The WAC won its first game against a ranked team when Louisiana Tech defeated Ole Miss. Louisiana Tech is 1-1 against ranked teams with a loss to No. 1 Tennessee. Fresno State is 0-2 against ranked teams with Pac-10 losses to then- No. 13 Stanford and No. 10 Arizona State. Hawai'i has one loss to a ranked team with a loss to then-No. 22 USC.
Click Here For A PDF of the Week Six Women's Basketball Notes
XBOX LIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK ?“ New Mexico State?™s Jenean Ford has been named the Xbox Live Western Athletic Conference Women?™s Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 19. This is the senior?™s first Player of the Week honor of the season.
Ford, a senior from Chicago, Ill., averaged 15.5 points and nine rebounds this week in two Aggie road victories. She recorded her sixth career double-double on Dec. 14 at UC Irvine, tallying 18 points and 10 rebounds. She added 13 points and eight rebounds in the Dec. 17 win at Cal Poly. All 13 points and seven of the rebounds came in the second half as NMSU erased a seven-point deficit to win.
The Aggies earned their first win of the season beating the Anteaters 88-64. NMSU used a 16-0 run at the start of the second half to extend its lead from 14 to 30 and led by as many as 36 in the second half. Ford and junior guard Irma Kmitaite became the first Aggie duo to record double-doubles in the same game since Jan. 5, 2002.
Other nominees included: Jessica Thompson of Boise State had 19 points in a road win against San Diego… Amy Parrish of Fresno State averaged 17.5 points as the Bulldogs beat Arizona and fell to No. 10 Arizona State … Brittany Grice of Hawai'i averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds as the Rainbow Wahine won two games at home … Aarica Ray-Boyd of Louisiana Tech averaged 15.5 points as the Lady Techsters went 1-1 last week against No. 1 Tennessee and Mississippi State … Brandi Fitzgerald of Nevada had 13 points and six rebounds in a win over Sacramento State … Ali Marchant of Utah State had 18 points and nine rebounds in a loss to Weber State.
FRESNO STATE OFFENSIVE PUSH ?“ Guards Mirenda Swearengin and Tierre Wilson, who sat out the fall semester after being ruled academically ineligible, made immediate contributions in their first game back last weekend in the 81-70 win against Arizona. The return of Swearengin and Wilson allowed the Bulldogs to play at an up-tempo pace similar to the first two games of the year when Fresno State reached the 90-point mark. Swearengin started and played 28 minutes, scoring 14 points with six rebounds and four assists. In 29 minutes of action off the bench, Wilson registered her first career double-double with personal-bests of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Both players finished 4-6 from the foul line.
THREE-POINT FRENZY ?“ Idaho set a school record with 14 made three-point field goals versus Utah Valley State (Dec. 8). The previous record was 13 set on February 26, 1998, in a game versus Long Beach State. Leilani Mitchell tied a school record with seven made three-point field goals versus Utah Valley State (Dec. 8). She shot 7-of-8 from beyond the arc in the game and now shares the record with four other Vandal players. She is the first player to make seven three-pointers in a game since Susan Woolf on Dec. 19, 1999. Idaho was two three point-field goals away from the WAC record. Mitchell was also two away from the WAC record.
ESPN TO CELEBRATE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF NCAA WOMEN?™S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ?“ Beginning Monday, Jan. 9, through the National Championship game on April 4, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU will count down the 25 most memorable moments from the NCAA Women?™s Basketball Tournament?™s 25-year history. A 30-second vignette will air during 25 women?™s basketball telecasts in ranking order, starting with No. 25 during the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge featuring Oklahoma at Ohio State on January 9 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Moments ranked 24-11 will continue to be announced during regular-season women?™s basketball coverage through Selection Monday on March 13.
The moments and rankings were determined by an industry-wide blue ribbon panel consisting of notable players, coaches, journalists and executives from the NCAA and WBCA.
One of the featured moments:
Final Four (Norfolk, Va.) ?”1982
The Lady Techsters win the first-ever NCAA title, beating Cheyney, 76-62. Janice Lawrence is named first-ever Most Outstanding Player as a sophomore.
NEVADA TO HOST 2006 TOURNAMENT ?“ For the second consecutive year, Nevada?™s Lawlor Events Center (11,200) will host the WAC Basketball Tournament. The dates for this year?™s tournament are March 7-11. The 2007 and 2008 tournaments will be held in Las Cruces, N.M.
IDAHO SETS WAC RECORD ?“ Idaho set a WAC and Idaho record with 40 three-point field goal attempts against Oklahoma State. Idaho was 10-of-40 (.250) in the game.
