San Jose State Women's Basketball Hosts Rice, Tulsa

Thurs., Feb. 14 Rice The Event Center 7:30 p.m. PST
Sat. Feb. 16 Tulsa The Event Center 7:30 p.m. PST

Record: 11-10 overall 6-6 WAC (5th)

This Week: The San Jose State women’s basketball team hosts two Western Athletic Conference games at The Event Center. The Spartans will face Rice on Thursday and Tulsa on Saturday. SJSU will be looking to break a season-long three-game losing streak.

About Rice: The Owls enter the week with a 16-6 overall record and a 10-3 WAC record and are tied for second with Tulsa in the conference standings. Head coach Cristy McKinney is in her ninth year at the school with a 150-104 record and a 177-132 coaching record in 11 seasons. Kara Liggett leads the team in scoring at 10.8 points per game. Johnetta Hayes leads the Owls in rebounding at 7.8 pg.

Rice leads the overall series, 7-0, and won the earlier meeting this season 78-68 on January 19. Atari Parker led the Spartans in scoring with 20 points, while Elea A’Giza had a team-high 11 rebounds.

About Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane enter the week with a 15-8 overall record and a 10-3 WAC record. Head coach Kathy McConnnell-Miller is in her third season at the school with a 37-44 coaching record. Leela Farr leads the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game. Alyssa Shriver leads the conference in field goal percentage at .502 (101-201).

Tulsa leads the overall series, 5-4, but San Jose State won the earlier meeting this season 75-73. Spartan guard Cricket Williams scored nine of the Spartans final 12 points as SJSU overcame an eight point deficit in the final 1:33 of the game for the victory.

San Jose State trailed Tulsa 71-63 with 1:33 remaining in the game. Williams hit her first of final two three-pointers with 1:23 remaining and hit her final three-pointer at 44 seconds to cut the lead to 73-69. After Tulsa guard Kayla Elliot missed two free throws, Spartan Atari Parker hit a 30-foot three-point goal to cut the lead to one a 73-72 with 24 seconds left. Parker was fouled on the made shot but missed the subsequent free throw, but SJSU got the rebound. Williams was fouled and made two free throws to give the Spartans the lead for good. Williams finished the game with 26 points.

Head Coach Janice Richard: San Jose State head women’s basketball coach Janice Richard is in her third year at the school. She has a 27-50 record in three years at SJSU and a 186-84 coaching record in nine years. Last year’s 13 victories were the most for San Jose State since the 1993-94 season.

Spartans Suffer Worst Loss of Season: The Spartans suffered its worst defeat of the season last Saturday as San Jose State lost at #7 Louisiana Tech, 87-47. SJSU scored just five points in the first 10 minutes of the second half as the Lady Techsters increased their 41-25 halftime lead. Tatiana Taylor led the Spartans in scoring with a season high 14 points. Atari Parker added 13 points, while Cricket Williams had 12 points, four assists and four steals.

SJSU Loses Close Game at SMU: Cricket Williams had a career high 27 points and 15 assists, but SMU made six free throws in the last five seconds of the game to give the Mustangs a 92-87 victory on February 7 in a Western Athletic Conference game at Moody Coliseum.

Williams scored her only three-point field goal of the game with one second remaining to cut the SMU lead to 88-87. An inadvertent timeout call by San Jose State gave SMU two free throws on the technical foul. SJSU then fouled Mustang Andrea Cossey on the inbounds pass with 0.3 remaining, and she made both free throws to put the game away for SMU.

Cossey hit six three-point shots but her biggest shot from the field came with 30 seconds to SMU ahead for the game. The Spartans led 82-79 on a jumper by Williams with 1:54 remaining in the game before the Mustangs outscored SJSU 13-5 the rest of the game. Cossey finished with 26 points.

Williams recorded her seventh 20-point game this season with her 27 points. She also broke her career high in assists with 15. Elea A’Giza and Atari Parker each had 15 points for the Spartans.

Williams Has Career Night in Loss: Cricket Williams scored a career high 27 points against SMU on February 7 in the Spartans’ 92-87 loss at SMU. She also set a career high in assists with 15, breaking her previous high of 14 set against Nevada on January 26.

Six Conference Wins Most Since 1993-94: With six conference wins already, the Spartan team has the most conference wins since 1993-94 when San Jose State was a member of the Big West Conference. That season, the Spartans were 9-9 and finished sixth in standings. The six wins are also the most for San Jose State from the past three years combined (4 in 2001, 1 in 2000, 0 in 1999).

National Statistics: Cricket Williams is ranked in three individual categories this week. She is tied for 48th in scoring at 18.2 ppg, tied for 22nd in steals at 3.2 pg and tied for 29th in assists at 5.9 pg. Her 15 assists against SMU are tied for the fifth highest total in a single game in the nation. Her 14 assists against Nevada are tied for the eighth highest total in a single game in the nation.

