Jan. 22, 2016
San Jose, Calif. - With a disappointing two-game home stand, in which it dropped both games by a combined eight points, the San Jose State women's basketball team travels to Albuquerque, N.M., to play the Lobos and return to its winning ways.
San José State Spartans (6-12, 4-3 MW)
at
New Mexico Lobos (9-7, 2-3 MW)
January 23, 2016 - 2:00 p.m. (MT)
Albuquerque, N.M. (WisePies Arena)
SPARTANS SEARCHING FOR FIRST WIN OVER NEW MEXICO
It is a small sample size, just five games, but heading into its game at New Mexico, San Jose State has yet to beat the Lobos. The last two meetings, both in San Jose, have been decided by a total of five points (76-73 in 2013-14 and 64-62 in 2015-16). However, games in Albuquerque have not be as exciting. In the first ever meeting, in The Pit in 1998-99, UNM handed the Spartans a 66-43 beating. The last time the two met on the Lobos home court, in 2013-14 it was a bit closer with SJSU falling 80-68.
BYRD HAS 1,000-CAREER POINTS IN HER SIGHTS
Riana Byrd (Sr., C, Richmond, Calif.) has scored 978 career-points entering the Spartans game against New Mexico. At her career average of 9.0 point per game she should crack the 1,000 point plateau in the game at Air Force (1/30). When she scores her 1,000th point she will be the 14th player in Spartans history to reach the milestone.
BYRD EIGHT BOARDS FROM 2ND ON SPARTANS CAREER LIST
Riana Byrd (Sr., C, Richmond, Calif.) has grabbed 938 rebounds in her San José State career. Entering the team's game against New Mexico, she sits eight boards from equaling Rhoda Chew (946 from 1982-85) for second place on the program's career list. Byrd is the third player in program history to pass the 900 career-rebound plateau. The other two players to reach at least 900 rebounds, Chew and Elinor Banks (1,062 rebounds - 1978-81), both surpassed the 1,000-career points list.
SPARTANS OFF TO GOOD START TO MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE PLAY
Seven games into the 18-game MW schedule, San José State is off to its best start in conference play. The Spartans are 4-3 and alone in fourth place in the league standings. It took SJSU 10 games in 2014-15 to reach four wins and 12 games in its inaugural season of 2013-14 to get its fourth win.
The best start for SJSU in a conference season came in both the 1977-78 and 1978-79 when the team went an undefeated 12-0 in the NorCal.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Nyre Harris (Sr., G, Stockton, Calif.) is a team captain and is leading by example. Harris tops the team with 45 steals (2.5/g). In addition, she second in minutes (28.9/g), defensive rebounds (65) and assists (49), third in total rebounds (5.6/g) and offensive rebounds (35). Harris has started every game and is second leading scorer on the team at 9.8 point per game. In the opener, against Southern Oregon (11/13), Harris picked up the first double double of her college career scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. At Pacific (12/12) she did it again with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
A 5-8 shooting guard, she is second in the conference in steals, is the 23rd leading scorer and the 18th leading rebounder.
LADD SHINES IN NEW ROLE...STARTER
MyMy Ladd (So., G, Seattle, Wash.) continues to show the skills which got her named Ms. Basketball in the state of Washington in 2014. A career 5.0 ppg scorer, in the last 10 games Ladd has tallied six double figure scoring games and has averaged 8.8 ppg over the stretch while grabbing 4.1 rebounds. Since being inserted in the starting lineup, eight games ago she has shot 58% from the floor, 50% from three-point range and 62% from the line.
RAMOS BACKS UP PRESEASON HONORS
Dezz Ramos (Jr., PG, West Valley, Utah) is showing why the voters for MW Newcomer of the Year got their selection correct. She leads the team and is second in the Mountain West in scoring at 19.5 point per game. In 16 games Ramos has reached double figures 15 times, and in nine games has scored at least 20 points. Versus South Dakota (12/8) she erupted for 31 points and sank the game winner at Wyoming (1/13).
RIANA RAMPS IT UP IN MW PLAY
In the Spartans seven conference games senior Riana Byrd (Sr., C, Richmond, Calif.) has dramatically upped her game. Her points per game have gone from 7.6 to 12.0. Rebounds are up from 5.7 to 8.9; blocks from 1.0 to 2.1 and steals from 0.5 to 1.5.
FROM BEYOND THE ARC THERE ARE ONLY GREEN LIGHTS
In 15 games the Spartans have hoisted 442 threes and made 142, an average of 7.9 made a game. All three numbers lead the Mountain West and rank 16th, 18th and 23rd in the nation, respectively5534.
Individually, Dezz Ramos (Jr., PG, West Valley, Utah) leads the MW in three-pointers made (44), is second in three-pointers per game (2.6), and three-point percentage (.419) . Nationally, she ranks 51st, 37th and 34th in those three categories, respectively.