Feb. 16, 2005
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Briefly
The Lions play their final home games of the season this weekend, hosting crucial conference matchups with Saint Mary's and Santa Clara. Seniors Jennifer Henry, Mary Turner and Jacquelyn Woods will be honored in a ceremony before Saturday's game against Santa Clara. Both games can be heard on the Lions' Audio Network at www.LMULions.com.
About LMU
The Lions are 13-11 on the season, and remain in second place in the WCC with a 7-4 conference record. LMU got a split on the road last weekend, but remains half a game ahead of Santa Clara in the conference standings. Rachael Ziemann had an outstanding weekend in the Northwest. She led the Lions in scoring and rebounding in both games. She broke the LMU single season and single game record for three pointers with her 7th trey of the game against Portland. She also tied the Chiles Center record for three pointers in a game. She finished with 29 points, the second highest point total for an LMU junior.
Senior Salute
LMU will honor its senior class before the Santa Clara game on Saturday afternoon. Seniors Jennifer Henry, Mary Turner and Jacquelyn Woods will be honored, as well as senior team manager Maria Lipscombe, and senior radio announcer Patrick Duggan. Fans are encouraged to arrive at the game early to thank the seniors for their contributions to LMU basketball.
Scouting Saint Mary's
The Gaels are 12-11 on the season, and sit in 6th place in the WCC with a 4-6 record. SMC is coming off of a 70-55 loss to Santa Clara. Triola Jackson, SMC's leading scorer, had a game-high 18 points, while Maija Lahde had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jackson leads the team in scoring and rebounding overall, averaging 16.2 points and 8.6 boards a game. Brianna Winn is averaging 8.5 points. LMU won the first meeting this season, 70-45, in Moraga. Three Lions scored 16 points or more in the win, as LMU limited the Gaels to just 15% shooting in the second half. The Lions limited Jackson to just eight points and four rebounds in the game. Jevay Grooms led LMU wtih 18 points, while Rachael Ziemann hit five three pointers for 17 points, and Jacquelyn Woods had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Scouting Santa Clara
The Broncos are 12-11, and are half a game behind LMU in the WCC standings with a 6-4 conference record. SCU has split its six games since last playing LMU on Jan. 20th. Michelle Cozad is averaging 12.5 points per game, while Ashley Graham is connecting on 45.9% of her three point attempts for a 10.5 scoring average. Santa Clara's leading scorer, Quinn Thomas, returned from a knee injury to play in Saturday's win over Saint Mary's. She missed the first meeting between LMU and SCU. The Broncos won that game in thrilling fashion, as Kayla Huss threw up a prayer with no time on the basket for 54-51 win. Jacquelyn Woods was the only player in double digits in that game, recording a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Lions held the Broncos to just five three-pointers, but one of those five was the game winner.
A Look Back
The Lions split in their trip to the Northwest. They had a good road win at Portland, but fell to Gonzaga. Rachael Ziemann had a career night, breaking two LMU records for three pointers, and tying a Chiles Center record with her seven threes. She shattered her career-high and finished with 29 points. In addition to her seven treys, she also had a pair of two point baskets, and four free throws. Additionally, she also had five steals and four assists, and a team-leading seven rebounds. After a close first half that saw LMU attempt 21 three pointers, the Lions used strong shooting in the second half to pull away. LMU made 52.2% of its shots in the second half. Valerie Ogoke had a strong inside presence in the second half and finished with 11 points.
The hot shooting did not carry on to the next game against the Zags. LMU shot just 34.5% from the field, while Gonzaga made 48.3% of its shots. Rachael Ziemann and Mary Turner led LMU with 11 points each. Ziemann added to her single season three point total, and now has 52 on the year.
One Win Away From 250
Head Coach Julie Wilhoit is just one win shy of her 250th overall coaching victory. Over half of the wins, 128, have come at LMU in her 10 seasons. She recorded 33 wins in two years at Pitt-Bradford, and the rest of the victories came in her five years at IUPUI.
Getting Defensive
The Lions have been playing spectacular defense in their conference games. They have allowed their opponents to score just 56.2 points per game, and shoot 36.9% from the field. LMU has allowed more than 60 points just three times in conference games so far, and has limited opponents to under 50 points in three WCC games.
