Jan. 13, 2005
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - WCC hoops coverage tips off this weekend with two men's games and one women's game on January 15. On the men's side, the Santa Clara Broncos head to Moraga to face the Saint Mary's Gaels, while the Pepperdine Waves travel to Gonzaga in a battle between two of the top teams in the conference. That same day, the Gonzaga women's hoops team travels to Malibu to take on first-year Head Coach Julie Rousseau and the Pepperdine Waves. The weekend's television coverage is wrapped up on Sunday, January 16 as the Portland Pilots host the LMU Lions.
January 15 - 5:00 PM
Pepperdine (12-5, 2-0) at Gonzaga (11-3, 1-1)<
Location: Spokane, Wash. - McCarthey Athletic Center
TV: FSN Northwest, West
Why To Watch: In what should be the first of two great games between these two WCC title-contending teams, the Waves head to Spokane to take on the No. 16 ranked Bulldogs. The Bulldogs or the Waves have captured the last five WCC regular season crowns. Pepperdine boasts one of the best kept secrets in the nation in senior forward Glen McGowan. McGowan, who recently scored 31 points and grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds (a national high at the time) in a win over Colorado State, tossed in 29 points in the Waves' earlier season win over then-No. 20 Wisconsin.
Pepperdine's Key Players: Glen McGowan - 21.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg; Alex Acker - 15.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.1 apg.
Gonzaga's Key Players: Adam Morrison - 19.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg; Derek Raivio - 12.7 ppg, 5.3 apg.
January 15 - 5:00 PM
Santa Clara (8-9, 1-1) at Saint Mary's (15-4, 2-0)<
Location: Moraga, Calif. - McKeon Pavilion
TV: FSN Bay Area
Why To Watch: Saint Mary's is the hottest team in the WCC, riding a nine-game winning streak heading into this weekend. The Gaels are coming off of a big win over Gonzaga and sit atop the conference standings with Pepperdine with identical 2-0 records. Despite their 8-9 record, Santa Clara can play with anyone in the country and will be anything but a pushover this weekend.
Santa Clara's Key Players: Travis Niesen - 16.1, 4.2 rpg; Doron Perkins - 15.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg.
Saint Mary's Key Players: Paul Marigney - 14.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg; Daniel Kickert - 14.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg.
January 15 - 7:00 PM (Women's Hoops)
Gonzaga (13-2, 2-0) at Pepperdine (5-10, 1-1)<
Location: Malibu, Calif. - Firestone Fieldhouse
TV: FSN West 2, Northwest (Delayed on NW at 9:00 PM PST)
Why To Watch: The Bulldogs will travel down south to play Pepperdine in Malibu at Firestone Field House. The Bulldogs will put their nine-game winning streak on the line against the Waves. GU opened WCC action with victories over Santa Clara and Saint Mary's, while the Waves gained a win over San Diego and lost to San Francisco. Two Bulldogs should reach milestones in the game as Ashley Burke is one rebound short of 600 and Shannon Mathews is one assist shy of 500. The Waves' Jennifer Lacy paces the WCC in scoring with a 16.1 average and grabs 8.7 rebounds per game. Pepperdine holds an all-time record of 26-12 over Gonzaga.
Gonzaga's Key Players: Ashley Burke - 12.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg; Shannon Mathews - 10 ppg, 6.5 apg.
Pepperdine's Key Players: Jennifer Lacy - 16.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg; Teiosha George - 7.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg.
January 16 - 5:00 PM
Loyola Marymount (9-6, 1-1) at Portland (11-6, 0-2)<
Location: Portland, Ore. - Chiles Center
TV: FSN Northwest, West 2
Why To Watch: Portland fourth-year Head Coach Michael Holton and the Pilots were selected eighth in the preseason coach's poll, but they haven't played like a last place team in the early going, posting an 11-6 record. After a tough Bay Area road trip to begin conference play, the Pilots return to the friendly confines of the Chiles Center to face a solid LMU squad. Lions' sophomore forward Matthew Knight has emerged as on the conference's most promising young players, leading LMU in scoring (15.3 ppg) and rebounding (5.9 rpg).
Loyola Marymount's Key Players: Charles Brown - 12.0 ppg, 3.6 apg; Matthew Knight - 15.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg.
Portland's Key Players: Pooh Jeter - 15.9 ppg, 3.5 apg; Marcus Lewis - 9.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg.