Feb 25, 2009

Occidental to Hosts Thursday Semifinal Game in SCIAC Postseason Women’s Basketball Tournament

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2009) – After claiming their second consecutive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in as many years, the Occidental College women’s basketball program has earned the top seed entering the 2009 SCIAC Post Season Tournament, beginning Thursday, Feb. 26 night at 7:30 p.m.

Occidental (20-5, 12-2 SCIAC), who claimed back-to-back titles on Saturday night will host the fourth seeded Whittier College Poets (16-9, 8-6) at Rush Gymnasium while the University of Redlands (19-6, 11-3), who finished second, will host the University of La Verne (18-6, 10-4).

Tickets for the event are $5 for adults, $2 for children 13 and under and senior citizens 55 and older and free to Occidental and Whittier faculty, staff and students with current ID cards. The Ticket booth will open one hour prior to tip-off.

The Tigers have defeated the Poets twice this season, winning 68-46 at home on Jan. 22 before earning a 78-63 victory at Whittier on Feb. 14. Oxy split with both other teams in the tournament, suffering a season opening loss at Redlands (73-46) before avenging the Bulldogs victory with a 66-50 victory of their own at Rush Gymnasium on Jan. 31. A devastating 65-60 loss at the hands of the Leopards on Jan. 29 was erased with a season finale 57-54.

The Teams in the Tournament

Occidental is second in the conference in scoring with 64.4 points per game, second to La Verne who put up 64.9 ppg. Whittier and Redlands finished with 63.8 and 62.9 ppg, respectively. The Leopards were accurate from the field 47.8% of the time while Oxy shot 43.3% from the field. Redlands finished with a shooting percentage of 42 while Whittier made 38% of their field goals this season.

The Tigers have three players who average double figure scoring in SCIAC play, with defending SCIAC Player of the Year Brianne Brown leading the way with 15.4 points per game. Dior Williams and Stephanie Babij have scored 11.9 and 10.5 points per game this winter. Babij led all players with a 57.9 FG% serving as a presence in the paint for Oxy all season.

Whittier’s Kourtney Zilbert is third in the conference with 14.8 ppg and Tina Merlino also boasts double figures in SCIAC play with 10.7 ppg. Emily Carillo from the University of La Verne leads all players with 15.5 ppg and Ashley Paul finished SCIAC play with 13.1 ppg for the Leos. Carillo was second to Babij with a 53.8 FG% followed by Zilbert (52.4), Williams (51.1) and Brown (49.7).

Both La Verne and Redlands were the biggest three-point shooting threats with 37.6 and 37.5 3FG%, respectively. Oxy was 36.3% from long range and Whittier struggled from behind the arc shooting just 24.2% overall. Kayleen Kaaiai (ULV – 45.5%), Ali Bueno (UR – 44.2%) and Brown (41.5%) were among the top-five most accurate three-point shooters in the conference.

At the charity stripe the Leopards again led the way (70.0%) followed by Redlands (67.7%) and Whittier (64.6%) in third and fourth. Occidental combined to shoot 62% from the free-throw line this season.

Occidental has held its opponents to 49.2 ppg to lead the SCIAC and have won by the largest margin at +15.1 points. Redlands won by 12.5 ppg on average, holding their opposition to 50 points. La Verne also won by double figures, on average, with a +10.4 margin of victory. Whittier played closer games this season, winning by just 2.3 ppg.

The Tigers averaged 15.1 assists per game, behind 3.5 apg from Britinee Yasukochi, followed by Redlands (14.4) and La Verne (13.2) with Whittier recording (11.1).

The Poets came away with the most steals in the league (197), which equates to 14.1 per game. Occidental finished with 13.9 while UR and ULV finished with respective 7.4 and 6.4 steals per game. Williams had by far the most steals this season with 4.36 steals per game. Zilbert finished with 3.07 spg and Brown chipped in with 2.93 spg. The Leos committed a conference low 15.4 turnovers per game and Oxy lost the ball 16.8 times per game. Redlands turned the ball over 18.6 times per game and Whittier committed 20.7 turnovers per game.

Redlands led the conference rebounding this year with 40.9 rebounds per game while Whittier grabbed 38.2 rebounds per game. Oxy finished with 35.7 rpg and ULV pulled down just 31.6 rpg. Redlands held the highest rebounding margin, with 8.7 more rebounds per game than their opponents and Oxy finished with 5.6 more rpg than the opposition.

Zilbert led all players with 8.4 rpg followed by Babij (7.9), Carillo (7.6) and Mariah Barbetti-Cort from Redlands with 7.5.