Parker, Williams Climbing Up Career Categories: Atari Parker and Cricket Williams both rank on the San Jose State career three-point field goals made and attempted categories. Parker is third in three-point field goals made with 88 and attempted at 323. Williams entered the top-10 over the weekend. She is 10th in three-point field goals made at 37 and tied for eighth in attempts at 125.

3-POINT FIELD GOALS MADE G ATT MADE
1. Kari Steele (1994-1997) 110 575 199
2. Natasha Johnson (1996-2000) 109 545 168
3. Atari Parker (2001-02) 50 323 88
4. Kim Skaggs (1989-1992) 103 238 80
5. Sherry Yudt (1990-1993) 105 238 76
6. Megan Gluhan (1998-2000) 68 202 70
7. Danada Smith (2001) 29 178 57
8. Gretchen Seeley (1993-1994) 49 120 49
9. Jodi Page (1989-1990) 37 125 42
10. Cricket Williams (2001-02) 42 125 37

3-POINT FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED FG MADE ATT
1. Kari Steele (1994-1997) 110 199 575
2. Natasha Johnson (1996-2000) 109 168 545
3. Atari Parker (2001-02) 50 88 323
4. Kim Skaggs (1989-1992) 103 80 238
Sherry Yudt (1990-1993) 105 76 238
6. Megan Gluhan (1998-2000) 68 70 202
7. Danada Smith (2001) 29 57 178
8. Cricket Williams (2001-02) 42 37 125
Jodi Page (1989-1990) 37 42 125
10. Gretchen Seeley (1993-1994) 49 49 120

Williams Leads WAC in Scoring, Steals: Cricket Williams leads the WAC in scoring at 18.1 ppg. She has scored 363 points in 20 games. Williams also leads the conference in steals with 63, 3.15 pg. She is also second in assists with 118, 5.90 pg, eighth in three-point percentage at .348 and 12th in three-point goals made with 24, 1.20 pg.

WAC Statistics: Four players rank among WAC statistical leaders this week. Atari Parker is eighth in scoring at 13.4 ppg, seventh in free throw percentage at .760, tied for seventh in three-pointers made at 1.81 pg, 10th in blocked shots at 0.76 pg and tied for 13th in steals at 1.67 pg. Elea A’Giza is 11th in scoring at 13.1 ppg, second in offensive rebounds at 3.33 pg, seventh in field goal percentage at .476 and tied for 10th in rebounding at 7.0 pg. MiaTonya Smith is tied for 12th in blocked shots at 0.71 pg.

In conference games only, Williams leads the conference in scoring (18.9 ppg), assists (6.75 pg) and steals (3.67 pg). She is ninth in three-point percentage (.348), 13th in three-point goals (1.33 pg) and 15th in free throw percentage (.685). A’Giza is fifth in scoring (14.3 ppg), fourth in offensive rebounds (3.42 pg), sixth in field goal percentage (.487), seventh in rebounding (7.7 pg) and 14th in defensive rebounds (4.25 pg). Parker is 10th in scoring (13.6 ppg), sixth in three-point goals (2.17 pg), seventh in three-point percentage (.351) and tied for 13th in blocked shots (0.67 pg). Smith is tied for sixth in blocked shots (1.00 pg).

Williams Continues Climb of SJSU Career Assist Category: In only two seasons, Cricket Williams ranks ninth among San Jose State career assist leaders with 226. She needs 12 to move into eighth place ahead of Kim Skaggs. The school record is 742, set by Wanda Thompson from 1978-81.

ASSISTS G AST AVG
1. Wanda Thompson (1978-1981) 113 742 6.6
2. Dana Foster (1983-1986) 103 589 5.7
3. LaTasha Causey (1988-1990, 1992) 94 337 3.6
4. Sherry Yudt (1990-1993) 105 336 3.2
5. Kari Steele (1994-1997) 110 333 3.0
6. Robin Thompson (1981-1984) 105 328 3.1
7. Natasha Johnson (1996-2000) 109 310 2.8
8. Kim Skaggs (1989-1992) 103 237 2.3
9. Cricket Williams (2001-02) 42 226 5.4
10. Joi Turner (1994-1997) 100 190 1.9

First Nationally-Ranked Team at The Event Center Since 1998: When #11 Louisiana Tech visited The Event Center on January 10, it was the first time San Jose State hosted a nationally-ranked team since January 31, 1998. That year, Hawaii was ranked 23rd and won that game 80-69.

Single Season Leaders: Atari Parker and Cricket Williams are ranked among San Jose State single season leaders with six regular season games remaining. Williams is tied for sixth in free throws made with 97, eighth in free throws attempted at 142 and 10th in assists with 118. Parker is tied for ninth in three-point field goals attempted with 128 and tied for 10th in three-point goals made with 38.

