Feb. 1, 2018
San Jose, Calif. - After knocking New Mexico from the unbeaten ranks in Mountain West play in the first meeting of the year, the San José State women's basketball team goes for the season sweep in its game against the Lobos on Saturday.
San José State Spartans (6-15, 3-7 MW)
at
New Mexico Lobos (17-6, 5-5 MW)
Saturday, February 3, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. (MT)
Albuquerque (Dreamstyle Arena - 18,018)
QUICK LOOK AT NEW MEXICO
This will be the Lobos' 24th game of the year. New Mexico (17-6, 5-5 MW) is 14-1 at home this season including 4-1 in Mountain West games and defeated Utah State 80-47 in Albuquerque on Wednesday night. Overall the Lobos are scoring 83.3 points a game and giving up 72.2. New Mexico is shooting .431 from the floor and .364 from three-point range while opponents are hitting at a .407 clip, including .332 from beyond the arc.
New Mexico relies heavily on its starters, who average 65.5 of the teams 83.3 points per game (79 percent). Cherise Beynon (5-10, Sr., G) is leading the team in scoring, assists and steals. She is averaging 17.0 points, 7.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Jaisa Nunn (6-3, Jr., C) tops the team in rebounds, 10.2 per game, and blocks at 0.8 per outing.
Mike Bradbury is in his second season leading the Lobos' program. He brought a 15-15 record at Mew Mexico into this season.
BENALLY ESTABLISHES NEW SJSU SOPHOMORE THREE-POINT RECORD
Analyss Benally (So., G, Shiprock, N.M.) leads SJSU with 49 3-ptrs and ranks fourth in the MW at 2.3/g, and third in MW games at 2.6/g. Against UNLV (1/31) Benally equaled and then passed Kari Steele's sophomore single-season record of 47 threes, which was set in 1994-95. If she continues at her current pace, and the Spartans play only nine more games, she will finish with 69 threes, which would be the fifth most in single-season program history.
FRESHMAN THREE-POINT RECORD COULD FALL AS WELL
In 2013-14, Britta Hall made 43 three pointers, to set the program's freshman record. Megan Anderson (Fr., G, Fresno, Calif.), has made 31 this year, second most on the team, and could reach Hall's mark. Through 21 games, Anderson is averaging 1.5 threes per game. If she continues at her pace this season, she would make 45 threes in 30 games...a new freshman record.
BENALLY SHOOTS INTO TOP-25 OF SPARTAN CAREER THREE-POINT LIST
Analyss Benally (So., G, Shiprock, N.M.) has come from virtually nowhere to enter the top-25 of Spartan career three-point shooters. Benally made one shot all of last season, a three-pointer at Utah State. This year, she has drained 49 threes in 21 games and with a total of 50 for her career.
The 50 threes for her career slots her into 21st place all-time on the program's three-point list. In addition, Benally ranks 25th in career three-point attempts (151) and seventh in three-point percentage (.331). If she continues at her current pace, and there is no reason to think she won't, right, she projects to complete her SJSU career with 207 three-pointers which would be a new career record for the program.
REBOUNDS TELL THE STORY
When the Spartans win...they hit the boards...they win the game...period. San José State has not been outrebounded by any of its opponent in its six victories and holds a 269-to-244 advantage in those games, for a +4.2 rebound margin. In its 15 losses, SJSU has been outrebounded 705-to-469 for a rebounding margin of -15.7. It's a simple formula.
LADD CLIMBING THE SJSU CAREER LISTS
Entering the New Mexico game, Myzhanique Ladd (Sr., G, Seattle, Wash.) ranks in the top-25 of 16 SJSU career categories. She is 20th in scoring (898), 4th in free throws (272), 11th in free throw attempts (362) and 10th in free throw percentage (.751). Ladd ranks 13th in rebounds (550), 6th in offensive (212) and 16th and defensive boards (338). She is 15th in assists (221), 23rd in steals (117), 21st in three-point attempts (176) and 19th in makes (52) and 14th in three-point percentage (.295). Ladd is 8th in starts (84), 13th in games (112) and 8th in minutes (2,867).
If she continues at her current pace, she will finish her Spartans career in the top-10 in nine categories and 13 in the top-20 as well as becoming the 16th player all-time to score 1,000 points in a Spartans jersey.
1,000-POINT WATCH
Myzhanique Ladd (Sr., G, Seattle, Wash.) is making a big push to reach 1,000-career points this season. Ladd has scored 898 points in her Spartans' career. If San José State plays a minimum of nine more games this season, Ladd needs to average 11.3/game to reach the milestone. It may be a tall order based on her career 8.0 ppg average, but in 2017-18 she has upped her production to 12.5 ppg. Entering today's game Ladd ranks 20th on the program's career scoring list and she is projected to reach 1,000 career points on Senior Day vs. Air Force (3/2).