Redlands finished the regular season with 54 blocked shots while Occidental was tied for third(38) as ULV (28) and Whittier (26) rounded out the conference. Mackenzie Smith (UR) had 1.5 blocks per game, Carillo had 1.29 and Courtney Carroll (UR) finished with 1.21 per game.

Players to Watch on Thursday

Occidental
The Big three for Occidental all season have been Brown, Williams and Babij. Brown turned in back-to-back 25-point performances against Pomona-Pitzer and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Feb. 7 and 12 and also poured in 25 against Redlands on Jan. 31. Brown also has chipped in with 5.0 rebounds per game, as has Asha Jordan. Babij recorded three double-doubles this season and was a rebound away twice. This week she came up huge with a 20-point, nine rebound performance against Caltech, but more impressively she served as an inside presence on Saturday against ULV, providing 13 points. Williams has been an offensive and defensive nuisance all season, scoring in double figures 10 times, compiling 61 steals and 40 assists. Brown and Babij have 11 and 10 blocks, respectively. Yasukochi has a team-high 49 assists.

Whittier
Zilbert, a sophomore forward has been the leader of the Poets all season and is coming off a huge week. Against Pomona-Pitzer on Feb. 19 she recorded a monster double-doubles with 17 points and 18 rebounds, adding a 20-point, 17-rebound night in overtime against CMS on Feb. 21. Morgan Sabala has scored 9.7 ppg and Merlino has added 6.4 rpg for the Poets. Zilbert has a team-high 43 steals and nine blocks. Sabala leads the team with 32 assists while Zilbert and Ashley Viera each have dished out 25 assists.

Projected Starters
Whittier College
#00 Kourtney Zilbert, SO, Forward,
#1 Stephanie Anderson, SR, Guard
#10 Tina Merlino, SO, Forward
#21 Morgan Sabala, SO, Guard
#25 Brittany Aranda, FR, Guard

Occidental College
#3 Britinee Yasukochi, JR, Guard
#5 Dior Williams, JR (RS), Guard
#31 Madeline Rose, SO, Forward
#32 Brianne Brown, SR, Guard
#35 Stephanie Babij, SO, Guard

The winner of both games will meet in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament Championship game, which will occur on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. on the home court of the highest remaining seed. The team that wins the SCIAC Postseason Tournament earns the conference’s automatic bid into the 2009 NCAA Division III Post Season.