Spartan Player Notes:
Cricket Williams leads the Spartans in scoring at 18.1 points per game. She had led the team in scoring in 11 games this season including a career high 27 at SMU. She leads the team in assists with 118 including a career high 15 at SMU and steals with 63. She grabbed a season high nine rebounds against SMU and made 10 free throws against Louisiana Tech and SMU. Williams has scored 20 or more points in seven games this season and has scored in double digits in every game but one (9 points vs. Idaho). She has two double-doubles on the season – 27 points and 15 assists at SMU and 14 points and 14 assists against Nevada. She has dished out at least seven assists in six of the last eight games and in nine games this season. Williams had a career high seven steals at Tulsa.

Atari Parker is second on the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game. She has led the team in scoring in five games including a season high 26 at Boise State. The preseason second team all-WAC selection leads the team in free throw percentage at .760 (57-75). She is second on the team in assists with 40 and steals at 35. Parker has two double-doubles on the season – 13 points and 10 rebounds versus Nevada and 19 points and 11 rebounds against Pacific. Parker had a season high five assists at UTEP and at SMU, five steals against Idaho and three blocked shots against Hawaii. She has scored 20 or more points in three games – 26 vs. Boise State, 20 vs. Saint Mary’s and 20 vs. Rice. Her best shooting game this season was against Idaho when she shot 63.6 percent (7-11).

Elea A’Giza leads the team in rebounds with 147, 7.0 rpg and field goal percentage at .476. She is third on the team in scoring at 13.1 ppg and has 20 assists, 21 steals and a blocked shot. A’Giza has scored 20 or more points in three games this year – a career high 25 at UTEP, 23 vs. Nevada and 22 against SMU. She has led the team in scoring in five games and in rebounding in 11 games. A’Giza has recorded three double-doubles on the season – 22 points and 16 rebounds against SMU, 17 points and 10 rebounds against Santa Clara and 25 points and 10 rebounds at UTEP. She had a career high 16 rebounds against SMU. Her best game from the field was at UTEP where she shot 75 percent, making 12 of her 16 field goal attempts. She also made 10 of her 17 field goal attempts against SMU.

Sophomore forward Tatiana Taylor is averaging 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. She scored a season high 14 points at Louisiana Tech and grabbed a season high eight rebounds against Weber State. She is shooting 45 percent from the field. Taylor has 11 assists, 11 steals and eight blocked shots this season. She shot 54.5 percent from the field at Louisiana Tech.

Sophomore guard Jessica Kellogg is averaging 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. She has 29 assists, 15 steals and three blocked shots on the season. Kellogg scored a career high 14 points against Hawaii on February 2 in 27 minutes of action. She grabbed four rebounds against CS Fullerton, Weber State and SMU.

Senior forward/center MiaTonya Smith is second on the team in blocked shots at 15. She is averaging 2.8 points and 4.7 rebounds and has 26 steals and seven assists this season. She grabbed a season high 12 rebounds at Hawaii and scored a season high nine points at San Diego. Smith has led the team in rebounding in three games this year. She had four blocked shots against Louisiana Tech twice.

Sophomore center Teoma Taylor averages 4.21 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. She scored a career high 14 points and grabbed a career high seven rebounds at Sacramento State. She had two blocks at San Diego State and had three steals at San Diego. Taylor has eight assists, nine steals and five blocked shots on the season.

Junior guard Monet Andrews is averaging 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. She scored a season high 13 points against Weber State and added three assists. Andrews had three blocked shots at Sacramento State. She had a season high six rebounds at CS Fullerton. For the year, Andrews has 21 assists, 11 blocked shots and nine steals. She had four assists, two blocked shots and a steal at UTEP.

Junior forward Chaunita Smith averages 2.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. She scored a career high 13 points at Hawaii in only 10 minutes of action. Against Pacific, she had 11 points and four steals and was 4-of-6 from the field. She grabbed a season high seven rebounds at UTEP. Smith has scored 10 or more points in three games this season. She has nine steals and two blocked shots on the year.

Junior forward Nikki Prescott has played in 14 games this season. She is averaging 0.4 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. At Sacramento State, she had a season high three points and seven rebounds. She has three steals and three blocked shots. Prescott has three steals, three blocked shots and an assist on the season.

Senior center Katie Schneider has seen action in six games this season. She scored two points and grabbed two rebounds at UTEP and one against Fresno State.

Sophomore forward Lamisha Augustine played in five games before having to redshirt due to a knee injury. Before her injury, she averaged 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.

Up Next – The Spartans will play the final road games of the season next week. The team will play at Nevada on Tuesday, February 19, at 7 p.m., and at Fresno State on Saturday, February 23, at 4 p.m.

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