Turner Earns Conference Honor
Senior Mary Turner was named the co-WCC Player of the Week on January 10th for her role in leading LMU to two road wins to open conference play. She averaged 15.5 points and 6.0 rebounds, leading the team in scoring both games. She made four free throws in the final minute against USF to secure the LMU win.
Getting Their Money's Worth
Several of LMU's recent games haven't been decided until the final minutes of play. This is a switch from the first 10 games of the season. The average final margin in those games was 14.2 points, and just two games were decided by less than 10 points. The Lions hit key free throws to hold off Hofstra for a 76-72 win at the Miami Holiday Classic, and on Sunday, Mary Turner hit a jumper with 4.5 seconds left to give the Lions a one point lead. LMU's stiffling defense did not allow the Gauchos to get off a shot in the final seconds, and the Lions held on for the 59-58 win. LMU came back from a 16 point deficit in the first half at USF, and hit critical free throws in the final minute of the game to hold off the surging Dons for the 62-56 win. The Lions were on the wrong side of a thrilling ending at Santa Clara, as Kayla Huss hit a miracle three-pointer with 0:00.5 on the clock for the 54-51 SCU win. LMU made it a two point game with 22 seconds remaining at Pepperdine before the Waves hit several free throws to clinch the win. The Lions recorded another close win against USF, hitting free throws in the final 1:20 to regain and maintain the slim lead.
A Look Ahead
The Lions play their final regular season game at Pepperdine on Saturday, February 26th. The game is the first of a doubleheader with the men's team, and will tip off at 4:30pm. The first round of the WCC Tournament is Thursday, March 3rd, while the semifinals and finals are on the 5th and 6th.
Tournament Play
LMU went 1-1 in the three tournaments that it participated in this season. At John Ascuaga's Nugget Classic, the Lions fell in the opening game before rebounding with a win in the consolation game. At the LMU Marina del Rey Marriott Thanksgiving Tournament, the Lions defeated IUPUI in the opening game, before falling to Weber State in the championship game. The Lions defeated Hofstra in the opening game of the Miami Holiday Classic before falling to the host Hurricanes in the championship game.
All-Tournament Selections
Four different players have been named to All-Tournament teams this season. Jevay Grooms was honored at John Ascuaga's Nugget Classic, averaging 14.5 points and 12.0 rebounds in the tournament. Bianca Ziemann and Mary Turner were selected at the LMU Marina del Rey Marriott Thanksgiving Tournament. Ziemann averaged 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. She went 8-for-10 from the field on the weekend. Turner averaged 10.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in the two games. Bianca Ziemann was honored again at the Miami Holiday Classic after scoring a career-high 23 points against Miami. Jacquelyn Woods recorded her first career double-double (20 points, 11 rebounds) in the opening game against Hofstra to earn All-Tournament honors in Miami.
Exhibition Games
LMU played each exhibition opponent close in the first half, but both teams pulled away in the second half to hand LMU two defeats. With several newcomers, the Lions got a chance to give several of their freshman playing time. Amanda DeCoud started both games at point guard, averaging 30 minutes of action per game and scoring 7 points per game. Valerie Ogoke was LMU's fourth leading scorer in the games, averaging 5.5 points per game. Bronwyn Evans averaged 19 minutes per game, and Nicole Thompson saw action in both games.
Home Sweet Home
Gersten Pavilion has been a very unfriendly place to Lion opponents over the last five years. LMU has gone 56-18 over the last five seasons, including a 12-1 record last season. LMU's only loss last season was to then-#4 Duke in the Marina del Rey Marriott Beach Classic. LMU is 6-4 at Gersten Pavilion this season.
Top Turnaround
LMU was listed as the seventh-best turnaround team in the nation after rebounding to a 24-6 record last season following 2002-03's 14-15 record.
Lions' Audio Network
Thanks to an agreement with Yahoo! Sports, more than 150 LMU games will be aired live via the Internet throughout this season. Every women's basketball game is broadcast over the internet on LMULions.com thanks to the Yahoo! Sports agreement. Patrick Duggan and Angela Kiel will be calling the action on the games. Adding to the quality of the broadcast, Yahoo! Sports will bring its state-of-the-art technology to the Lions' Audio Network. To ensure the best product for our listeners, the Yahoo! Sports partnership is a subscription-based program. Live programming is a hallmark of every major athletics program in the country and LMU's commitment is an example to student-athletes and fans of our efforts to Build Champions!