2005-06 EXPERIMENTAL RULES ?“ This season, all certified men?™s and women?™s basketball games that occur before January 1 are required to use experimental rules. This year?™s women?™s experimental rules are:
1. Moving the 3-point line 9 inches behind the current three-point line to create a new experimental distance of 20 feet, 6 inches.
2. Using the 10-second backcourt rule.
NO SLUMPING ?“ San Jose State sophomore Amber Jackson is continuing the sharp shooting that helped place her on the all-WAC second team last season. Jackson is second the WAC in scoring, averaging 18.8 ppg. She is also first in rebounds, averaging 10.7 rpg. She is 14th in the nation in shooting percentage (.621). Last season, Jackson was first in the league in shooting percentage (.659) and third in scoring (14.9 ppg).
WAC IN THE NCAA STATS ?“ Fresno State remains in the top 10 in rebound margin in this week?™s NCAA statistics. The Bulldogs are 10 in the nation (11.0). Maryland leads the nation (18.4). Idaho is 12th in three-point field goals per game (7.6). Idaho?™s Leilani Mitchell is fourth in the nation in steals, averaging 4.5 spg, while Louisiana Tech?™s Tasha Williams is 21st, averaging 3.4 spg. Mitchell is also 14th in assists per game (6.3). San Jose State?™s Amber Jackson is 14th in the nation in field goal percentage (.621) and 15th in rebounds per game (10.6 rpg).
BATTLE OF THE BOARDS ?“ Fresno State has earned a reputation as a solid rebounding club in recent seasons and this year is no different. The Bulldogs, who have out rebounded their opponent in all but two games, are averaging 44.7 boards per game, while allowing only 33.7. That?™s a difference of +11, a mark that leads the WAC. Fresno State has pulled down at least 50 boards in a game on four different occasions, including a season-best 58 at Utah Valley State. Amy Parrish leads the club with 8.4 rpg while four players (Amy Parrish, Jasmine Plummer, Chantella Perera, Andrea Roberson) are averaging at least four boards per contest.
NEVER OUT OF IT ?“ Hawai'i is 3-0 when trailing at the half this year. Hawai'i overcame a nine-point second half deficit to defeat Washington State, 68-63, in the first round of the Rainbow Wahine Classic. In the tournament third place game two days later, Hawai'i fell behind, 13-0, to Texas A&M to start the game and trailed by 10 points with 15 minutes left, before pulling out a 68-66 victory. In its first road game of the season, the Rainbow Wahine trailed by five at the break and by as many as seven early in the second half, then proceeded to dominate San Francisco in a 71-63 win. UH was 3-12 when trailing at the half last year and the largest comeback was eight points at SMU.
WAC JOINS NCAA CELEBRATION 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.
BOISE STATE WELCOMES PRESNELL ?“ Gordan Presnell became Boise State?™s head coach in June. He is the sixth head coach in the program?™s 35-year history (36th in 2005-06). He is also the second man to lead the Broncos. The other was Tony Oddo (1984-89). One unique aspect of Presnell?™s hire is that he is the first head coach in program history to have previous head coaching experience at the four-year collegiate level. He comes to Boise State after 18 successful years at Seattle Pacific University. Oddo had junior college experience with men, but no other coach was a previous collegiate head coach until they were hired at Boise State.
FAURHOLT CANDIDATE FOR SENIOR AWARD ?“ Idaho?™s Emily Faurholt was announced as a candidate for the 2005-06 Bayer Advantage?® Senior CLASS Award, the nation?™s premier tribute to college seniors. The award, now in its fifth year, is presented annually to the nation?™s senior player-of-the-year for NCAA Division I men?™s and women?™s basketball.
Faurholt, a senior from Kennewick, Wash., is one of Idaho?™s top returning players after averaging 23.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the 2004-05 season. Her points-per-game average ranked second in the nation. Faurholt made history as the ninth-quickest player to reach 1,000-career points, reaching the plateau in just her 43rd Division I game, and ended the season on nine all-time records lists at UI.
This season, Faurholt is averaging 20.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. She is shooting the ball at a 50-percent clip both in field goals (26-of-52) and 3-point field goals (7-of-14) and is 23-of-25 (.920) from the free-throw line.
Faurholt is the only representative from the WAC.
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.
Boise State Broncos (6-3, 0-0 WAC)
Boise State broke a three-game losing streak with a road win against San Diego ... the Broncos stayed in San Diego will take on San Diego State on Dec. 20 ... Boise State was led by Jessica Thompson and Nadia Begay, who had 19 points each ... Jackie Lee added another 13 points for the Broncos ... Lee also had eight rebounds ... Begay is second in the WAC in three-point field goals made (3.00).
