Weber State University Athletics
Wildcats Compete at UTSA Classic
12/27/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Wildcats return to action after loss to Utah
After a week long break for the Christmas holiday the Weber State Wildcats will return to action this weekend when they compete in the UTSA Wells Fargo New Year's Classic in San Antonio, Texas. The Wildcats are coming off a 71-45 loss at Utah last Friday night in a game where they shot just 29 percent from the field. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak and puts the ?Cats with a 6-4 overall record heading into this weekend's action.
?Cats struggle in loss to Utes
Weber State suffered their biggest loss of the season Friday night in the loss at Utah. The Utes never trailed in the game and held a 34-16 lead at halftime. The Wildcats shot just 21 percent from the field in the first half and the 16 points is the fewest points in a half in two years. For the game the Wildcats were 16-54 from the field for 29.6 percent, the second lowest percentage this season.The Wildcats also pulled down a season-low 24 rebounds in the game, which ranks as a tie for the ninth fewest rebounds in a game in Weber State history. On the season the Wildcats are now averaging 34.4 rebounds per game, the second lowest in the Big Sky.
Tuomi leads Wildcats in 100th career game
WSU senior Sara Tuomi led Weber State with 16 points in the loss to the Utes. She has led the Wildcats in scoring in six games this season, including four of the last five games. The game also marked the 100th career game for Tuomi who has started every game of her career at Weber State. This season she is averaging 17.0 points per game, which ranks third in the Big Sky Conference and she is ninth in the league in rebounding at 6.6 per game.
Tonya Schnibbe dishing out assists
Wildcat sophomore Tonya Schnibbe finished with a career-high eight assists in Friday's game at Utah. The Spokane, Washington native ranks second in the Big Sky in assists this season with an average of 5.5 per game and she has led the Wildcats in assists in every game this season. On the year Schnibbe, who has started all ten games, is also averaging 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Wildcats lead the Big Sky in scoring defense
Weber State still leads the Big Sky in scoring defense at 58.1 points per game, despite giving up a season high 71 points in the loss to Utah. This season the Wildcats are 6-1 when holding their opponents under 60 points and they are 0-3 when their opponent scores more than 60 points.
For first time ?Cats win turnover battle but lose game
Weber State committed just ten turnovers in the loss to the Utes, the second lowest in a game this season. It marked the first time this year the ?Cats had fewer turnovers in a game than their opponents but still lost the game.
Wildcats head to San Antonio for holiday classic
Weber State will stay on the road this week when they compete at the UTSA Wells Fargo New Year's Classic this Saturday and Sunday in San Antonio, Texas. The classic is hosted by the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA). The Wildcats will take on Chattanooga on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Mountain time and they play the host UTSA Roadrunners on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Mountain time. There will be no Weber State radio at the games but live stats for both games will be available on Weber State's website: weberstatesports.com, and and live audio for Sunday's game will be available on UTSA's athletic website: goutsa.com.
Final non-conference games this week
The two games this week will be the final non-conference games of the season for the Wildcats who will open action in the Big Sky Conference next weekend.
About Chattanooga
The Mocs of Chattanooga enter this weekend's action with an 8-3 overall record and they have won three straight and four of their last five games. They are coming off wins over Alabama, Furman, and Western Carolina in their last three games. Their last two games were also the opening games of action in the Southern Conference.
This season the Mocs are averaging 64.1 points per game and are shooting 42 percent from the field. Alex Anderson leads Chattanooga with an average of 17.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and is also shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.
Chattanooga is coming off a 25-8 record last season and returns all five starters for this season. They are coached by Wes Moore who is in his tenth season with the team. He has compiled a career record of 223-65 at Chattanooga.
All-time seriesThis will be the first ever meeting between Weber State and Chattanooga. It will also be just the second game ever for the Wildcats against a team from the Southern Conference. In the only other game Weber State lost 72-70 in overtime to Western Carolina in November 2006 at a tournament in Fort Collins, Colorado.
About UTSA
Sunday the Wildcats will take on the host UTSA Roadrunners who enter this weekend with a 6-4 overall record. UTSA will host Miami (Ohio) Saturday after Weber State's game before taking on the Wildcats on Sunday.
The Roadrunners started this season winning their first six games, with five of those games at home. But since then they have lost their last four games, all of which have been away from home. They are coming off losses to Tulsa, Florida International, Virginia Tech, and Tulane.
This season the Roadrunners are shooting 34 percent and allowing their opponents to shoot 40 percent from the field. They are averaging 40 rebounds and 64.3 points per game. Terrie Davis leads the Roadrunners at 11.2 points per game and Whitney York is next at 11.1 a game. UTSA is coached by Rae Rippetoe-Blair who is in her eighth season with the Roadrunners. She has a career record of 119-94 at UTSA. The Roadrunners were 14-16 last season and finished in a tie for fourth in the Southland Conference.
All-time series
This will also be the first meeting ever for Weber State at UTSA. It will also be just the fourth game ever for the Wildcats against a team from the Southland Conference. The ?Cats are 1-0 all-time against Texas-Arlington and 2-0 against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi.
Looking ahead
Weber State will return home next Saturday to open up 2008 and begin action in the Big Sky Conference when they host Northern Colorado on January 5 at 2:00 p.m. at the Dee Events Center.