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(Feb. 25, 2009) – After claiming their second consecutive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in as many years, the Occidental College women’s basketball program has earned the top seed entering the 2009 SCIAC Post Season Tournament, beginning Thursday, Feb. 26 night at 7:30 p.m. Occidental (20-5, 12-2 SCIAC), who claimed back-to-back titles on Saturday night will host the fourth seeded Whittier College Poets (16-9, 8-6) at Rush Gymnasium while the University of Redlands (19-6, 11-3), who finished second, will host the University of La Verne (18-6, 10-4). Tickets for the event are $5 for adults, $2 for children 13 and under and senior citizens 55 and older and free to Occidental and Whittier faculty, staff and students with current ID cards. The Ticket booth will open one hour prior to tip-off. The Tigers have defeated the Poets twice this season, winning 68-46 at home on Jan. 22 before earning a 78-63 victory at Whittier on Feb. 14. Oxy split with both other teams in the tournament, suffering a season opening loss at Redlands (73-46) before avenging the Bulldogs victory with a 66-50 victory of their own at Rush Gymnasium on Jan. 31. A devastating 65-60 loss at the hands of the Leopards on Jan. 29 was erased with a season finale 57-54. The Teams in the Tournament Occidental is second in the conference in scoring with 64.4 points per game, second to La Verne who put up 64.9 ppg. Whittier and Redlands finished with 63.8 and 62.9 ppg, respectively. The Leopards were accurate from the field 47.8% of the time while Oxy shot 43.3% from the field. Redlands finished with a shooting percentage of 42 while Whittier made 38% of their field goals this season. The Tigers have three players who average double figure scoring in SCIAC play, with defending SCIAC Player of the Year Brianne Brown leading the way with 15.4 points per game. Dior Williams and Stephanie Babij have scored 11.9 and 10.5 points per game this winter. Babij led all players with a 57.9 FG% serving as a presence in the paint for Oxy all season. Whittier’s Kourtney Zilbert is third in the conference with 14.8 ppg and Tina Merlino also boasts double figures in SCIAC play with 10.7 ppg. Emily Carillo from the University of La Verne leads all players with 15.5 ppg and Ashley Paul finished SCIAC play with 13.1 ppg for the Leos. Carillo was second to Babij with a 53.8 FG% followed by Zilbert (52.4), Williams (51.1) and Brown (49.7). Both La Verne and Redlands were the biggest three-point shooting threats with 37.6 and 37.5 3FG%, respectively. Oxy was 36.3% from long range and Whittier struggled from behind the arc shooting just 24.2% overall. Kayleen Kaaiai (ULV – 45.5%), Ali Bueno (UR – 44.2%) and Brown (41.5%) were among the top-five most accurate three-point shooters in the conference. At the charity stripe the Leopards again led the way (70.0%) followed by Redlands (67.7%) and Whittier (64.6%) in third and fourth. Occidental combined to shoot 62% from the free-throw line this season. Occidental has held its opponents to 49.2 ppg to lead the SCIAC and have won by the largest margin at +15.1 points. Redlands won by 12.5 ppg on average, holding their opposition to 50 points. La Verne also won by double figures, on average, with a +10.4 margin of victory. Whittier played closer games this season, winning by just 2.3 ppg. The Tigers averaged 15.1 assists per game, behind 3.5 apg from Britinee Yasukochi, followed by Redlands (14.4) and La Verne (13.2) with Whittier recording (11.1). The Poets came away with the most steals in the league (197), which equates to 14.1 per game. Occidental finished with 13.9 while UR and ULV finished with respective 7.4 and 6.4 steals per game. Williams had by far the most steals this season with 4.36 steals per game. Zilbert finished with 3.07 spg and Brown chipped in with 2.93 spg. The Leos committed a conference low 15.4 turnovers per game and Oxy lost the ball 16.8 times per game. Redlands turned the ball over 18.6 times per game and Whittier committed 20.7 turnovers per game. Redlands led the conference rebounding this year with 40.9 rebounds per game while Whittier grabbed 38.2 rebounds per game. Oxy finished with 35.7 rpg and ULV pulled down just 31.6 rpg. Redlands held the highest rebounding margin, with 8.7 more rebounds per game than their opponents and Oxy finished with 5.6 more rpg than the opposition. Zilbert led all players with 8.4 rpg followed by Babij (7.9), Carillo (7.6) and Mariah Barbetti-Cort from Redlands with 7.5. Redlands finished the regular season with 54 blocked shots while Occidental was tied for third(38) as ULV (28) and Whittier (26) rounded out the conference. Mackenzie Smith (UR) had 1.5 blocks per game, Carillo had 1.29 and Courtney Carroll (UR) finished with 1.21 per game. Players to Watch on Thursday Occidental The Big three for Occidental all season have been Brown, Williams and Babij. Brown turned in back-to-back 25-point performances against Pomona-Pitzer and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Feb. 7 and 12 and also poured in 25 against Redlands on Jan. 31. Brown also has chipped in with 5.0 rebounds per game, as has Asha Jordan. Babij recorded three double-doubles this season and was a rebound away twice. This week she came up huge with a 20-point, nine rebound performance against Caltech, but more impressively she served as an inside presence on Saturday against ULV, providing 13 points. Williams has been an offensive and defensive nuisance all season, scoring in double figures 10 times, compiling 61 steals and 40 assists. Brown and Babij have 11 and 10 blocks, respectively. Yasukochi has a team-high 49 assists. Whittier Zilbert, a sophomore forward has been the leader of the Poets all season and is coming off a huge week. Against Pomona-Pitzer on Feb. 19 she recorded a monster double-doubles with 17 points and 18 rebounds, adding a 20-point, 17-rebound night in overtime against CMS on Feb. 21. Morgan Sabala has scored 9.7 ppg and Merlino has added 6.4 rpg for the Poets. Zilbert has a team-high 43 steals and nine blocks. Sabala leads the team with 32 assists while Zilbert and Ashley Viera each have dished out 25 assists. Projected Starters Whittier College #00 Kourtney Zilbert, SO, Forward, #1 Stephanie Anderson, SR, Guard #10 Tina Merlino, SO, Forward #21 Morgan Sabala, SO, Guard #25 Brittany Aranda, FR, Guard Occidental College #3 Britinee Yasukochi, JR, Guard #5 Dior Williams, JR (RS), Guard #31 Madeline Rose, SO, Forward #32 Brianne Brown, SR, Guard #35 Stephanie Babij, SO, Guard The winner of both games will meet in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament Championship game, which will occur on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. on the home court of the highest remaining seed. The team that wins the SCIAC Postseason Tournament earns the conference’s automatic bid into the 2009 NCAA Division III Post Season.

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Occidental to Hosts Thursday Semifinal Game in SCIAC Postseason Women’s Basketball Tournament