Women's Basketball Hosts Hilton Concord Thanksgiving Classic
11/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2004
WHAT'S ON SCHEDULE: The Saint Mary's women's basketball team will host the Hilton Concord Thanksgiving Classic on Friday and Saturday, November 26 and 27. On Friday night, Northwestern State and Tennessee-Chattanooga will open the tournament beginning at 5 p.m. The Gaels will face Washington State in the second game, beginning at 7 p.m. On Saturday night, the Gaels will face either the winner or loser of the first game at 7 p.m. The other two teams will face off at 5 p.m.
WHO'S HOT: Saint Mary's senior forward Triola Jackson scored 13 points, added five rebounds and two assists in the Gaels' first victory of the season on Friday night against UC Riverside. On Sunday, Jackson scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 37 minutes of action in a loss to UC Santa Barbara. Jackson leads the team in scoring after three games with a 17.0 points per game average and 7.3 rebounds per game.
SAINT MARY'S RADIO COVERAGE: All Saint Mary's women's basketball games during the 2004-05 season can be heard on the Internet at www.SMCGaels.com The two tournament games can be heard live beginning at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night, with Dave Lankford calling the game action. The Internet broadcast service is being offered through an agreement signed by College Sports and Real Networks at a cost of $6.95 per month. For that price, they receive a username and password that allows them access to all live/archived audio events on our site.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS: Washington State comes into the tournament with a 1-1 record after beating Boise State at home, and losing to Nebraska on the road. The Cougars were led by Kate Benz, Emma Joneby and Jessica Perry against Boise State. Benz had 23 points, Joneby had 10 points and 11 rebounds and Perry had seven steals and seven points. Against Nebraska, the Cougars were led by Adriane Ferguson, who scored a career-high 26 points, including six 3-pointers. Washington State brings in six newcomers this season, including three freshmen. The Cougars are coached by Sherri Murrell, who is in her third season.
SAINT MARY'S VERSUS WASHINGTON STATE THE SERIES: The Gaels hold a 2-0 record all-time against the Cougars. Saint Mary's beat Washington State 83-59 in the last meeting between the two schools on December 30, 1999.
SCOUTING THE DEMONS: Northwestern State comes into McKeon Pavilion with a 2-0 record after home victories over Southern and Texas A&M-Commerce. The Mocs were led by Diamond Cosby and Amanda Bennett in both games. Cosby had 15 points against Southern and Bennett had 13 rebounds against Southern and 17 points and 15 rebounds against Texas A&M-Commerce. Northwestern State is coming off a 24-7 overall record and an NCAA Tournament appearance last season. They are coached by first-year head coach Jennifer Graf.
SAINT MARY'S VERSUS NORTHWESTERN STATE THE SERIES: The Gaels have never faced the Demons in the history of the program.
SCOUTING THE MOCS: Tennessee-Chattanooga comes into the tournament with a 0-2 record after losses to No. 1 Tennessee at home and Auburn on the road. The Mocs were led by Laura Hall and Nicole Mattison against the Volunteers. Hall had 11 points and Mattison had eight rebounds. Against the Tigers, Katasha Brown had 17 points and KeKe McWilliams and Mattison each had eight rebounds. Tennessee-Chattanooga finished last season with a perfect 20-0 conference record and a 29-3 overall record, while making the NCAA Tournament. The Mocs are coached by Wes Moore, who is in his sixth year.
SAINT MARY'S VERSUS TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA THE SERIES: The Gaels have never faced the Mocs in the history of the program.
VAN BURGER OFF TO HOT START: The Gaels' junior guard Evynn Van Burger is also off to a hot start. Van Burger is averaging 15.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Van Burger as also scored in double-digits in her first three games. The Bend, OR native is shooting 45.5 percent from 3-point range and 81.3 percent from the free throw line.
THANKSGIVING TOURNEY'S: Saint Mary's has won six Thanksgiving Tournament titles in the history of the tournament. The Gaels hold a 20-8 record in their own tournament, but haven't won the title since the 200-01 season. The Gaels lost to Bradley in their first game of the tournament last season, and beat Weber State in the second game.
SAINT MARY'S BREAKS PRESEASON WNIT RECORD: The Gaels made 14 3-pointers in the first round of the preseason WNIT in Tucson, AZ against the No. 24-ranked Arizona Wildcats on Friday, November 12, breaking the tournament record. The previous tournament high was 12, set by Connecticut in 2001. The 14 3-pointers in the second highest in school history, the record is 15 made 3-pointers set against Gonzaga on January 11, 1997.
GAELS PICKED FOURTH IN PRESEASON COACHES POLL: Saint Mary's was picked to finish fourth in the West Coast Conference, according to the conference's coaches. The Gaels received 38 points, and were picked to finish behind Gonzaga, who was picked to finish first, Pepperdine, and Loyola Marymount, respectively. Last season the Gaels finished conference play with a 7-7 record and a fifth place finish.
TOUGH NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: This year's non-conference schedule is filled with several tough opponents for the Gaels, which should prepare them well for conference play, according to head coach Michelle Jacoby. Saint Mary's faces five teams that participated in the 2004 NCAA Tournament, three Pac-10 members, and a trip to the East Coast.
WEEK IN REVIEW: Saint Mary's went 1-1 last week, including its first victory of the season. The Gaels beat UC Riverside 63-49 on Friday night, before falling to UC Santa Barbara, 74-57 on Sunday afternoon. Against the Highlanders, Evynn Van Burger led the way with 17 points, including four 3-pointers. Triola Jackson added 13 points and five rebounds, and Erika Urmonaite had eight points and four rebounds. Against the Gauchos, the Gaels were led by Jackson, who scored 17 points and added eight rebounds in 37 minutes of action. Van Burger added 13 points and five rebounds and Mikaela Cowles had seven points and four rebounds.
HEAD COACH Michelle Jacoby: In her fifth season as head coach of the Gaels is Michelle Jacoby. The Gaels finished 15-14 in her fourth season as head coach and led a young and talented team to a fifth place finish in West Coast Conference play with a 7-7 record, after coaches picked the team to finish in eighth place. Jacoby's career record now stands at 68-50 in four years. Jacoby had four players earn postseason accolades last season, including two All-WCC Honorable Mention players and two WCC All-Freshman Team members. This season the Gaels return 13 players, including all five starters from last year's team. Saint Mary's was picked to finish in fourth place in the preseason coaches' poll, announced by the West Coast Conference.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE GAELS: Saint Mary's continues its six-game homestand when it hosts Oakland on November 30 at 705 p.m. The Gaels will then host Sacramento State on December 5 at 2 p.m., before hitting the road for the second time this season.
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