State Farm Holiday Hoops Classic Fan Central
The State Farm Holiday Hoops Classic: The Seattle University women's basketball team will host the State Farm Holiday Hoops Classic from Dec. 29-30, at the Elgin Baylor Court at KeyArena at Seattle Center. The two-day classic will feature Gonzaga, Loyola Marymount and No. 15/17 Notre Dame.
The Redhawk women (4-9) will open with LMU (5-7) on Wednesday, Dec. 28, in a 7 p.m. game. They will conclude action the following day in a 7 p.m. contest versus Gonzaga (10-3).
Last Time Out: The Redhawks return home after going 1-2 on their three-game road swing in Northern California. They opened up the road trip with an all-around solid performance at Sacramento State on Dec. 17. SU defeated the Hornets 92-82, behind 71 boards and five players scoring in double figures.
Their momentum did not last, as they were edged in the second half at Santa Clara on Dec. 19, falling 63-60. The Redhawks closed out their pre-Christmas trip at Saint Mary's (Calif.). Seattle U dropped an 80-64 decision to the Gaels.
On Deck: Seattle U will open 2011 with a 7:30 p.m. contest versus Navy on Saturday, Jan. 1, in the Connolly Center.
Follow the Game: Fans can follow all the Redhawk women's basketball action at the State Farm Holiday Hoops Classic by logging onto www.GoSeattleU.com. Live stats, audio and streaming will be available for SU's game at Sacramento State.
Listen Up!: Brian Abker and current Seattle Storm color analyst Adia Barnes will be live from courtside for all of SU's home games this season. Live audio is free on www.GoSeattleU.com.
Can You See Me?: The Seattle U athletics department is proud to announce live video streaming for all Redhawk women's home games. Streaming is free and can be accessed on www.GoSeattleU.com.
Featured at the State Farm Holiday Hoops Classic: The Seattle University women's basketball auction will be hosted during the State Farm Holiday Hoops Classic. The auction will feature different items each day and will run before the first game through halftime of the second game. The auction will be located on the concourse of KeyArena. Bid numbers will be given at the location of the auction for those interested in participating. All proceeds will go to the Seattle University women's basketball program.
Items include: dinner for nine (9) with head coach Joan Bonvicini, athletics director Bill Hogan and SU President Fr. Steve Sundborg; a vacation to Mexico; Seattle U season tickets; tickets to the SU vs. Washington game; a Mariner's Suite; and much more!
Let's Rewind: The Redhawks established several new season highs in their game at Sacramento State on Dec. 17, including scoring a season-best 92 points. They tallied 71 boards, posting 34 offensive rebounds which they converted into 27 second chance points. Freshman Sylvia Shephard also scored a career high 22 points in the game, slamming in four three-pointers.
Newbie Becoming Offensive Leader: Freshman Sylvia Shephard was a breakout performer in California last week. She scored in double digits twice during the three-game road swing, including a career high 22 points at Sacramento State on Dec. 17. She closed out the road trip with 19 points at Saint Mary's on Dec. 21, to score 49 off the bench points over three games.
The Steal Counter: Sophomore transfer Daidra Brown currently is on pace to break the single-season steal record for the Seattle U. She currently is averaging 3.5 steals per game, behind 45 total steals in 13 games played. The current record is held by Jackie Thomas' 2007-08 3.1 steals per game.
A Familiar Face: Senior transfer Salena Dickerson will face her former team in Gonzaga this week. She attended GU as a freshman in 2006-07, where she redshirted the season. Dickerson spent two seasons at Washington State before joining SU last year, where she redshirted her true senior season.
At Seattle U, the Federal Way, Wash. has started in all 13 games this season is the team's top rebounder with 6.8 rpg. She is the team's second top scorer (10.5 ppg).
Jesuit Basketball Spotlight: Seattle U will face a pair of fellow Jesuit institutions this week at the State Farm Holiday Hoops Classic. Their games versus Loyola Marymount and Gonzaga will be featured on the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight, which acknowledges more than 90 games this season between men's and women's teams from the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities across the United States.
Each of the 28 is dedicated to strong academics and teaching women and men to serve others and live a faith that does justice. Jesuit, Catholic colleges and universities in the United States have more than 200,000 students currently and more than 1.7 million living alumni. The Jesuit educational mission began in Europe approximately 500 years ago.
The Redhawks faced fellow JBS team Santa Clara on Dec. 19.
SEVENTY-ONE!: Seattle U tallied a season high 71 rebounds at Sacramento State on Dec. 17. Single-game records were not kept prior to SU reclassifying back to NCAA DI status. The 71 boards are a most Seattle U has made in a single-game since playing a full DI schedule last season.
Redhawk Trends: Seattle U is 4-1 when leading at halftime in games this season.
Some Coaching History: While Seattle U and Notre Dame will not face off at the State Farm Holiday Hoops Classic, the two-day event does feature a pair of decorated NCAA Division I head coaches. SU's Joan Bonvicini and ND's Muffet McGraw both enter classic action with 622 career victories, holding the No. 11 rank on the all-time wins list among active DI coaches and the tandem are No. 16 all-time in DI history.
Kerfoot Named to All-Tournament Team: Co-captain and point guard Elle Kerfoot was the selected to the Seattle U Thanksgiving All-Tournament Team on Nov. 27, following her 30 point performance and helping guide SU to the championship game.
Seattle U Inks Three for 2011-12: Monique Abbs (Phoenix, Ariz.), Renee Dillard-Brown (Seattle, Wash.) and Kim Flournoy (San Diego, Calif.) will join the Seattle U women's team next season. This is the second recruiting class head coach Joan Bonvicini has signed since joining SU for the 2009-10 season.
Scouting Loyola Marymount: The Loyola Marymount Lions (5-7) head to the Emerald City riding a three-game losing skid. They played all three games on the road and fell by margins of 20 points or more, seeing the final pre-Christmas loss to ULAR on Dec. 20, 54-33.
LMU's leading scorer six games into the year, Alex Cowling (22.5 ppg) is out for the remainder of the season. Leading the current charge is Candice Nichols, who is the team's scoring and rebounding leader (13.6 ppg and 5.3 rpg), and has a team-leading 27 steals. Hazel Ramirez is also scoring in double figures, with 10.6 ppg.
Last Time Seattle U Faced Loyola Marymount: The Redhawks are 0-1 all-time versus the Lions. In the first meeting, last season on Dec. 30, 2009 Seattle U dropped a heartbreaker, 74-68, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Scouting Gonzaga: Gonzaga University (10-3) heads west behind an eight-game winning streak. The Bulldogs, who are outscoring opponents by 24.1 ppg, are coming off a 101-52 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 23, at home. It was the third game this season they scored over 100 points.
The Zags are led by four players scoring in double figures, with Katelan Redmon leading the charge with 18.5 ppg. Reinging WCC Player of the Year Courtney Vandersloot is averaging 17.5 ppg and 9.7 apg. Kayla Standish is the team's top rebounder with 7.7 rpg in 13 straight starts.
Gonzaga will open the State Farm Holiday Hoops Classic with Notre Dame, prior to playing Seattle U.
Last Time Seattle U Faced Gonzaga: The Redhawks are 4-9 all-time versus the Bulldogs. SU went 4-0 in their initial four meetings, but the Zags currently are on a 9-0 run versus Seattle U. The squads last met in Seattle on Dec. 29, 2003. GU defeated SU 76-40.