THE WEEK AHEAD: The Roadrunners' brief but glorious run in the CCAA comes to a close this week as they host their final conference games. The 'Runners will bid adieu to NCAA Regional contender Cal State San Bernardino Friday (Mar. 2). They will host the biggest rival of their NCAA Division II history Saturday (Mar. 3) when five–time NCAA champion Cal Poly Pomona visits.
Both games will tipoff at 5:30 p.m. as the opening games of men's/women's doubleheader action.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: The 'Runners would like nothing better than to leave the CCAA looking down from the top of the standings. One win clinches at least a tie for first place. Two wins will clinch first place outright.
While the game will not affect San Bernardino's postseason aspirations, the Coyotes would love to generate some momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament with a win Friday night. Cal Poly, meanwhile, hopes to close a rebuilding season with a win over its old rival.
TICKET INFO: Advance single game tickets for Roadrunner Basketball are on sale now. For more information, call (661) 654–BLUE or visit us online at www.gorunners.com.
ON DECK: With the season over, the 'Runners will begin preparing for their first full NCAA Division I schedule starting in Nov., 2007.
COYOTE NOTES (16-9, 12-8 CCAA)
The Coyotes enter the final weekend in prime NCAA Tour-nament position…started red hot at 11–4 but have gone just 5–5 since then, dropping 3 of their last 4…have allowed 70+ points just twice and lead the CCAA in scoring defense at 53.5 ppg allowed …Jr. C Vanessa Wilt averages a double–double (18.4 ppg and 10.0 rpg).
SERIES HISTORY: CSUB leads 12–1…CSUB leads the series in Bakersfield 5–1…This will be San Bernardino's 1st game in the Icardo Center…CSUB took the 1st meeting, 59–51, behind 19 points from Kelley Tarver…The only Coyote win in the series came at Rabobank Arena in Feb., 2005.
LAST 10 MEETINGS
2007 'RUNNERS 59, @SB 51
2006 'RUNNERS 68, @SB 63
2006 @'RUNNERS 73, SB 69
2005 SB 74, @'RUNNERS 59
2005 'RUNNERS 67, @SB 54
2004 'RUNNERS 64, @SB 63
2004 @'RUNNERS 67, SB 53
2003 @'RUNNERS 75, SB 46
2003 'RUNNERS 61, @SB 43
2002 'RUNNERS 74, @SB 60
BRONCO NOTES (7-18, 6-14 CCAA)
The Broncos are rebuilding under interim Coach Michelle Fortier, but have defeated 2 likely NCAA qualifiers this season (Sonoma State and San Bernardino)…have lost 4 of 5 and 7 of 9 entering the week…Jr. F Vanessa Dominguez (11.6 ppg) and Jr. G Ashley Moody (11.0 ppg) are the only Broncos averaging double figures.
SERIES HISTORY: CSUB leads the series 9–6…The series is tied in Bakersfield, 3–3…After Cal Poly won the first 3 games in the series, CSUB has gone 9–3…CSUB has met CPP more times (15) then any other opponent…Rhonda Johnson's 22 points led CSUB to an 81–71 win at CPP on Jan. 26.
LAST 10 MEETINGS
2007 'RUNNERS 81, @CPP 71
2006 @'RUNNERS 72, CPP 49
2006 'RUNNERS 90, @CPP 47
2005 'RUNNERS 100, @CPP 99 (ot)
2005 @'RUNNERS 86, CPP 74
*2004 CPP 87, 'RUNNERS 84
2004 'RUNNERS 87, @CPP 70
2004 CPP 71, @'RUNNERS 64
2003 @'RUNNERS 98, CPP 91
2003 'RUNNERS 92, @CPP 90 (ot)
*NCAA West Regionals
WHAT ARE THE ROADRUNNERS? With the Roadrunners beginning their four–year transition to full NCAA Division I status this season, a common question that comes up is, “what division are the 'Runners?”
