Phoenix, Ariz. - The San José State women's basketball team is set for a return to action this week with games scheduled for Friday and Sunday at Ability360 Sports & Fitness.
The Spartans have been led this season by senior Tyra Whitehead. The forward is averaging 15 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while notching three double-doubles in her first four contests of the 2020-21 campaign.
The first game of the week will start at 7:30 p.m. (MT), while Sunday's finale is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. (MT) start.
Each game will be televised by the Mountain West Network with James Poovey on the call. Spartan fans can follow San José State on social media all season long by following @SanJoseStateWBB on Twitter or @sjswbb on Instagram.
STORYLINES
SJSU VS. THE MOUNTAIN WEST
Overall, San José State is 125-229 against the current make up of schools in the Mountain West. The Spartans last victory over a Mountain West member came last month against Utah State at GCU Arena in Phoenix.
Senior Tyra Whitehead led her team in the 78-73 victory, tallying 18 points while pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out five assists.
IT'S A DRY HEAT
The Spartan women's basketball program has relocated its day-to-day operations to the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa due to the current public health directives in Santa Clara County. Each member of the team will continue to be tested regularly for COVID-19 while in Phoenix. While in the desert, the coaches, student-athletes and staff members will be in as controlled an environment as possible while getting the opportunity to host games against conference opponents.
ABOUT ARIZONA
San José State has played 10 games in the 48th State throughout the program's history. This week's series will mark the first contests held at Ability360 Sports & Fitness.
BATTLE IN BOISE
Undaunted by a road game at elevation against a team with the nation's sixth-longest active winning streak, the Spartans took the defending Mountain West champions all the way to the buzzer in a 77-75 loss on New Year's Eve. The game marked the program's best performance in a road game against Boise State since the 2005-06 season (won 69-64).
CYD THE KID
Despite the defeat, senior Cydni Lewis had a career day in last week's first game at Boise State. The forward finished the afternoon with 20 points and 13 rebounds, marking the first double-double of Lewis' career.
MORE LEWIS
Cydni Lewis tallied 20 and 10 points, respectively, in each game at Boise State, marking the first time she's scored in double figures in consecutive conference games since her freshman season of 2017-18 (11 vs. Colorado State, 12 at Fresno State).
SUCCESS IN MOUNTAIN WEST OPENERS
SJSU's victory over Utah State last month marked the program's sixth win in its last seven conference openers.
M3GHAN 0B3RG
Behind the strength of a career-high four made three-pointers, senior Meghan Oberg recorded a career-high 18 points in the team's December victory over Utah State.
SINCE BACK WHEN IT WAS THE PAC-10
SJSU's win over California marked the program's first victory over a Pac-12 opponent since back when the conference was named the Pac-10 (68-66 at No. 22 California - Dec. 9, 2009).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE, WHITEHEAD STYLE
Senior Tyra Whitehead is the Mountain West's only performer to tally three double-doubles in her first three games of the 2020-21 season.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS (AND THE BALL)
San José State has turned the ball over just 51 times this season, a mark that leads the Mountain West and ranks No. 23 in all of Division I.
JUST 2020 THINGS
Still getting used to playing basketball in a pandemic season, the Spartans have played just four games to date - the fewest of all schools in the Mountain West. The program was also the last one in the nation allowed to conduct indoor workouts and practices this offseason, instead utilizing four outdoor baskets that were constructed onto a campus tennis court.
WHITE(HEAD) NOISE
Senior Tyra Whitehead currently leads the Mountain West in rebounding and ranks inside the top-60 nationally. As a team, the Spartans rank second in the conference and are No. 31 nationally with an average of 44.7 rebounds per game.
Rank / Player / Rebounds Per Game
1. Tyra Whitehead (San José State) 9.5
2. Lore Devos (Colorado State) 8.6
3. Mercedes Staples (San Diego State) 8.5
4. Jessica Chatman (Utah State) 8.1
ACTUALLY, STEALING IS GOOD
Tyra Whitehead has been putting up monster stats both on the glass and on defense this season, currently ranking third in the Mountain West in steals.
Rank / Player / Steals Per Game
1. Briana Autrey (Air Force) 3.9
2. Shaiquel McGruder (New Mexico) 2.6
T3. Tyra Whitehead (San José State) 2.5
T3. Emily Conroe (Air Force) 2.5
5. Sophia Ramos (San Diego State) 2.2
LONG LAYOFF
25 days between SJSU's first and second games of the year marked the longest in-season layoff in program history, topping the previous highs of 17 days.
Layoff Duration Dates First Result Upon Return
25 days 11/26/20 - 12/20/20 Win (78-73 vs. Utah State)
17 days 12/11/89 - 12/27/89 Win (75-55 vs. Santa Clara)
17 days 12/14/85 - 12/30/85 Loss (60-45 at Santa Clara)
16 days 12/12/90 - 12/27/90 Loss (80-71 vs. Portland State)
14 days 12/15/87 - 12/28/87 Loss (86-47 vs. Duke)
ON THE BENCH
San José State features one of the country's youngest coaching staffs. Prior to arriving in Silicon Valley, head coach Jamie Craighead was the youngest coach in the nation when she took over at Sacramento State in 2009.
Team / Average Age (In Years)
North Dakota State: 30
UNLV: 30
Arkansas State: 31.5
Utah State: 31.5
San José State: 32.5
TURNAROUND
No team in the nation had a larger single-season win turnaround than San José State last year. The Spartans went from six victories in the 2018-19 season to 19 wins on the 2019-20 campaign.
BEST WIN TURNAROUNDS IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Last year's Spartan team set a school record for the best turnaround in program history:
Seasons Wins Increase
2018-19 to 2019-20 6 to 19 +13
1999-00 to 2000-01 3 to 13 +10
2010-11 to 2011-12 2 to 11 +9
1992-93 to 1993-94 5 to 14 +9
1997-78 to 1978-79 17 to 24 +7
THE STREAK THAT WILL NOT END (HOPEFULLY)
San José State has scored in 1,123 consecutive games since the NCAA began sponsoring women's basketball.
SPARTANS IN THE NEWS
Be sure to bookmark our clips and links page for all of the latest San José State women's basketball coverage.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE MEDIA INFORMATION
For any information concerning Mountain West basketball, contact Theresa Kurtz, Associate Director of Strategic Communications. Mountain West information is also available online at www.themw.com.
SPARTAN ATHLETICS FUND FAN CUTOUTS
Spartan Nation, don't miss your chance to be represented in the stands at the Provident Credit Union Event Center this season by grabbing your Cardboard Cutout today. If interested, follow this link to register!