second consecutive year, Nevada?™s Lawlor Events Center (11,200) will host the WAC Basketball T ournament. The dates for this year?™s tournament are March 7-11. A host for 2007 has not been determined.
HAWAI'I DOMINATES IN REBOUNDS ?“ Hawai'i absolutely dominated the boards in its first win of the season vs. Eastern Illinois. The Rainbow Wahine recorded nearly as many rebounds (62) as points (64), out-rebounding the Panthers by 32. The 62 rebounds were the most for a UH squad since the 1992-93 season when UH had 66 boards vs. Northeastern Illinois. The UH record for rebounds in a game is 70 at Whittier College in 1987. UH is averaging 54.5 rebounds a game through the first two contests this year.
WAC JOINS NCAA CELBRATION OF WOMEN?™S CHAMPIONSHIPS ?“ The Western Athletic Conference has joined the NCAA national office in celebrating the 2005-06 season as the 25th anniversary of NCAA Women?™s Championships.
The NCAA is encouraging the more that 1,020 member colleges, universities and conferences to recognize the 2005-06 season as the 25th anniversary of women?™s championships. Recognition can include special campus activities, banners and signage, promotional events, program inserts, the naming of anniversary teams, and special awards. Activation kits were provided to all NCAA Division I, II and III colleges and universities in an effort to assist with the initiatives on their campuses.
FRESNO STATE OFF TO HOT START ?“ Fresno State continues a three-game, six-day stretch on Wednesday night when it travels to the Bay Area for a contest against No. 13 Stanford (1-1). The Cardinal, who will be playing in their home opener, are coming off a runner-up finish at the Subway Classic in Minneapolis, Minn. The Bulldogs have reached the 90-point plateau in each of their first two victories, although accomplishing that feat for a third straight game will be a tough task. Stanford, 32-3 last year, has made 18 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
LOUISIANA TECH?™S LONG NAMED HEAD COACH ?“ Chris Long was named the fourth head coach in Lady Techster history. After a six-year stint as an assistant coach on the Louisiana Tech staff, including three years under both Leon Barmore and Kurt Budke, Long replaces Budke who accepted the head coaching position at Oklahoma State March 28.
Long takes over a Louisiana Tech program that, along with Tennessee, is considered the most storied in the history of the women?™s game. During the 31-year history of Lady Techster basketball, Tech has won 871 games - second most only to Tennessee. Louisiana Tech and Tennessee are the only two programs to have participated in all 24 NCAA Tournament. The Lady Techsters have advanced to 13 Final Fours, competed in eight national title games and won three national titles.
IDAHO?™S MITCHELL NEARS RECORD ?“ Leilani Mitchell is currently just 12 points from becoming the 15th player in the history of the UI women?™s basketball program to score 1,000 points. Her next game will be the 60th of her career. With seven steals vs. Portland, Mitchell moved into the No. 4 spot on the alltime list for career steals at UI with 215. She is 10 steals from the No. 3 spot. Mitchell is currently listed on the "2006 Player Buzz" section of www.pointguard.org, the official website of the Nancy Lieberman Award. The Lieberman award is rewarded to the top point guard in the NCAA.
TOP PLAYERS RETURNING ?“ A total of six players from both the all-WAC first and second-teams will return. WAC Player of the Year Tasha Williams (formerly Crain) is one of three first-team members returning. Also returning are San Jose State?™s Lamisha Augustine and Fresno State?™s Amy Parrish. There are three members of the second team returning. Lakiste Barkus, a member of the all-Defensive team returns for Louisiana Tech. San Jose State?™s Amber Jackson and Hawai'i?™s Amy Sanders will also be back.
FIRST AND SECOND ROUND SITES SET ?“ For the second-straight season, there will be pre-determined sites for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Last season, Fresno State was one of the chosen sites. This season is the 25th anniversary of the women?™s basketball tournament. The Final Four travels to Boston, Mass., for its silver anniversary. On April 4-6, Harvard University and Northeastern University will host the Final Four. All games will be played at the FleetCenter, home of the Boston Celtics.