CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2004-05 CPP Record: 2-0. CCAA Record: 0-0

2004-05 National Ranking: 25

 

Broncos Ready To Begin Conference Play: After a break following its first two victories of the season, Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team resumes play this week with its first two California Collegiate Athletic Association contests of the season. The Broncos, who have won a record 18 CCAA titles, will open conference action on Friday with a home game against perennial playoff contender Sonoma State and then host San Francisco State on Saturday. Cal Poly Pomona is coming off another outstanding season. The Broncos reached the NCAA Division II West Region championship game at Seattle Pacific and became the only Division II program to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in the past five years. Cal Poly Pomona also posted playoff wins over Chico State and Cal State Bakersfield, giving the Broncos 48 postseason wins, which is the most among all Division II programs. Cal Poly Pomona remains tied with North Dakota State for most national championships won (5). The Broncos won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002. The Broncos have three starters returning, including Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona), the 2004 CCAA Player of the Year and the leading scorer in the NCAA Division II. Other starters back are Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS), a second-team All-CCAA forward in 2003 and Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS).

 

About Last Week: The Broncos took a break from competition last week following their first two wins of the 2004-05 season. Cal Poly Pomona opened its campaign with a 97-89 victory over Azusa Pacific on Nov. 19 at the Felix Event Center. The Broncos won their seventh straight season opener and beat the Cougars for the ninth time in 10 meetings. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) poured in 26 points to lead a balanced offensive attack. She also tied for a team high with seven rebounds and tied for a team-high in assists with five. Lauren Stayton (Jr., Inglewood, Fresno State) had 21 points, seven rebounds and two steals, Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS) had 11 points, five rebounds and three steals and Natasha Reed (Fr., San Francisco, Deer Valley HS) had 10 points and six rebounds. The Broncos hit 48 percent of their shots and were a sizzling 9-of-12 from behind the 3-point arc. The Broncos also owned a 39-33 edge in rebounding and forced 20 Azusa Pacific turnovers. The Broncos then posted an 81-66 win over St. Thomas University of St. Paul, MN., on Saturday, Nov. 20. Allen once again took scoring honors with 30 points, while adding a team-high seven rebounds as well. Stayton scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds. The Broncos trailed early, 11-2, but scored the next 16 points and led the rest of the way. The Broncos led at halftime, 32-24, and then put the game away with a 24-12 run in the first seven minutes of the second half.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 13-5 all-time against Sonoma State and won both meetings last season against the Seawolves, who entered the 2004 NCAA Division II playoffs as the No. 5 seed and lost in the first round to Western Washington. The Broncos won the first meeting, 83-77, in Rohnert Park behind 31 points from Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona). Allen had 30 points in the second meeting, which was a thrilling game won by the Broncos in overtime, 84-77. The Broncos have won the last seven meetings between the two programs. Cal Poly Pomona is 25-1 all-time against San Francisco State and split a pair of contests last season. The Gators beat the Broncos for  the first time ever, 59-57, on a buzzer-beater by DeAnna Butler, in San Francisco. The Broncos won the rematch in Kellogg Gym, 91-60 behind 27 points from Allen and 21 points and 13 rebounds from Keila Beachem.

 

Let Us Introduce Ourselves: Cal Poly Pomona has several new players on its roster, including six freshmen. Sahfiya Brown (Fr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS), Ashley Moody (Fr., Carson, King Drew HS), Unique Anderson (Fr., Lake Elsinore, Temescal Canyon HS), Sasha Goldkorn (Fr., Moreno Valley, Canyon Springs HS), Porsche’ Kirksey (Fr., Gardena, Junipero Serra HS) and Natasha Reed (Fr., San Francisco, Deer Valley HS) give the Broncos one of their best and deepest freshman classes in several years. Shyrah Thomas (Sr., Inglewood, San Francisco State) joins the active roster after being a redshirt last season and Lauren Stayton (Jr., Inglewood, Fresno State) returns after one year away from competition.

 

Look Who’s Back: Leading the list of talented players returning this year for the Broncos is the California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year, Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona). Allen led the NCAA Division II in scoring with a 24.5 points per game average. She was also second on the team in rebounding with 6.1 per game and second in assists with 2.9 per game. Allen also led the team in steals with 77 or 2.6 per game. Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS), who was third on the team in scoring last year with 10.2 points per game, is back and so is starting guard Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS), who averaged 6.7 points per game. Britt Sumida (Sr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS), one of the leaders of the team, is another key returner, Alexis Wilson (Jr., Wayzata, MN, Wayzata HS) is back for her third year and Khiara Ferguson (So., Gardena, Bishop Montgomery HS) and Ge’Yanni Polk (So., San Leandro, San Lorenzo HS) return for their second seasons with the Broncos.

