Jan. 8, 2004

The San Diego women own a 5-8 record heading into West Coast Conference play, which begins this Saturday at 7pm in Moraga, California with a date against St. Mary's (8-6). The Toreros non-conference schedule was highlighted by a three-game home winning streak, culminated with an upset win over Georgetown 65-58 on December 28th. During that span the Toreros averaged over 70 points per game and remain among the league's highest scoring teams at 63.5 points per game. Senior center Marta Menuez (Bodega, Calif.) is averaging a league-best 15.4 points per night and brings 989 career points into Friday's match-up with St. Mary's. Menuez and classmate Melissa Padgett (Reno, Nevada) have been providing veteran head coach Kathy Marpe with senior leadership throughout the 2003-04 campaign. Padgett is clearing 7.3 rebounds per game, second highest in the WCC, and Menuez's before mentioned scoring, rebounding (6.8 rpg) and field goal percentage (51%) figures give San Diego a formidable inside presence. The Toreros are also receiving key contributions from a host of sophomore players, including probable starters PG Polly Dong (Auburn, Calif.), G Lindsay Helvey (Anaheim, Calif.) and F Jamie Corwin (Renton, Calif.), along with scoring off the bench from G Brandi Collato (Del Mar, Calif.).

Menuez On Pace to Reach 1,000-point Milestone Saturday

Over her four-year Torero career and heading into this Saturday's WCC opener with St. Mary's, Marta Menuez has totaled 989 points, leaving her 11 points shy of the 1,000 mark. Only seven players in USD history have reached the milestone, with current pro Erin Malich and first-year San Diego assistant Kerri Nakamoto joining the 1,000-point club last season. Also to note, Menuez is on pace to total 500 career rebounds. To date Marta owns 467 career boards, leaving her 33 shy of the 500 mark.

USD's Polly Dong Leads the West Coast Conference in Assists

No other player in the West Coast Conference is helping her teammates pad their stats more than San Diego's sophomore point guard Polly Dong. With an average of 5.5 assists per game and 72 on the season, Dong ranks first among all WCC players by nearly a full assist per game. On two different occasions this season Dong has dished out nine assists, a career high, most recently against Oral Roberts on December 22.

USD's Marta Menuez leads the WCC in scoring

6-foot-1 senior center Marta Menuez matched a career-high with 26 points in USD's double overtime loss to New Mexico State earlier this season, helping her post a season average of 15.4 points per game. That average is tops in the West Coast Conference. The Bodega, California native also ranks third in the league in offensive rebounds (3.08 orpg). Menuez earned All-WCC honors a year ago and is challenging San Diego school records in total points and points per game average in a single-season. Menuez's 2003-04 campaign has seen her match a career-high in rebounding (11-rebounds vs. then-No. 18 UC Santa Barbara). Menuez was also honored as the WCC Player of the Week (11/23) after shooting 9-of-13 from the floor en route to scoring 23 points and grabbing eight rebounds during a 96-74 USD win over Nevada.

San Diego Runs Into Nation's Number 1

The Toreros are one game removed from hosting the nation's then-No. 2 and current No. 1 Texas Tech at the Jenny Craig Pavilion December 30th. After upending Georgetown in the first round of USD's annual Surf 'N Slam Holiday Classic, San Diego squared off against unbeaten Texas Tech for the Tournament crown. The Red Raider's No. 2 ranking was the highest ranked team San Diego had ever faced on its home floor. Tech came away with an easy 95-47 win, snapping San Diego's three-game winning streak.

Scouting the St. Mary's Gaels (8-6)

St. Mary's was picked to finish dead last in the WCC preseason coaches poll, the same position the Gaels ended the 2002-03 season in. With San Diego native Triola Jackson, a 6-2 junior forward, scoring 12.7 points per game and grabbing 7.1 rebounds per game, both team highs, the Gaels bring an 8-6 record into league play this weekend. St. Mary's won just 11 games all season a year ago, a season ended with a 69-56 loss to the Toreros in the first round of the WCC Tournament at the JCP. Led by fourth-year head coach Michelle Jacoby (60-42), the Gaels are 4-2 at home this year with wins over UCLA (52-52), Nevada (76-73 ot) and Pacific (46-45).

Toreros On the Air

Live Audio Broadcasts on WWW.USDTOREROS.COM

Former USD greats Paula Bott (play-by-play) and Susie Erpelding (color analyst) will be the voice of San Diego women's basketball throughout the 2003-04 season. All USD home games and selected road contests can be heard live over the internet on www.usdtoreros.com. USD will play in front of a television audience at least three times during the course of the '03-04 season. Fox Sports West and Fox Sports Northwest will air San Diego's road game with WCC rival Portland on Thursday, January 29th at 7:00pm. The Toreros will also be showcased locally on San Diego 4 on both January 22nd against St. Mary's at 7:00pm and on February 5th against Santa Clara at 7:00pm.

Last Time Out

San Diego Suffers Loss at Kansas

The USD women's basketball team fell behind early against the Kansas Jayhawks and were never able to recover in a 64-45 loss in Lawrence, Kansas. The Toreros managed to make just 6-of-18 shots in the first half and the host Jayhawks used a 13-3 run to end the half and take a 29-16 intermission lead. The loss leaves the Toreros with a record of 5-8 heading into WCC play.

The Toreros, who entered the game having won three of four, closed the gap to 10 in the 2nd half before Kansas pulled away with another run, this time 15-2, which ended with just under five minutes remaining. The Jayhawks (7-4) dominated USD in the paint, outscoring the Toreros 32-12. Kansas outrebounded USD 43-29 and were paced in scoring by Aquanita Burras and Crystal Waltz, each with 11 points.

Sophomore guard Brandi Collato (6-9 from floor) came off the bench to score a game-high 15 points for the Toreros, including three treys. Marta Menuez had 10 points before fouling out. The Toreros finished the game making just 4-of-17 three-point attempts. Polly Dong had a game-high seven assists for USD.