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PLAYER OF THE WEEK San Jose States Erica McGlaston has been named the Western Athletic Conference Womens Basketball Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 28. This is her first career WAC Player of the Week honor for the senior. She is the third Spartan to be honored this season with Lamisha Augustine and Amber Jackson both earning the award.
McGlaston, a senior from Berkeley, Calif., scored 35 points and averaged 17.5 points and 9.0 assists per game. For the season, McGlaston averages only 5.8 points per game and 5.8 assists per game. She led the Spartans in scoring against Rice scoring a career-high 20 points in the loss. She also added 15 points in a win over Tulsa that helped keep the Spartans tied for fourth in the WAC standings at 9-7.
The point guard shot 53.6 % from the field (15-of-28) for the week. McGlaston also dished out nine assists in each game. She had at least nine assists for the sixth and seventh time this season. McGlaston is first in the WAC in assists averaging, 5.8 this season.
Other nominees included: Krystal Frazier, Rice; Katy Cobb, SMU and Jillian Robbins, Tulsa.
WINDING DOWN There are several crucial games in the final week of the regular season. Louisiana Tech can clinch the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament with a win against Rice on March 3. Second-place Rice also has another important game against third-place SMU on March 5. Tulsa and San Jose State will also be vying for position this week, as the Golden Hurricane host SMU and Louisiana Tech. The Spartans travel to Fresno State and Nevada.
LOUISIANA TECH CLAIMS SHARE OF WAC REGULAR SEASON TITLE Louisiana Tech clinched at least a share of its fourth-straight WAC regular season title by defeating Boise State 85-48 on Feb. 26. The Lady Techsters (18-6, 14-2 WAC) hold a two-game lead over second place Rice (19-8, 12-4 WAC) with two road games remaining at Rice and Tulsa. The win avenged a 62-59 loss to Boise State on Jan. 27 in Idaho.
LADY TECHSTERS EARN TOP SEED IN WAC TOURNAMENT Even if Louisiana Tech were to lose its final two WAC games, the Lady Techsters would still clinch the No. 1 seed in the WAC Tournament. Even if Louisiana Tech and Rice tied with 14-4 records, the Lady Techsters still hold the tiebreakers since the Lady Owls have losses to third-place SMU and both fourth-place teams, San Jose State and Tulsa. Louisiana Tech won its first game against Tulsa.
FRESNO STATE SECURES WINNING SEASON Fresno States 71-50 win over Boise State on Feb. 12 guaranteed the Bulldogs will finish the 2004-05 season with a winning record. Fresno State's most recent winning season came in 2002-03 when the team finished 21-13. With a sweep of this week's homestand, Fresno State will finish 10-8 in WAC play for the team's first winning conference record since the 2002-03 season. The Bulldogs finished 11-7 and third place in the WAC in 2002-03, marking the first time the club notched a winning conference record in 13 years. Since the beginning of the 2002-03 campaign, Fresno State has recorded 26 WAC victories. The Bulldogs were 7-11 last season against WAC teams.
REGAL RPI The WAC still has an overall Rating Percentage Index (RPI) of seven, according to the Womens Basketball Coaches Association. This is the highest RPI for the WAC in five seasons.
Last season mid-way through the conference season, the WAC had a WBCA RPI of 13th, while during the 2002-03 season the league was 10th. Since the 1999-00 season, the WAC has not had an RPI lower than 10th.
The WAC has four schools with an RPI under 90, and according to the WBCA and has no school with an RPI higher than 200. Louisiana Tech has an RPI of 24 to lead the WAC, while Rice is currently ranked No. 45, according to the WBCA. SMU is ranked 57th, while Tulsa has an RPI of No. 64.