The Wilhoit File
Julie Wilhoit, now a three-time WCC Coach of the Year recipient and last year's Region 8 Coach of the Year, is in her 10th season at the helm of the women's basketball program at LMU. She led the Lions to back-to-back winning seasons in 2000 and 2001 while entering the 2004-05 season with an impressive 42-10 record in Gersten Pavilion since 2000. Under her direction, LMU set new school records for single-season overall wins (21) and single-season conference wins (10) in 2000-01. Last year's squad broke each of those records again, finishing regular season play with 22 wins and WCC play with 13. She led the Lions to a 24-6 overall record, a 13-1 mark in conference play, to their first appearance in the WCC regular season and tournament championships and to their first ever NCAA Tournament game that year. She was the first LMU women's basketball coach to earn the WCC's top coaching nod in 1999-00, the first to have earned it in consecutive seasons at LMU and only the second coach in WCC history to garner the award in two straight years. She was named the fourth head coach in the program's history on June 30, 1995. Wilhoit came to LMU after a two-year stint at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford. In February, Wilhoit was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame of her alma mater, Marian College (Indianapolis, Ind.). She enters the 2004-05 season with a 236-210 (.530) overall record.
Player Notes:
#12 Bianca Ziemann
The junior guard has been one of LMU's top players this season, averaging 8.5 points and 2.8 rebounds a game... She has recorded eight double-digit games this season, and is second on the teams in minutes played (27.4)... She is one of the team's top three point shooter, making 36.8% of her attempts... Against Miami, she had a record-setting game, scoring a career-high 23 points... She was 8-for-10 from the field, and 5-for-6 from beyond the three point line... is third on the team with 47 assists.
#13 Amanda DeCoud
The freshman point guard has started 14 of the team's 24 games... She started every game between Dec. 18 and Jan. 20th, but has not started the last six games... She had a breakout game offensively against UCSB, scoring a career-high 11 points in the win... She led the Lions in scoring for that game... This season, she is averaging 19.6 minutes of play, but that has dropped to 14.8 minutes per game in conference games... A strong defensive player, she is averaging 1.29 steals a game, and recorded six steals against Cal State Northridge... She is fourth on the team with 42 assists.
#20 Jenni Smith
This junior guard has emerged as a key player off the bench for the Lions, and made her first start of the season against Saint Mary's... For the season, she is averaging 18.2 minutes a game, and was a major contributor in the win over Hofstra... In that game, she played 24 minutes, scoring nine points and grabbing six rebounds... She also made two assists in the win... Against the Gauchos, she had a career-high four assists and added six points... A versatile player, she adds height to the guard spot, and an outside shot when she's playing in the post... Was 3-for-4 from three point range against San Diego... She her 40.7% three point FG percentage in WCC games is second in the conference.
#21 Rachael Ziemann
The junior guard has been LMU's most dangerous offensive threat in conference games... Broke the LMU single game and single season record for three pointers at Portland, when she made seven treys and improved her season total to a record-49 threes... Also tied the Chiles Center record for three pointers in a game... Her 36 three pointers in WCC games puts her in 7th place all time in the WCC with three conference games to play... She is just 13 threes away from tying the conference record of 49... Sits 2nd in the WCC in three-point shooting percentage... She has had 12 double-digit games, scoring a career-high 29 points against Portland, and 19 points against Gonzaga and Pepperdine... She had at least five three-pointers in those games... She made four straight three pointers at San Francisco to key LMU's second half comeback... Also plays as a point guard, and is second on the team in assists with 52.
#22 Amanda Patton
This sophomore guard missed the first seven games of the season with a shoulder injury, but has played in the last 17 games... She is averaging 6.2 minutes per game, and brings intensity and a deadly three point shot off of the bench... She is making 50% of her three point attempts in conference play, making 9-of-18 attempts... She has made just seven two-point attempts this season, making four of the baskets... Hit a huge three pointer with 8.7 seconds remaining against Santa Clara to tie the game.
