2019-20 Women's Basketball Notebook - Week 15

LIVE COVERAGE: Both games this weekend will have Live Video and Live Stats coverage. On Friday, Northwest Christian will provide Live Video and Live Stats on their Stretch Internet Portal. The Saturday contest at Corban will feature Live Video and Live Stats on their Stretch Internet Portal as well.

COMPLETE MEDIA GAME NOTES
 
CLINCHING THE POSTSEASON: The Yotes have now advanced to the postseason for 21 consecutive years, including 23 appearances in 25 seasons since women's basketball returned to the school in 1995. Over that span, C of I has posted a record of 31-28 in 59 postseason games. The program has an all-time record of 25-20 in the CCC Championships, winning tournament titles in 2010 and 2012 and advancing to the semifinals 15 times. Women's basketball has advanced to the NAIA Division II National Championships eight times, recording a 6-8 record and finishing as national runner-up in 2001 and earning a quarterfinal appearance in 2000.
 
PLAYOFF PICTURE: Entering the final weekend, C of I can finish anywhere from the four seed to the seven seed for the CCC Championships. A weekend sweep, combined with a Corban loss to Eastern Oregon, an Oregon Tech loss to Warner Pacific and a Warner Pacific loss at Southern Oregon would give the Yotes the No. 4 seed and a home game in the quarterfinals. If any of those scenarios do not happen, the Yotes will begin the postseason on the road.
 
REBOUNDING THE KEY STAT: When C of I has outrebounded opponents over the last 13 games they have gone 8-0. In the five contests where the opponent has won the rebounding battle, the Yotes are 0-5.
 
YOTE PACK SHOWING SUPPORT: Of the 11 women's basketball programs in the Cascade Conference, head coach Janis Beal's team has been the biggest draw so far this year, bringing in an average of 790 fans per game. Oregon Tech is in second with an average of 617 and Southern Oregon has averaged 497 fans. C of I is in position to win the CCC attendance crown for the second consecutive season and is ahead of 160 Division I schools, including Utah State, Washington State, Eastern Washington, Idaho and Portland State. The attendance inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center this winter has been higher than 285 of 312 Division II schools.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW - NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN: The Beacons enter the final weekend as one of two teams with a chance at securing an automatic berth to the NAIA Division II National Championships. NCU can win the conference with a win against EOU on Saturday night, regardless of what happens on Friday against C of I. Morgan McKinney (18.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.6 spg) is third in the CCC in points per game average and earned Player of the Week honors last week. Aspen Slifka (13.8 ppg, 3 rpg) is another dangerous scoring threat, while Kayce Mock (9.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.9 bpg, 1.8 spg) is hitting on 44 percent of her attempts from the perimeter to lead the conference. C of I won 78-70 on Jan. 4 in Caldwell.

OPPONENT PREVIEW - CORBAN: The Warriors have secured a spot in the CCC Championships, however their seed is not currently known. Jordan Woodvine (19.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.3 spg) is one of the most dynamic players in the conference and leads the show for Corban. Woodvine did not play in the 63-47 loss at Multnomah last Saturday. Kendra Murphy (8.1 ppg, 8 rpg) also did not play on Saturday, leaving Shaelie Burgess (9.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg) as the primary offensive option along with Shawnie Spink (7.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg). The Warriors won 66-61 on Jan. 3 in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.

KEEPING IT CLOSE: C of I has played in 17 games decided by 10 points or less through 27 contests, including 10 of their last 11 games. The Yotes hold a record of 10-7 in such games. In contests decided by five points or fewer, the team has gone 5-4.

WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF: The Yotes have led at the half in 10 games this season. C of I holds a record of 7-3 in those games.

BLOCK PARTY: Forward Kiersten Rasmussen has 18 blocks on the season and has moved into ninth on the C of I all-time career record book with 55 for her career.

YOTES ENJOYING HOME COOKING: C of I finished the regular season 8-3 in the CCC at home and 9-6 in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. The Yotes have now finished with a .500 or better record at home in 23 of the past 25 seasons, including a 6-5 mark last year.

NEXT UP: C of I will play in the CCC Championships presented by U.S. Bank, starting with a quarterfinal on Feb. 25 at a location to be decided.

MIDDLETON GRADS IMPRESSING: A pair of local products, Lexi Mitchell and Mackenzie Royce-Radford, have stepped up in a big way recently for the Yotes. Mitchell has posted back-to-back double-doubles and is averaging 13 points and 9.3 rebounds over the last three games. Royce-Radford has contributed double-digit point outputs in four of the last five games and is averaging 13.8 points and 4.8 assists over that time period.

CLIMBING THE CAREER LEADERBOARD: With 103 assists so far this season, Mackenzie Royce-Radford has moved into a tie for eighth on the C of I career assists leaderboard with 239. Royce-Radford is also currently fourth in assists per game average (minimum of 25 games) with 4.2 assists per contest and 11th in minutes per game average (30.1). Her 38 percent mark on 3-pointers is tied for second (minimum of 50 made). Sophia Jackson is 20th on the all-time list for 3-pointers made with 66 for her career and Royce-Radford is tied for 14th with 75 triples. With 56 3-pointers, Kaylee Krusemark is 26th.

CONFERENCE LEADERBOARD WATCH: Senior Mackenzie Royce-Radford is among the leaders in the conference in two different categories, including fifth in assists (3.8 apg) and third in 3-point percentage (40 percent).