FABULOUS FEBRUARY Tulsa sophomore Jillian Robbins began the month of February averaging 15.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. During a seven-game stretch, five of which were played on the road, Robbins increased her per game scoring average to 18.2 points and improved her rebounding to 9.2 rebounds per contest. In seven contests, Robbins averaged 25.1 points (176) and 9.9 (69) rebounds per game, and connected on 62 of 114 field goal attempts for 54.4 percent and converted 52 of 70 free throw attempts for 74.2 percent. She produced four double-doubles and averaged 1.9 blocks (13) and 3.0 steals (21) per game. She reached double figures in all seven games and produced five games with 20 or more points, and registered a school and WAC record three-straight games with 30 or more points to end the month.
RICE STANDS ALONE A month ago Rice was tied for fourth. The Lady Owls have gotten hot and now stand alone in second place with a 12-4 league record. The Lady Owls have won a season-high seven-straight games.
JACKSON SECOND IN THE NATION IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE San Jose State freshman sensation, Amber Jackson, slipped to second in the nation in field goal percentage in this weeks NCAA statistics. She is second in the nation shooting .670. She is just behind Libertys Katie Feenstra who stands in first, shooting .683. With the graduation of Tatiana and Teoma Taylor and all-WAC selection Cricket Williams, Jackson has emerged as a leader for the Spartans this season. San Diego States Michelle Suman has the WAC record in field goal percentage, shooting .667 during the 1991-92 season.
ABELE REACHES MILESTONE Hawaiis Jade Abele became the 14th player in school history
to score 1000 career points when she hit a 3-
pointer at the 8:38 mark of the second half in UHs 51-41 win at Boise State (Feb. 17). Abele finished with a team-high 13 points against the
Broncos and two nights later added four more
against UTEP to give her 1011 career points. The blocks against UTEP (Jan. 20) and Brittany Grice had eight of those blocks, tying the individual single-game record accomplished twice by former Rainbow Wahine center Christen Roper.
FRESNO STATE SECURES WINNING SEASON Fresno States 71-50 rout of Boise State two weeks ago gave the Bulldogs 15 victories, guaranteeing the Bulldogs will finish the 2004-05 season with a winning record. Fresno State's most recent winning season came in 2002-03 when the team finished 21-13. Six regular season games (five in conference play) remain on the schedule before the WAC Tournament in March.
Part of the success is due to a strong road record. A 68-64 loss at UTEP on Jan. 15 was Fresno States first of the season, as the Bulldogs entered the game tied with the University of Richmond for the best road record in the nation at 7-0. The defeat also snapped Fresno States 10-game winning streak (dating back to last year), which at the time was the longest active road winning streak in Division 1 womens basketball.
TULSAS HEIDOTTEN EARNS HONOR Tulsa senior Becky Heidotten is one of 36 female student-athletes from around the nation to be named to the third Annual Collegiate Basketball Award of Exellence presented by Creamland Daries. The award honors college seniors for their athletic and academic achievement as well as their community involvment. The 10 semifinalists will be announced March 1, 2005, while the three finalists will be named during the NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament. The three finalists will attend a dinner on April 12, 2005, in Albuquerque, N.M. Heidotten is the second TU womens basketball player to be named to the Watch List. Two years ago, former Golden Hurricane All-American Allison Curtin was a finalist for the award. Last season, Tulsas Jason Parker was a finalist on the mens side.
FAST-BREAK FRESHMEN Several freshmen have taken the WAC by storm not unlike the sensation caused by Rices Lauren Neaves and Tulsas Jillian Robbins last season. San Jose States Amber Jackson is third in the league in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. Jackson is second in the nation in field goal percentage (.670). Fellow freshman Janielle Dodds is fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 14.7 ppg. Dodds is also third in rebounding, averaging 8.2 rpg. UTEPs freshman Shanlana Taylor is third in the league in assists (4.85 apg). Nevada freshman Meghan McGuire is sxth in the league in scoring, averaging 13.4.
WAC AGAINST THE REST The WAC is 61-32 (.656) this season. The WAC has a solid record against several conferences, including an 8-2 record against the Sun Belt Conference. The WAC is undefeated against the ACC (2-0). The ACC has the highest RPI in the country. WAC teams are also 7-2 against the Southland Conference and 5-3 against the Mountain West Conference. The WAC has a 2-4 record against the SEC, the conference with the second-highest RPI, according to the WBCA rankings.