Hallie Gennett (Sr., F, Post Falls, Idaho) is 40 points from the milestone. With a minimum of 12 more games this season, Gennett needs to average 3.3 points per game to reach 1,000. At her career scoring average of 8.8/g, she is projected to reach 1,000 in five games.
IF IT'S FREE...SJSU WILL TAKE THREE
Making 8.2 three-pointers per game, the Spartans rank second in the Mountain West and rank 40th in the nation. In 15 of the team's 21 games they have launched at least 20, in nine games they have hit at least nine and in seven have reached double digits makes. In addition, San José State is 40th in the nation in total threes (172), 41st in three-point attempts (506) and 90th in three-point field goal percentage (.340).
SPARTANS ROSTER SECOND YOUNGEST IN DIVISION I
In a preseason poll of Media Relations Directors, the Spartans are the second youngest team in Division I women's basketball, based on percentage of freshman and sophomores on the roster. Twelve of SJSU's 15 players are underclassmen, which ties them for second place with Florida International. UNC Greenville has the youngest team in the nation at 87.7 percent underclassmen.
LADD NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK ON JAN. 6
Myzhanique Ladd (Sr., G, Seattle, Wash.) earned the MW Women's Basketball Player of the Week honor for games played from December 31 to January 6.
In two games, Ladd averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game, while shooting 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from the field and 60.0 percent (3-of-5) from 3-point range. With 27-point in a win against New Mexico, Ladd moved into 24th place on the program's career scoring list.
FAST BREAKS
Myzhanique Ladd (Sr., G, Seattle, Wash.) Co-Captain...In the past year, scoring average is up from 8.4 to 12.5. On pace to finish 3rd on the program's all-time free throws list. 102 pts from 1,000 for her Spartans career.
Taylor Turney (So., PG, Henderson, Nev.) averaged 4.3 ppg last year and now leads the team at 13.9/g. At Nevada (1/17) scored a career-high 28 points. Leads team (8th in MW) with 4.0 assists per game.
Analyss Benally (So., G, Shiprock, N.M.) leads SJSU with 49 3-ptrs and ranks 4th in the MW at 2.3/g. In her career, 50 of 53 buckets are three-pointers. Established a new SJSU sophomore record for threes in a season vs. UNLV (1/31).
Fieme'a Hafoka (So., G, Kihei, Maui) Co-Captain...set a career-high with 11 points at #19/19 Oregon State and then broke it with 12 points against Nebraska. Second on the team is steals (25) and fourth in assists (37).
Mikaylah Wilson (Fr., F, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) has made nine starts in 2017-18, which ties Myzhanique Ladd for 3rd most by a freshman in Coach Craighead's five seasons at SJSU. (Britta Hall - 27 in 2013-14). Leads the team in blocks (20).
Danae Marquez (Fr., PG, Fresno, Calif.) leads SJSU freshmen in scoring (5.6/g). Second on the team with 68 assists (3.3/g 12th in the MW) and leads the squad in steals with 27 (1.3/g). First collegiate start came at AFA (1/13).
Megan Anderson (Fr., G, Fresno, Calif.) is shooting .470 from 3-pt range, highest on the team and 1st in the MW. Her 31 3-ptrs rank 2nd on the team & puts her on pace to break the freshman record (43 Britta Hall, 2013-14).
Cydni Lewis (Fr., F, Long Beach, Calif.) scored the buzzer beater vs. Southern Oregon (12/20) & had season-bests with 10 rebounds and three blocks against Nebraska (12/17). Started last 12 games and 13 overall this season.
Hallie Gennett (Sr., F, Post Falls, Idaho) ranks 19th among active Division I players with 749 3-pt attempts, 16th with 6.81 3-pt attempts/game. Is 40 points from 1,000 for her career.
Alexis Harris (So., C, Palo Alto, Calif.) set career-high with 9 rebs & 4 blocks vs. Southern Oregon (12/20) and ranks 7th in the MW in blocks/g with 0.8.
Heleyna Hill (Fr., G, Santa Cruz, Calif.) scored the first bucket of her college career against Southern Oregon.
Courtesy Clark (Fr., G, Sacramento, Calif.) scored a career-high 8 pts at UNLV.
Chinwe Ezeonu (Fr., F, Seattle, Wash.) scored a career-high five points at #19/19 Oregon State.
Andrea Kohlhaas (Jr., F, Besigheim, Germany) lost for the season in the Hampton game (11/25/17).