For this season (and the next three) CSUB is considered an NCAA Division I institution. Because the 'Runners are not playing a full Division I schedule in 2006–07, however, they are not an RPI counter against Division I opponents this season. They already count as an NCAA Division I opponent when playing DII, DIII and NAIA members.
The 'Runners are scheduled to become NCAA Division I championship eligible beginning in the 2010–11 season.
WIN STREAK HITS 13: With two wins last week, the 'Runners upped their longest win streak of the season to 13 games. They now have accomplished the exceedingly rare feat of posting at least one five–game (or better) winning streak in all seven seasons of their existence.
This is the third–longest winning streak in 'Runner women's basketball history. It also marks the 14th time in less than seven full seasons of women's basketball in Bakersfield that the team has won at least four games in a row.
WINNING BIG: It's not just that the 'Runners are winning games, it's they way they are winning that makes the current streak so impressive. Only two wins in the streak has come by fewer than 10 points (including a 59–51 win at Cal State San Bernardino). Remarkably, five of the wins have come by 27 or more points, including three wins by 40 or more.
Bakersfield's average margin of victory during its current streak is +21.8 points per game.
ANOTHER 20–WIN SEASON: Last Thursday's win at Humboldt State was Bakersfield's 20th of the season, giving the 'Runners their seventh 20–win season in as many tries. Without counting potential wins this weekend, the 'Runners have averaged a remarkable 23 wins per season over their brief but (albeit remarkable) history.
'RUNNERS LEAVE STAMP OF PERFECTION: The 'Runners said “sayonara” to NCAA Division II play with their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid in 2006. That accomplishment gave the Roadrunners the distinction of earning an NCAA Tournament bid in every season of their existence—a record unlikely to be matched in NCAA play.
While Bakersfield's NCAA streak will end this season (the Roadrunners are ineligible for NCAA Championship play during their transition to Division I), it serves only to highlight the program's remarkable run since its inception six years ago. In 2001, CSUB became the first team in NCAA basketball history—men's or women's—at any level to reach the NCAA Tournament in its first season of existence.
The 'Runners followed that effort by tying a record set by the 'Runner men's team when they won their first NCAA Tournament game in their second season, beating Seattle Pacific 96–84 in 2002 (for the record, the 'Runner men beat the University of San Diego 50–44 in their second–ever season of 1973).
In 2003, CSUB not only advanced to the playoffs (again), it went on to capture the West Regional title and advance to the Elite 8 Championship.
LET'S PLAY TO 70: On the playground, basketball games generally are “timed” by score: That is the first to 11 (or 21, etc…) is the winner. For the 'Runners, 70 has been the magic number this season. Bakersfield is a spotless 14–0 when it scores at least 70 points this season.
35 MINUTES IS PLENTY: Of course, for those teams that insist on using a timer when playing the 'Runners, you might as well set the clock for 35 minutes. Bakersfield is 21–1 (19–0 vs. NCAA Division II competition) when leading with five minutes remaining this season.
'RUNNERS CELEBRATE NO. 200 WITH A W: The 'Runners played game No. 200 in the program's history last Saturday, defeating Sonoma State 68–60. The 'Runners own a 161–39 all–time record. Some other milestone games for the 'Runners:
1ST GAME: L. at Menlo College, 65–63
1ST WIN: d. Chapman University, 81–67
1ST HOME GAME: d. CS Dom. Hills, 74–57
50TH GAME: d. San Fran. State, 76–60
100TH GAME: L. at Cal State L.A., 96–90
150TH GAME: d. Grand Canyon, 105–68
ROADRUNNER BASKETBALL: A Championship Tradition
The 2006–07 season marks the seventh anniversary of Roadrunner women's basketball. The 'Runners have won an incredible 161 games against just 39 losses (.805).
More than just winning games, 'Runner basketball is about winning championships. Bakersfield has two CCAA titles and one NCAA West Region title. The 'Runners are the only team in NCAA history—men's or women's at any level—to reach the NCAA Tourney every season of their existence.