Fresno State Bulldogs (6-3, 0-0 WAC)
Four players are currently boasting a field-goal percentage of 50-percent or better ... leading the group is Jasmine Plummer, who is shooting 57.1-percent (16-for-28) while leading the team in assists, steals and blocks ... Erica Henry, who scored only 17 points in 15 games as a freshman, is averaging 5.7 ppg and 3.3 rpg while shooting 55.2-percent ... Brittani Green has started five games and is shooting 54.8-percent while scoring 5.4 points and pulling down 3.3 rebounds per game. Andrea Roberson, who is averaging just 10.8 minutes, is shooting 53.8-percent and has posted totals of 4.9 ppg and 4.7 rpg.
Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine (7-2, 0-0 WAC)
The Rainbow Wahine won their fifth-straight game last week with back-to-back wins over Campbell ... Hawai'i now takes an 11-day break and looks to keep its win streak alive with another two-game home series. The Rainbow Wahine will face off against Kent State on Dec. 28 and 30 ... junior Brittany Grice is second in the WAC in rebounding, averaging 8.9 rpg ... Grice is first in the WAC in blocked shots (1.89 bpg) ... as a team the Rainbow Wahine are first in the league in blocks (4.22) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.270).
Idaho Vandals (3-5, 0-0 WAC)
The Vandals return to action after a 10-day layoff ... Idaho will take on Montana on the road on Dec. 20 ... Leilani Mitchell has totaled nine assists in each of her last three games ... with 10 made free throws in two games last week, Mitchell moved into third place on the Idaho records list for career free throws made ... her current total is 344 ... Emily Faurholt is second on the list with 382 free throws made ... Mitchell is currently in second place on the Idaho records list for career steals ... her current total is 244 and she is 40 steals short of passing Christy Van Pelt for the school record.
Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (5-3, 0-0 WAC)
Louisiana Tech will face its third-straight Southeastern Conference foe and second-straight top 25 opponent on Dec. 20 when the Lady Techsters host No. 24 Mississippi at 7 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center ... Louisiana Tech enters the game five days after falling to top-ranked Tennessee in Knoxville, a contest that was played two nights after the Lady Techsters downed Mississippi State in Ruston ... senior Tasha Williams is tied for first in the WAC in assists in a game this season ... she had seven steals against Iowa on Nov. 22 ... Williams is also second in the WAC in steals, averaging 3.38 spg.
Nevada Wolf Pack (2-7, 0-0 WAC)
The Wolf Pack defeated Sacramento State at home last week to secure their second win of the season ... it was Nevada?™s last game until a non-conference road game at Northern Arizona Dec. 28 ... Brandi Fitzgerald was 6-for-13 from the field, including one of three on three pointers, grabbed six rebounds, added four each assists and steals, and contributed two blocks to lead the Pack ... Meghan McGuire had 11 points and Jessica Preslar 10 to give Nevada three players in double-figures ... Kim Sheehy had 12 markers and Ashley Cadotte 11 points to pace Sacramento State.
New Mexico State Aggies (2-6, 0-0 WAC)
New Mexico State look for its third-straight win when it hosts I-25 rivals No. 18 New Mexico on Dec. 21 ... the Aggies are coming off a 2-0 road trip to California that saw them defeat UC Irvine 88-64 and Cal Poly 65-63 ... against UCI on Dec. 14, NMSU roared out to a 16-0 run to start the second half, extending its 14-point halftime lead to 30 and putting the game out of reach ... senior Jenean Ford and junior Irma Kmitaite each tallied double-doubles to become the first Aggie duo to accomplish the feat since Melanie Maynes and current assistant coach Princess Moore did it against South Alabama on Jan. 5, 2002.
San Jose State Spartans (3-5, 0-0 WAC)
San Jose State fell to Santa Clara 81-70 in its last game ... Lamisha Augustine scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds ... Amber Hall scored a career-high 12 points, grabbed three rebounds and blocked three shots ... Anetero Uiagalelei was 2-for-6 from three-point range for 12 points and dished out five assists ... Jackson is second in the WAC in scoring (18.8 ppg) ... the sophomore is also first in the league in rebounding (10.6 rpg) ... Jackson is third in field goal percentage, shooting .621 behind Utah State?™s Jessica Freeman and Ali Marchant.
Utah State Aggies (1-7, 0-0 WAC)
The Aggies fell to Wyoming 73-59 in their last game until Dec. 28 ... Ali Marchant scored 19 points and Taylor Richards added 15 ... Marchant and senior Jessica Freeman are the top two shooters in the WAC ... Freeman is first shooting .674, while Marchant is second, shooting .629 through eight games this season ... Marchant is also fifth in the league in rebounding, averaging 7.6 rpg ... Utah State will be out of action until Dec. 28, when the Aggies will play at Texas A&M ... USU will then play at St. Louis on Dec. 31 before returning home to open WAC play against San Jose State on Thursday, Jan. 5.