TRIPLE THREAT UTEP freshman sensation Shalana Taylor recorded the first triple-double in UTEP history (men or women). It was the first triple-double in WAC womens basketball since Nevadas Laura Ingham in the 2002-03 season. She wrapped up that 40-minute stretch with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. It marked her fourth 10-plus assist game this season. Taylor has now scored in double figures in four of her last six games and is averaging 8.9 ppg in her last eight. There have only been a few triple-doubles in the nation this season. Oklahomas Dionnah Jackson recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds 10 assists against against Tulsa on Dec. 5, 2004. TCUs Sandora Irvin scored 20 points, 18 rebounds and 16 blocks versus UAB on Jan.16, 2005. Auburns Marita Payne scored 15 points, 12rebounds and 13 blocks against Arkansas on Feb. 3, 2005.
Boise State Broncos (9-17, 4-13 WAC)Boise State has one final regular season home game against travel partner, UTEP on March 3 ... the Broncos look to secure the nine seed in the WAC Tournament, but could still finish the 10th seed ... junior Cassidy Blaine is third in league games in three-point field, averaging 2.35 three-pointers per game ... freshman Tasha Harris is 14th in scoring (11.5 ppg) in league games and seventh in free-throws (.716).
Fresno State Bulldogs (17-9, 8-8 WAC)With just one week remaining in the regular season, there is plenty at stake for Fresno State ... the Bulldogs will conclude the year with two home games, the first of which takes place on March 3, against San Jose State ... this is an important contest for both teams, as the Spartans are looking to avenge a 79-63 loss back on Jan. 1 and the Bulldogs are hoping to continue their climb up the WAC standings ... the 20-win plateau is approaching as well and a sweep of both home games would aid in that quest ... two victories this weekend would also give Fresno State a winning conference record- a feat the team last accomplished in 2002-03.
Fresno State Bulldogs (17-9, 8-8 WAC)With just one week remaining in the regular season, there is plenty at stake for Fresno State ... the Bulldogs will conclude the year with two home games, the first of which takes place on March 3, against San Jose State ... this is an important contest for both teams, as the Spartans are looking to avenge a 79-63 loss back on Jan. 1 and the Bulldogs are hoping to continue their climb up the WAC standings ... the 20-win plateau is approaching as well and a sweep of both home games would aid in that quest ... two victories this weekend would also give Fresno State a winning conference record- a feat the team last accomplished in 2002-03.
Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (10-13, 6-10 WAC)Senior forward Jade Abele ranks 11th in scoring (12.0 ppg), 10th in rebounding (7.0 rpg) and sixth in assists (3.8 apg) ... Abele displayed her mantle as an all-around player in wins over UTEP and Boise State ... Abele entered the game as the teams top scorer but took just two shots, her lowest number of attempts since her freshman season ... she instead contributed with three steals and a then-season-high eight assists... in UHs next game against Boise State, Abele came close to becoming the first player in program history to record a triple-double when she posted eight points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in a 67-55 win.
Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (16-6, 12-2 WAC)With its win over Boise State Feb. 26, Louisiana Tech clinched at least a share of its fourth straight WAC regular season title and its 13th straight regular season conference title (dating back to its Sun Belt Conference days) ... Louisiana Tech had five players average 11.5 points or better in its two wins this week over UTEP and Boise State (Tasha Crain, 13.0 ppg; Lakiste Barkus, 13.0; Shan Moore, 12.5; Ty Moore, 12.5; Erica Taylor 11.5) ... La.Tech is averaging 73.1 ppg this year which would rank as the second worst scoring average in Lady Techsters history ... ironically, it ranks in the Top 20 in the country this year ... junior Crain is shooting 53 percent from the three-point line in WAC games (16-30) while the team is shooting 38 percent (76-200) from beyond the arc in league play.