#30 Bronwyn Evans
The freshman forward saw playing time in each of LMU's first 10 games, but did not see action in the next four games before playing against San Diego in January... She played in both games in the Bay Area, putting in five minutes against Santa Clara... She had her best game of the season against Weber State, scoring six points, and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds (5 offensive)...She also recorded two blocks and two assists in 19 minutes of play against WSU... She played 15 minutes against USC, recording four rebounds and two assists.
#31 Nicole Thompson
A freshman guard who has appeared in eight games... Provided defensive intensity off the bench against Santa Clara, playing a career-high eight minutes... Scored two points on free throws against the Broncos... She scored her first career points at San Diego, going 3-for-4 from the free throw line... She also recorded her first career block in the win.
#32 Jacquelyn Woods
Woods has been one of LMU's top all-around players all season... She recorded two straight double doubles (12 points, 11 rebounds against SCU, 16 points, 10 rebounds against SMC)... She leads the team in steals (1.83), and rebounding (6.0), and is second in scoring (9.3)... She scored a career-high 29 points at Cal State Fullerton, going 11-for-18 from the field, and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line... She has 10 double-digit scoring games this season, and recorded her first career double-double against Hofstra (20 points, 11 rebounds)... Had another double double against San Francisco, with a career-high four assists (12 points, 12 rebounds- also a career-high)... She ranks among the conference leaders in several categories- scoring, rebounding, and steals.
#33 Mary Turner
Turner played her best basketball of the season in the four games against San Diego and San Francisco... In those four games games, she averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.25 assists and 1.5 steals per game... She is one of the more versatile LMU players, playing either a guard or forward spot on the floor depending on the personnel... She has started 23 of 24 games, and leads the team in minutes, averaging 29.7 minutes... She is a clutch scorer, hitting the last basket with 4.5 seconds remaining to beat UCSB, 59-58... She was named WCC Player of the Week after leading the Lions to wins over USF and USD to open conference play... Nine double-digit scoring games, including three of the first four WCC games, and the last two games against USD and USF... Averages 5.0 rebounds per game, grabbing a season-high 13 rebounds against Portland... Set a career-high with eight assists vs. Gonzaga at home, and now leads the team in that category.
#34 Valerie Ogoke
This freshman forward as emerged as one of LMU's top inside threats... A strong rebounder from the start, her offense has been getting better as the season progresses... Scored a career-high 15 points against Hofstra... A strong offensive rebounder, she sits in 4th place in the WCC with her 2.5 offensive boards a game... Recorded her first career start at Cal Poly, and registered her first career double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds)...Second on the team with 18 blocks... Made her second career start against Saint Mary's... Grabbed 11 offensive rebounds in the two games at SCU and SMC.
#40 Carrie Noyes
The freshman forward has appeared in seven games, including three WCC games... She missed the first few games due to injury, but made her first career appearance at Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 30th in front of a hometown crowd...Grabbed two rebounds in the game... Scored her first career point against USD on a free throw.
#44 Jennifer Henry
This senior center missed seven games due to injury, but has contributed valuable minutes in conference play... Returned to action against USF... Played a season-high 13 minutes against SMC, and had her most complete game of the year... She had four rebounds, two points, two assists and two steals... Made her first start of the season against Pepperdine, and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds... Has nine blocks in ten WCC games to rank among the leaders of blocks in conference games... Played 12 minutes against IUPUI, scoring her first field goal of the season... She also grabbed four rebounds in the game.
#50 Jevay Grooms
Grooms has been a steady force inside this season for the Lions... She leads the team and the conference in field goal percentage (55.6%), and is among the conference leaders in rebounds and blocks... She started out the season with a bang, recording her first career double-double (21 points, 12 rebounds) against Colorado, and duplicated the 12 rebounds again the next night...Grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds against UCSB, including the rebound in the final seconds that set up Mary Turner's game-winning shot... In the game against Colorado, was 10-for-11 from the field, a 90.9 field goal percentage and the fourth highest single game percentage in school history... Added her name again to the single game FG% list with a 8-for-9 (88.9%) performance at Saint Mary's...Recorded three blocks against Portland... Has had seven double-digit scoring games this season, and two double-doubles.
