ARCATA – After a successful exhibition schedule in which they went 1-0, the Humboldt State women's basketball team opens its 2010-11 campaign in Monmouth Ore. at the Phoenix Inn Shootout this weekend. On Friday HSU opens the tournament with a 2 p.m. tipoff against the Saint Martin's University Saints. The next day, the Jacks play host Western Oregon at 2 p.m.
On-the-Air
Every Lumberjack basketball home game and conference road game is broadcast live over the local airways on KATA, 1340 AM, beginning with the pregame show 15 minutes prior to game time. Bicoastal Media Sports Director J.B. Mathers describes the action from Lumberjack Arena and HSU Assistant Athletic Director Dan Pambianco goes on the road with the Jacks. …Audio and video are also streamed live over the Internet through the hsujacks.com web site. The new UStream format allows an interactive chat between listeners during the webcast. The specific URL for access is located at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/humboldt-state-athletics.
Live Stats
All Lumberjack basketball home games can be tracked online by using the Live Stats feature on hsujacks.com. Real time statistics, momentum tracker and other information are featured on the game viewer. The feature can be found at http://www.sidearmstats.com/humboldt/wbball/.
Coach Joddie Gleason
Joddie Gleason enters her seventh season at the helm of the Humboldt State's women's basketball program, after leading the 2009-10 squad to a 20-11 overall record and 14-8 mark in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Finishing in a tie for fourth place in the conference, the Jacks went on a three-game tear and won the CCAA Tournament and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It was the team's third NCAA Division II West Regional birth in the last five years and just the fourth in school history.
Under Gleason, the Lumberjacks have won more games in the past five years than in any other five-year period and her .613 winning percentage is by far the best in school history. In her six years at HSU, Gleason has amassed a 106-67 overall mark and is 75-45 in league contests (54-30 in the CCAA and 21-15 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference).
Head-to-Head
Saint Martin's leads the all-time series 14-8. This game marks the first meeting between these two schools since the 2008-09 season. The Jacks took that matchup, at this same tournament, 77-55. As members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference the Saints held a 7-to-3 edge. … Western Oregon holds a 16-11 advantage over HSU in the all-time series. In the last meeting, at the Northwest Nazarene Tournament in 2008-09, the Jacks beat the Wolves 97-66. The two also played the previous week that year, at Western Oregon's Tournament, and HSU took that matchup 83-72. In the Coach Gleason era the Jacks hold a 9-1 advantage with the Wolves' lone win an 82-80 result in the 2007-08 season.
Projected Starters
G - #4 Jenna Hamilton, 5-6, Jr., Corona
G - #22 Catie Richards, 5-10, So., Snoqualmie, Wash.
F - #33 Taylor Kilgore, 5-10, Sr., Rocklin
F - #00 Bree Halsey, 6-0, Jr., Fresno
C - #34 Jeanette DeWitt, 6-0, Jr., Nipomo
Lumberjack Notes
Since the Oct. 15 opening practice session, Humboldt State's prospects for the season have been developing at a steady pace as the newcomers mesh with returners. But much more will be learned in live game action this week. "The players are coming together, learning their roles and getting more familiar with each other," HSU head coach Joddie Gleason said. "You can see it improving from one practice to the next." …Stepping up her game and giving the Jacks a real lift in the early going has been sophomore guard Catie Richards. Following a solid freshman season, Richards is displaying a more well-rounded approach to the game thus far, both offensively and defensively. In HSU's exhibition game against Simpson University, Richards scored 17 points, hitting from the perimeter and slashing to the basket. "Caties is playing with confidence," Gleason said. "She's worked hard to have a great season and is determined to make it happen." …Junior point guard Jenna Hamilton, who has transferred in from the University of Hawaii, has stepped in to fill the shoes of graduated senior Paige Peterson. "Jenna is quickly learning our system," Gleason said. "It's nice to have a player with such a willingness to learn playing the point." …Some bumps, bruises and sprains kept three players out of practice last week, but all have recovered. One player - redshirt freshman Kelly Kime - has experienced a relapse from an injury that kept her off the court last year, and must wait on testing to determine her status. "Kelly worked so hard in the weight room all summer, and was ready to contribute," Gleason said. "We certainly hope she can get cleared."
Opponent's Notes
Saint Martin's brings a 2-0 record into the week, both wins coming at home against Hawaii Hilo. The Saints defeated the Vulcans, 72-57 and 64-55 last week. …Senior forward Dara Zack leads a veteran Saints' squad into the 2010-11 season. Following the two games, the 5-11 Zack is averaging 22.5 points per game, and has hit 5-of-6 from three-point range. …Western Oregon is 0-1, having lost 110-70 to Oregon last Saturday in its season opener. The Wolves' exhibition slate included games at Portland State, Gonzaga, and Linfield. WOU fell to Portland State by 11 in its first contest and beat Linfield for the Wolves' lone preseason victory. …Sophomore guard Jamie Richardson started the season strong, leading all scorers with a career-high 20 points and adding a game-high six steals to go along with five rebounds and three assists.
Gleason's Comments
"We haven't played St. Martin's in a few years, so it will be interesting to see our match-up. They are a veteran tea, with four seniors and a junior, including an all-region player (Zack) returning. It will be a good first test for us." …"Western Oregon is another team we haven't seen in a few years. They have quite a few new players on the roster." …"Western is a team that likes to get up and down the floor, much like us. They really spread out the defense. I expect a high-scoring game."
