Jan. 27, 2006
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28
Loyola Marymount (11-8, 5-1) at Pepperdine (6-13, 3-3)
Location: Malibu, Calif. - Firestone Field House
Time: 5:00 PM (PST)
Television: FSN West2
Preview: LMU travels to face local rival Pepperdine on Saturday, with the Lions sitting atop the WCC standings and the Waves looking to break out of the middle of the conference pack. LMU boasts a 5-1 mark in WCC play, and has been led by a host of experienced veterans. Six Lion players are averaging over 7.0 ppg, and Ashlee Dunlap is averaging a team-high 9.6 ppg with a conference-best 9.6 rpg. LMU is also capable of sinking teams from beyond the arc, as Amanda Patton currently ranks second in the WCC with 49 three pointers made and Rachael Ziemann set the program record with her 119th career trey earlier this season. The Waves return home after suffering a pair of defeats in the Bay Area last weekend, dropping their conference mark to 3-3. Five of Pepperdine's six victories this season have come within the friendly confines of Firestone Field House, including a pair of wins in WCC play. Pepperdine has been led by sophomore guard Daphanie Kennedy (12.2 ppg) and junior forward Jasmane Clarendon (11.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg) so far this season. Pepperdine leads the all-time series with LMU by a 29-11 margin, but has won just one of the last four meetings between the two programs.
LMU Player To Watch: Ashlee Dunlap - 9.6 ppg, 9.6 rpg
Pepperdine Player To Watch: Daphanie Kennedy - 12.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29
Saint Mary's (8-11, 3-3) at San Francisco (6-13, 2-4)
Location: San Francisco, Calif. - War Memorial Gymnasium
Time: 7:00 PM (PST)
Television: FSN Bay Area
Preview: Saint Mary's makes the short trip across the Bay to meet San Francisco at War Memorial Gym in a game between the top two scoring defenses in the WCC. Saint Mary's has held opponents to a league-low 61.2 ppg, while the Dons ranked second in the WCC by allowing just 62.9 ppg. The Gaels enter Sunday's game with an 8-11 overall record and a 3-3 mark in WCC play following a 70-58 loss at San Diego on Thursday, while the Dons have posted a 6-13 record and a 2-4 mark in conference play after falling to Santa Clara on Thursday, 66-61. The Gaels have been led by guard Jontelle Smith, the WCC's top scoring freshman. Smith has carried the scoring load for SMC, averaging 12.7 ppg and leading the Gaels in scoring in seven games so far this season. Sophomore Monica Mertle has surged as of late, leading SMC in scoring in two of the Gaels' last three games and ranking second on the squad with 9.6 ppg. San Francisco has been paced by the play of sophomore Dominique Carter and junior Nickie Warren. Carter leads the team and ranks fourth in the conference with 12.7 ppg, while ranking second on the team with 5.0 rpg. Warren, a transfer from Boston College, has emerged as a reliable contributor for the Dons, averaging 9.3 ppg and pulling down a team-high 6.4 rpg. Saint Mary's won a meeting between the two teams earlier this season in Moraga, 74-46.
Saint Mary's Player To Watch: Jontelle Smith - 11.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg
San Francisco Player To Watch: Dominique Carter - 12.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Saturday, January 28
Loyola Marymount Lions (8-12, 5-1) at Pepperdine Waves (6-12, 2-4)
Location: Malibu, Calif. - Firestone Fieldhouse
Time: 7:30 PM (PST)
Television: FSN West2
Preview: The Lions have been the surprise team of the WCC so far this season. They enter the final game of the first half of conference play at 5-1, the Lions best conference start since the 1989-90 season when they went to the Elite Eight. LMU has one last test before it makes the turn to the second half of conference play as the Lions travel to rival Pepperdine to take on the Waves in Malibu. The young Waves have experienced growing pains this season but proved that they can surprise anyone on any given night. Pepperdine snapped a three-game losing streak on Monday with an impressive 65-45 victory over Santa Clara. LMU first-year Head Coach Rodney Tention boasts one of the top big men in the conference in double-double machine Matthew Knight. The junior from Burnie, Tasmania, Australia leads the WCC with 11 double-doubles this season. Senior Wes Wardrop (14.5 ppg, 4.3 apg) and junior Brandon Worthy (12.9 ppg, 4.1 apg) give the Lions one of the most talented backcourts in the conference. The Waves counter with senior Tashaan Forehan-Kelly (13.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg), arguably the most improved player in the conference and freshman standout Michael Gerrity (15.0 ppg, 3.6 apg).
Loyola Marymount's Key Players: Matthew Knight - 16.2 ppg, 9.6 rpg; Wes Wardrop - 14.5 ppg, 4.3 apg
Pepperdine's Key Players: Michael Gerrity - 15.0 ppg, 3.6 apg; Tashaan Forehan-Kelly - 13.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg
Saturday, January 30
San Francisco Dons (7-11, 3-2) at Saint Mary's Gaels (8-9, 1-4)
Location: Moraga, Calif. - McKeon Pavilion
Time: 8:00 PM (PST)
Television: FSN Bay Area
Preview: Bay Area bragging rights are on the line as the San Francisco Dons travel across the Bay to take on the Saint Mary's Gaels in Moraga at McKeon Pavilion. USF, which has won three of its first five WCC games, must first get past Santa Clara on Saturday before its Monday showdown with Saint Mary's. Likewise, the Gaels will host San Diego on Saturday before welcoming in USF. Besides Bay Area bragging rights, this is an important game for both teams as they turn the corner to the second half of conference play. The Dons look to keep up with conference pace-setters Gonzaga and Loyola Marymount, while the Gaels look to shake their sluggish conference start and turn things around in the second half of WCC play. USF is coming off a tough 84-75 loss to seventh ranked Gonzaga last Monday before a sellout crowd at War Memorial Gymnasium. Junior Armondo Surratt dropped in a career-high 30 points versus Gonzaga and is a leading candidate for WCC Newcomer of the Year. The Gaels will rely on senior Daniel Kickert to lead a young but talented Saint Mary's squad. Kickert is averaging 16.4 points per game and ranks sixth in scoring in the WCC.
San Francisco's Key Players: Adam Morrison - 14.7 ppg, 5.3 apg; Alan Wiggins, Jr. - 13.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg
Saint Mary's Key Players: Daniel Kickert - 16.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg; Brett Collins - 10.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg