Feb. 9, 2005
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Briefly
The Lions sit alone in second place in the WCC with a pair of wins last weekend against San Diego and San Francisco. This weekend, they head up to the Northweat to take on Portland and Gonzaga Both games can be heard on the Lions' Audio Network at www.LMULions.com.
About LMU
The Lions are 12-10 on the season, and remain in second place in the WCC with a 6-3 conference record. After sharing second place with two other teams before last weekend, the Lions went 2-0 last week to secure the second spot by themselves. Jacquelyn Woods leads the Lions in scoring and steals, averaging 9.6 ppg and 1.95 spg. Rachael Ziemann has been on fire in conference play, averaging 12.1 points and 2.89 three pointers per game. She is shooting 48.1% from behind the arc in conference games.
Scouting Portland
The Pilots are 6-16 on the season, and sit in eighth place in the WCC with a 1-8 record. Portland recorded a win over San Francisco on January 22nd, but has lost its last three games. Portland is led by Amy Botto, who averages 12.5 points per game, and scored 28 points against Saint Mary's on Saturday. Ashlee Orndorff injured her knee during Portland's game at LMU, and hasn't played since. Before the injury, she was averaging 12.2 points and 8.5 rebounds a game. Jamie Medley is averaging 11.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest. LMU won the first meeting in Los Angeles, 70-61. Jevay Grooms, Bianca Ziemann and Mary Turner all scored in double digits in the win. The Lions led by as many as 19 points in the second half before Portland cut the lead to single digits.
Scouting Gonzaga
The Bulldogs are an impressive 20-2 on the season, and own the nation's longest winning streak of 16 games. The Zags sit in first place in the WCC with a 9-0 record coming into this weekend, and haven't lost a game at home this season. Ashley Burke leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game. Shannon Mathews averages 11.2 points and 6.14 assists per game. On Saturday, the Zags had their closest WCC win of the season, narrowly defeating Santa Clara, 66-61. Rachael Ziemann scored a career-high 19 points in the first matchup between the schools this season, but Gonzaga won the first round, 67-59.
A Look Back
The Lions recorded their second WCC weekend sweep of the season. They earned victories over San Diego and San Francisco for the second time this year. LMU used strong defense to defeat San Diego. The Toreros managed just 16 first half points, shooting 20% from the field to allow LMU to pull ahead to a 30-16 halftime lead. The Lions continued to dominate in the second half, allowing USD to shoot just 30% from the field. Rebounding and three-point shooting made a huge difference in the game. LMU outrebounded USD, 51-31, and LMU was 7-for-17 from behind the line, while the Toreros were 2-for-20. Mary Turner led LMU with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Rachael Ziemann made three three-pointers and finished with 11 points.
LMU had a tougher time against USF, but still came out with the victory. LMU held a lead for most of the second half, but the Dons fought back and took the lead with a few minutes remaining. Mary Turner made four crucial free throws to regain the LMU lead twice in a 25 second span. The Lions played strong defense in the final minute, forcing two missed shots and a turnover. Turner and Amanda DeCoud each made a free throw in the final minute to extend the LMU margin of victory to three points, 58-55. Jacquelyn Woods set career highs in rebounds (12) and assists (4) en route to her fourth double double of the season.
Two Wins Away From 250
Head Coach Julie Wilhoit is just two wins shy of her 250th overall coaching victory. Over half of the wins, 127, 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 54.2 points per game, and shoot 35.7% from the field. LMU has allowed more than 60 points just twice 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 return to Gersten Pavilion for their final home weekend of games. LMU will host Saint Mary's on Thursday, February 17th at 7:00pm. On Saturday, February 19th, LMU will have its Senior Day, and will take on Santa Clara.
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 2.7 rebounds a game... She has recorded eight double-digit games this season, and is second on the teams in minutes played (27.0)... She is one of the team's top three point shooter, making 37.7% 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... She struggled in the Bay Area, scoring just two points against Santa Clara and Saint Mary's, but rebounded with 13 points against Pepperdine... Is third on the team with 42 assists.
#13 Amanda DeCoud
The freshman point guard has started 14 of the team's 22 games... She started every game between Dec. 18 and Jan. 20th, but has not started the last four 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... She had a rough time at the Miami tournament, averaging 7.5 minutes of action in each game... This season, she is averaging 20.5 minutes of play... A strong defensive player, she is averaging 1.41 steals a game, and recorded six steals against Cal State Northridge... She is fourth on the team with 41 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... She missed four games due to an ankle injury that she suffered against Weber State, but has been playing well since she returned... For the season, she is averaging 17.6 minutes a game, and was a major contributor in the win over Hofstra... In that game, she played a season high 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.
#21 Rachael Ziemann
The junior guard started LMU's first seven games, and came off the bench for the next 11 games before earning her first WCC start of the season against Saint Mary's... Has started the last four games... Has emerged as LMU's top three point threats, she has moved up to 2nd in the WCC in three-point shooting percentage... She has 26 three-pointers in conference play, including three five trey games... She has had 10 double-digit games, scoring a career-high 19 points against Gonzaga and Pepperdine... She had five three-pointers in those games, also a career-high... She made four straight three pointers against the Dons to key LMU's second half comeback... Also plays as a point guard, and is second on the team in assists with 45... Her 42 three pointers on the year puts her in 3rd place for three pointers in a single season.
#22 Amanda Patton
This sophomore guard missed the first seven games of the season with a shoulder injury, but has played in the last 15 games... She is averaging 6.1 minutes per game, and brings intensity and a deadly three point shot off of the bench... She leads the league in three point FG% in conference play, making 60.0% of her attempts... She has made just six two-point attempts this season, making three 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 seven 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 emerged as one of LMU's top all-around players... She recorded two straight double doubles (12 points, 11 rebounds against SCU, 16 points, 10 rebounds against SMC)... She leads the team in scoring (9.6 points) and steals (1.95), and is second in rebounding (6.1)... 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 21 of 22 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... Eight double-digit scoring games, including three of the first four WCC games, and the last two games against USD and USF... Averages 5.1 rebounds per game, grabbing a season-high 13 rebounds against Portland... Set a career-high with eight assists against Gonzaga, 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 2.55 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 16 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 seven blocks in eight 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 (56.5%), 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.
