March 2, 2005
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Briefly
The #2 seed LMU women's basketball team kicks off the WCC Basketball Championships with a matchup against #7 seed San Diego on Thursday at 12:00pm at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif. If the Lions win, the semfinals are on Saturday, March 5th, with the championship game on Sunday, March 6th. All of LMU's games in the tournament can be heard live on KXLU 88.9FM, and on the Lions' Audio Network at www.LMULions.com.
About LMU
The Lions are 15-12 on the season, and finished the regular season with a 9-5 conference record. The Lions needed a win against Pepperdine to secure the second seed, and they responded with a solid performance, defeating the Waves 62-44. Mary Turner was named the WCC Player of the Week for her role in leading the Lions to the win. She had 19 points and 7 rebounds, and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line. Rachael Ziemann continues to be LMU's leading scorer, averaging 10.3 points per game overall, and 13.1 in WCC games. Jacquelyn Woods leads the team in rebounds and steals, and recorded her fifth double double of the season in just 17 minutes of action against Santa Clara.
Scouting San Diego
The Toreros are coming off of a huge 73-71 win over Santa Clara on Saturday afternoon. That win allowed LMU to claim second place by itself, and secure the #2 seed in the tournament. USD is 9-18 overall, and 4-10 in conference play. The Toreros' leading scorer, Amber Sprague, will be out of action this weekend, as she broke her foot in last Thursday's game. Tiara Harris is averaging 11.0 points per game and 4.1 rebounds a contest.
Four Lions Earn WCC Honors
Four LMU players were honored when the WCC announced its yearly awards on Monday. Junior guard Rachael Ziemann led the way, earning first team honors. Seniors Mary Turner and Jacquelyn Woods were named Honorable Mention, and freshman Valerie Ogoke was an All-Freshman team selection.
A Look Back
The Lions secured the #2 seed in the WCC Tournament with an impressive 62-44 win over Pepperdine. LMU dominated the Waves from the start, pulling out to a 13-4 lead. The Lions continued to control the Waves in every aspect of the game, taking a 31-18 lead into the break. LMU did not allow Pepperdine to make a field goal for the final 6:59 of the half. The Waves shot just 22.7% from the field in the first 20 minutes. The Lions outrebounded Pepperdine 27-19 in the first half. Things did not get any better for Pepperdine in the second half. The Waves shot better from the field, but never got any closer than five points in the second half. LMU's seniors Mary Turner and Jacquelyn Woods took control of the game for the Lions, scoring LMU's first 12 points of the second half to push the lead back up to double digits. Turner led all scorers with 19 points and seven rebounds. Woods finished with 10 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. Valerie Ogoke did a fantastic job of controlling Jennifer Lacy, the WCC's leading scorer. Ogoke recorded three blocks and helped limit Lacy to just 13 points and four rebounds. The freshman forward grabbed six rebounds and scored five points.
Wilhoit Reaches Win No. 250
Head Coach Julie Wilhoit recorded her 250th career victory with the win over Santa Clara on Saturday, February 19th. In her 17th season of coaching, she has recorded a 251-222 overall record. Over half of the wins, 130, have come in her 10 years at LMU. She recorded 33 wins in two years at Pitt-Bradford, and the rest of the victories came in her five years at IUPUI.
"Three Pointer for Rachael Ziemann!!"
That phrase has been said a lot this season in arenas all over the WCC. The junior guard has made 43 three-pointers in 14 WCC games this season, finishing with the second best season in WCC history. She passed Julie Lienert's 1991 mark of 42 with three threes against Pepperdine. The record is 49, set by Lienert in 1990. Earlier this season, she tied one of Lienert's records by making seven threes at Portland's Chiles Center. That performance broke the LMU single game record, and the LMU single season record. With 59 three-pointers on the season, Ziemann is extending her lead on the previous record of 48.
Turner Earns Conference Honor Again
Senior Mary Turner was named WCC Player of the Week on February 28th for her efforts in leading the Lions to a huge road win over Pepperdine. She had 19 points and seven rebounds to help LMU secure the #2 seed in the WCC Tournament. It was the second weekly award of the season for Turner, who 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 Jan. 2nd, Mary Turner hit a jumper with 4.5 seconds left to give the Lions a one point lead. LMU's stifling 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.
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 57-19 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 finished the season with a 7-5 at Gersten Pavilion this year.
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.