Nevada Wolf Pack (7-16, 3-10 WAC)Nevada looks to break a three-game losing streak this week at home against Hawaii and San Jose State in the final week of the regular season ... freshman Meghan McGuire continues to have a stellar rookie campaign ... she is sixth in the WAC in scoring, averaging 13.5 ppg ... McGuire also has five games in which she has scored at least 20 points ... McGuire is also seventh in WAC games in scoring, averaging 14.4 ppg ... the Wolf Pack is third the league in free throw percentage (.706).
Rice Owls (19-8, 12-4 WAC)After wins at San Jose State and Hawaii last week, Rice has now won seven-straight and 10 of its last 11... Four Lady Owls scored in double-digit points in both games... sophomore Lauren Neaves dropped in a career-best 22 points against the Spartans, bettering her previous career-high of 19 set at San Jose State last season... had two blocks on the week and is now two shy of tying Rice's all-time record of 142 set by Johnetta Hayes... senior Annie Peck recorded her second career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds at San Jose State ... Michelle Woods added her sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Hawaii ... guard Eshombi Singleton dished out a season-high eight rebounds against the Wahine, one shy of her career best.
San Jose State Spartans (16-10, 9-7 WAC)Jessica Kellogg set a San Jose State career games played record on senior night against Tulsa ... Kellogg has now played in 115 games as a Spartan ... freshman sensation Amber Jackson is currently second in the nation in shooting percentage (.670) ... San Jose State is 20th in the nation in field goal percentage defense (36.0) ... in league games, senior Erica McGlaston is first in assists (6.50 apg) ... Jackson is second in the league in rebounding (8.9 rpg) in WAC games ... San Jose State third in the WAC in field goal percentage (.414).
SMU Mustangs (19-8, 10-6 WAC)SMU set a program record on Feb. 26 against UTEP, posting its 13th home victory of the season. The previous mark was 12 home wins, established in the 1997-98 and 1999-2000 seasons ... now fourth on SMUs all-time career list for assists, Kendall Shead comes into this Thursdays game with 345 assists and needs 24 assists to climb to the third spot, currently held by Missy Parker (1990-93) with 368 dishes... freshman Janielle Dodds needs to average 15.3 points per game to set a new freshman record for most points in a season, currently held by Carol Blauvelt (1978-79) with 406 points ... Dodds has 376 points and is third on SMUs list for freshman points in a single season ... Dodds is also fifth for most rebounds in a freshman season with 213 boards.
UTEP Miners (11-14, 6-9 WAC)UTEP closes its regular season on March 3 at Boise State ... the Miners are 0-8 on the road in the WAC and winless in four trips to Boise ... UTEP has shot over 40 pct. in six of its last 10 games, including a 42.5 pct. clip in its last four ... head coach Keitha Greens 11 wins in her fourth year are the most among any of the three previous UTEP coaches who coached at least four seasons ... sophomore Charnette Phelps is one of only two players in the WAC who rank in the top 10 in FG pct and FT pct ... senior Marta Dydek has 98 career blocks in two seasons ... freshman Shalana Taylor set the UTEP single-season assist record with her 125th on Saturday ... senior Angie McGees .787 FT pct. would rank fourth in the WAC, except she is 15 made free throws shy of the 2.0 per game minimum.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (17-9, 9-7 WAC)Tulsa will host SMU and Louisiana Tech this week at home to conclude the regular season ... Tulsa is 10-1 at home this season and has already tied the school record for most home wins in one season ... the Golden Hurricane will have two opportunities to break the record, which was established last season ... senior Becky Heidotten will play in her 100th career game this Thursday against SMU ... Heidotten will become the sixth player in school history to play in 100 games and will tie former TU standout, Leela Farr (1997-2002) for fifth place on the schools career list for games played ... over the past four games, sophomore Jillian Robbins has been playing like an All-American. She has scored 129 points for a 32.3 per game average and produced a double-double in all four games with 11.3 boards per game.