 

Where We Left Off: The Broncos completed another successful season with a 23-7 overall record and a spot in the NCAA Division II West Region championship game. Cal Poly Pomona reached the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth time in the past five seasons, a total unmatched by any other Division II program. Included in that run, of course, are national championships in 2001 and 2002. Cal Poly Pomona was 17-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and finished second. The Broncos, the No. 3 seed in the West Region, won its first-round game against No. 6 Chico State, 74-70. Cal Poly Pomona got 30 points and six assists from Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) and 10 points and 17 rebounds from Keila Beachem (Sr., Chicago, Ill., University of Kansas). The Broncos then rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit to beat Cal State Bakersfield, 87-84, in the second round. Beachem had a huge game with 28 points and 20 rebounds, while Allen contributed 26 points. After the Roadrunners took an 84-83 lead with five seconds left, Allen was inexplicably fouled while trying to catch an inbounds pass. She hit both free throws to give the Broncos an 85-84 lead and then, after a Cal State Bakersfield turnover, hit two more free throws with one second left to account for the final margin. Cal Poly Pomona then fell to undefeated tourney host Seattle Pacific, 80-63, in the championship game. The Broncos shot just 33 percent. Marisa Lattin (Sr., Oceanside, El Camino HS) capped her Cal Poly Pomona career with a team-high 20 points, while Allen had 16.

 

The Thomas Guide: Paul Thomas is in his 11th season as Cal Poly Pomona’s head coach. Thomas was named the 2001-02 NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by the WBCA and by the Division II Bulletin. He was also the WBCA District 8 Coach of the Year and the CCAA Co-Coach of the Year. He has won four conference Coach of the Year awards. Thomas has a record of 206-84 at Cal Poly Pomona and has guided the Broncos into the postseason in seven out of the past eight seasons. Cal Poly Pomona has a 14-5 record in the NCAA Division II playoffs under Thomas and has won 12 of its last 13 postseason games. The Broncos have also won five CCAA titles during the Thomas years, including three in the past five seasons.

 

How About Those Rings: You’d be hard-pressed to find a more star-studded coaching staff in the NCAA Division II. Head Coach Paul Thomas has a pair of championship rings he earned while guiding the Broncos to back-to-back national titles in 2001 and 2002. He was named the 2001-02 NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association and the Division II Bulletin. Assistant coach Tasha Burnett has a championship ring she earned as a Bronco player in 2001. She tied an NCAA record by hitting all 11 of her field-goal attempts in a national quarterfinal victory over Pace University. She made the All-Elite Eight Tournament team.

 

Program History: The Broncos’ two postseason wins in 2004 and the back-to-back national championships in 2001 and 2002 have just added to the program’s rich history. The Broncos have the most postseason victories (48) in NCAA Division II and are tied with North Dakota State for the most national championships (5).  The Broncos have also reached the regional championship game in four of the past five years, which is more than any other Division II team. Their 19 NCAA postseason appearances are second overall to Bentley and the .774 postseason winning percentage leads all Division II programs. Cal Poly Pomona has also reached the national title game eight times, has five national Player of the Year winners (Jackie White, 1983; Vickie Mitchell, 1986; Debra Larsen, 1987; Cathy Gooden, 1989 and Lauri McIntosh, 2002; five Most Outstanding Players in the NCAA Tournament (Jackie White, 1982; Vickie Mitchell, 1985; Debra Larsen, 1986; Aprile Powell, 2001; Lauri McIntosh, 2002), 36 All-American awards earned by 20 different players, 18 CCAA titles and 10 CCAA Player of the Year awards. Counting the five SCCA titles the Broncos won before joining the CCAA, Cal Poly Pomona has captured 23 conference titles.

 

PLAYER NOTES

 

2          SAHFIYA BROWN (F, Fr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS)

Last Week: Had seven points and three rebounds in 10 minutes against St. Thomas on Saturday; had two points in three minutes against Azusa Pacific on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 3 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04). Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

4          CANDICE ALLEN (G, Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona)

Last Week: Had 30 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes against St. Thomas on Saturday; had 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists against Azusa Pacific on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 28.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Has led the Broncos in scoring and rebounding in first two games.

Season Highs: Points – 30 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 7 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 5 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 40 vs. UC Davis (1-3-04); Rebounds – 11 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-22-03); Assists – 7 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-30-04), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04).