A Look Back - 2003-04 WCC Tournament
LMU made history on Sunday afternoon. The Lions won the program's first WCC Tournament Championship with a 61-58 win over Gonzaga in the title game at the Leavey Center. With the conference title, the Lions cap an incredible run in the West Coast Conference, winning their 15th straight. The Lions, who have not lost in over two months, earn the WCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Lions (24-5) were led by tournament MVP Adrianne Slaughter. The senior had 14 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Regular season MVP Kate Murray had a game-high 19 points while adding eight rebounds. Rachael Ziemann was the third Lion in double figures with 10. As was the case the entire WCC Tournament, the game went down to the wire. With the game tied at the half, 30-30, the Lions started the half on a 7-0 run as they led the entire second frame. The Lions took a five-point lead on a lay-up by Mary Turner with 33 seconds remaining, 60-55. However, Gonzaga, who was the last team to beat the Lions, would not go away as they cut the lead to a pair on a three-pointer by Ashley Burke. Murray would hit the second of two free throws to push the lead back to three, 61-58, with 17 seconds left. Burke led Gonzaga (18-11) with 18 points. Gonzaga would get the ball down the court and missed a five-footer with four seconds on the clock. The Zags, who outrebounded the Lions 38-32, would have more chance after a deadball rebound. The Lions' defense proved big once again as Gonzaga could not get off a shot as the ball rolled across the floor as the buzzer sounded. It was a defensive battle from the beginning, with both teams combining for just nine attempted shots through almost the first five minutes of play. LMU scored four of its first ten points on a solid free-throw effort, as seniors Adrianne Slaughter and Jasmin Matthews each sank two of two early in the first. But the Lions knew it would take more than just free throws to build a sizeable lead, as they went on a 14-4 run through the middle of the first half. Sophomore Rachael Ziemann, who entered the game with a combined 43 points in her three career WCC Tournament games, led the run hitting back-to-back three points shots. Rachael Ziemann continued to stay hot throughout the first, hitting four-of-four from the field and two-for-two from behind the three-point arc to lead the Lions' first half fifty percent field goal shooting. But the Zags chipped away at the Lions's lead by capitalizing on free throws, as Gonzaga sank seven of eight in the final six minutes. At the half, Ziemann led all scorers with ten, as the Lions and Zags were tied at 30. LMU's bench out-scored Gonzaga's 14-4 in the first. LMU came roaring out of the locker room, scoring the second half's first seven points. Slaughter started the run with a fade-away jumper. Senior Raelen Self found Bianca Ziemann on a fastbreak, and Ziemann laid the ball in over the front of the rim. Murray sealed the 7-0 run with her first three-pointer of the game. Junior Jacquelyn Woods completed a three-point play, when she was fouled on a hard drive to the hoop and made the basket and free throw. The Lions maintained a five-point lead at 42-36 through the first five minutes of the second half when Mary Turner hit one of two free throws. Gonzaga pulled within three with just under twelve minutes left to play when Shannon Mathews was fouled shooting a three-pointer and connected on all three free throws. She would score eight straight points for the Zags, but Turner, Bianca Ziemann, and Murray each scored to keep the Lions up 51-47. With just under five minutes to play, Self drove the open lane and dished to Slaughter, who put her fifth field goal of the game and the 56-51 lead to set-up the finish.
Player Notes:
#12 Bianca Ziemann
The junior guard has been one of LMU's top players this season, averaging 8.1 points and 2.6 rebounds a game... She has recorded eight double-digit games this season, and is third on the teams in minutes played (26.5)... She is one of the team's top three point shooter, making 36.7% 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... is third on the team with 48 assists.
#13 Amanda DeCoud
The freshman point guard has started 16 of the team's 27 games... Averages 19.5 minutes of action... 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... A strong defensive player, she is averaging 1.38 steals a game, and recorded six steals against Cal State Northridge... She is fourth on the team with 46 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 at Saint Mary's... For the season, she is averaging 18.7 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 had 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 has made 38.7% of her three point FG attempts in WCC games... Scored eight points on 3-for-4 shooting against Saint Mary's at home.
#21 Rachael Ziemann
The junior guard has been LMU's most dangerous offensive threat in conference games and was honored as an All-WCC selection... 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 43 three pointers in WCC games puts her in 2nd place all time in the WCC... Sits 2nd in the WCC and 15th in the nation in three-point shooting percentage... She has had 14 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 56.
#22 Amanda Patton
This sophomore guard missed the first seven games of the season with a shoulder injury, but has played in the last 20 games... She is averaging 6.6 minutes per game, and brings intensity and a deadly three point shot off of the bench... She is making 47.6% of her three point attempts in conference play, hitting 10-of-21 attempts... She has made just nine two-point attempts this season, making five of the baskets... Hit a huge three pointer with 8.7 seconds remaining at Santa Clara to tie the game.
#30 Bronwyn Evans
The freshman forward has appeared in 18 games this season... 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 11 games... Provided defensive intensity off the bench at Santa Clara, playing a career-high eight minutes... Scored two points on free throws against the Broncos... Provided energy off the bench vs. Saint Mary's, recording two steals, a rebound and her first career field goal in six minutes of action... 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, earning WCC honorable mention honors... She recorded two straight double doubles (12 points, 11 rebounds at SCU, 16 points, 10 rebounds at SMC)... She leads the team in steals (1.96), and rebounding (6.1), and is second in scoring (9.4)... 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 12 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)... Her fifth double double of the season came on Senior Day at Gersten Pavilion, leading the Lions to a comeback over SCU with 14 points, 10 rebounds and three steals... 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... Earned WCC honorable mention honors...Two-time WCC Player of the Week... She has started 26 of 27 games, and leads the team in minutes, averaging 29.6 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... Ten 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 vs. Gonzaga at home, and now leads the team in that category... Scored a season-high 19 points at Pepperdine to help LMU secure the second seed in the WCC Tournament.
#34 Valerie Ogoke
This freshman forward as emerged as one of LMU's top inside threats, earning All-Freshman team honors... 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 2.7 offensive boards a game... Recorded her first career start at Cal Poly, and registered her first career double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds)...Tied for the team lead with 21 blocks, including two games with three 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 nine games, including five 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... Had an assist, a steal, and a rebound in four minutes of action vs. Saint Mary's.
#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 then-season-high 13 minutes at 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 at home Pepperdine, and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds... Started again at Pepperdine and played a season-high 16 minutes, grabbing four rebounds... Has 12 blocks in 13 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 is third in the conference in field goal percentage (53.8%), 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.
