Spiders to host "Weekend of the Stars"
February 17, 2005 - National Women's Basketball League (NWBL)
San Jose Spiders News Release
SAN JOSE CA, February 17, 2005- The SAN JOSE SPIDERS will be hosting the COLORADO CHILL and the LUBBOCK HAWKS this weekend in a back-to-back set of games that features some of the best players in women's basketball. In the two games combined the SPIDERS will have to contend with the four out of the leagues top five scorers.
WNBA greats Becky Hammon and Ruth Riley will be in town this Saturday at 7:00 pm to face the Spiders in a rematch of last weekend's defeat. Both players rank in the top five in five different offensive categories.
Hammon, who plays for the New York Liberty in the offseason, is arguably the leagues top player. She comes into this game second in the league in scoring, first in assists, second in free throw percentage and shoots nearly 45% from behind the arc. The diminutive point guard is one of only two players averaging over 20 points per game.
To compliment the outside touch of Hammon is Ruth Riley, a rugged 6'5" center who plays for the WNBA's Miami Sol. Riley is only the second player to average a double-double in the league this year. She comes in with strong averages of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Riley doesn't miss often, from the field or from the line, as she shoots 56% and 90% respectively.
It doesn't get much easier on Sunday, as the SPIDERS will be facing stiff opposition from a LUBBOCK team that boasts six WNBA players on their roster. The trio of Jocelyn Penn, Kelly Mazzante, and Sharika Wright, pose a formidable challenge to the home team.
LUBBOCK is known for its defense, as they lead the league in steals. Penn and Mazzante each average over 15 points per game and shoot a combined 52% from the field. Either player can pull up from anywhere on the court and be a scoring threat.
The depth of talent on the HAWKS roster is sure to be a problem for the injury riddled SPIDERS who will be looking to squeeze a lot of productive minutes out of their dynamic backcourt tandem of Natalie Nakase and Erica Glover. Both girls must have a big weekend if the SPIDERS are to pull off the upset and get back into the playoff race.
Both games will begin at 7:00pm on the DeAnza College campus in Cupertino. There's plenty of free parking for what promises to be a fast-paced set of games against a couple of the leagues elite.
Group Tickets: Can be purchased at the door. Bring a group of 10 or more and receive $2 off admission. Bring a group of 25 or more and receive $3 off admission. For more information on the Spiders or to purchase season tickets please visit our website at www.nwbl.com.
The SAN JOSE SPIDERS is an expansion team of the NWBL, a professional women's basketball league that plays its season in the spring from January to April each year and features some of America's best professional women athletes.
The NWBL is a six-team league that features more than 25 active WNBA players. Other teams in the league include the Birmingham Power (Birmingham, Ala.); Dallas Fury (Dallas, Texas); Chicago Blaze (Naperville, Ill.); Lubbock Hawks (Lubbock, Texas); and San Jose Spiders (San Jose, Calif.)
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National Women's Basketball League Stories from February 17, 2005
- Spiders to host "Weekend of the Stars" - San Jose Spiders
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