 

5          BRITT SUMIDA (G, Sr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS)

            Last Week: Had eight points and five assists at Azusa Pacific on Friday; had five

            points and one rebound against St. Thomas on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 6.5 points, 1.0 rebound and 2.5 assists per game. Is tied for fourth on the team in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 8 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 1 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 5 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 11 vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 3 vs. UC San Diego (2-21-03); Assists – 5 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

 

10        ASHLEY MOODY (G, Fr., Carson, King Drew HS)

Last Week: Had two points and one rebound in 10 minutes against St. Thomas on Saturday; went scoreless in three minutes against Azusa Pacific on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 1.0 point, 0.5 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 2 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 1 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

14        NATASHA REED (F, Fr., San Francisco, Deer Valley HS)

Last Week: Had 10 points and six rebounds against Azusa Pacific on Friday; had six points and three rebounds against St. Thomas on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Is third on the team in scoring and third in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 10 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 6 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 1 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04).

           

20        SHANIKA PERKINS (G, Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS)

Last Week: Had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists against Azusa Pacific on Friday; had two points and three rebounds against St. Thomas on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Is fourth on the team in scoring and tied for fourth in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 11 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 5 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 2 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 17 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-13-03); Rebounds – 10 at Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-13-04); Assists – 5 vs. Chico State (1-2-04).

 

21        SASHA GOLDKORN (G, Fr., Moreno Valley, Canyon Springs HS)

Last Week: DNP-CD.

2004-05: Has not appeared in any games.

Season Highs: Has not appeared in any games.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

22        KHIARA FERGUSON (C, So., Gardena, Bishop Montgomery HS)

Last Week: Had four points and three rebounds against St. Thomas on Saturday; had four points and one rebound against Azusa Pacific on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 4.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 4 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 3 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Assists – None.

Career Highs: Points – 6 vs. Chico State (1-2-04); Rebounds – 5 vs. Seattle Pacific (12-20-03); Assists – 1 at UC San Diego (1-9-04).

 

23        SHYRAH THOMAS (F, Sr., Inglewood, San Francisco State)

            Last Week: DNP-CD

            2004-05: Has not appeared in any games.

            Season Highs: Has not appeared in any games.

            Career Highs: First year with Broncos

 

24        BRANDI FLETCHER (F, Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS)

Last Week: Had five points and three rebounds against St. Thomas on Saturday; had four points and one assist against Azusa Pacific on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 4.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 5 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 3 against St. Thomas (11-20-04); Assists – 1 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 25 at Sonoma State (3-1-03); Rebounds – 10 at Chico State (2-28-04), vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04), vs. UC Davis (1-3-04), at Cal State L.A. (2-7-03); Assists – 4 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04).

 

32        LAUREN STAYTON (G, Jr., Inglewood, Fresno State)

Last Week: Had 21 points and seven rebounds against Azusa Pacific on Friday; had 14 points, four rebounds and two assists against St. Thomas on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 21 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 7 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 2 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04).

 

34        PORSCHE’ KIRKSEY (F, Fr., Gardena, Junipero Serra HS)

Last Week: Had four points against Azusa Pacific on Friday; had two points and six rebounds against St. Thomas on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 4 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 6 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Assists – None.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

40        UNIQUE ANDERSON (G, Fr., Lake Elsinore, Temescal Canyon HS)

Last Week: Had seven points, six rebounds and two assists against Azusa Pacific on Friday; went scoreless with two rebounds against St. Thomas on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 3.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Rebounds – 6 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 2 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

42        GE’YANNI POLK (G, So., San Leandro, San Leandro HS)

Last Week: Had four points, two rebounds and one assist against St. Thomas on Saturday; went scoreless with one rebound against Azusa Pacific on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 2.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 4 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 2 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Assists – 1 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04).

Career Highs: Points – 4 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04); Rebounds – 2 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04), at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04); Assists – 1 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04).

 

54        ALEXIS WILSON (F, Jr., Wayzata, MN, Wayzata HS)

Last Week: Went scoreless with one rebound and one assist against Azusa Pacific on Friday; went scoreless with one rebound against St. Thomas on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 0.0 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.5 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – None; Rebounds – 1 vs. St. Thomas (11-20-04), at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04); Assists – 1 at Azusa Pacific (11-19-04).

Career Highs: Points – 6 vs. Chico State (3-12-04), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04), vs. Chico State (1-2-04), vs. Pt. Loma Nazarene (11-29-03); Rebounds – 4 vs. San Francisco State (2-20-04), at Sonoma State (1-16-04), at Western Washington (12-28-02); Assists – 3 at UC San Diego (1-9-04).