A Happy New Year for the Pac-10

Except for the Oregon schools, teams have now played at home and away and we can see a trend developing in the Pac-10. We are very good, winning a tremendously hard fought game against the Sun Thugs. Washington is showing they have a strong team. And the Satan Devils of Charli Turner Thorne might only have the single loss to us when we travel to the Valley of the Sun.

1. Stanford, 4-0 & 9-3

We play two games this week, traveling to Fresno on Tuesday and then to Cal on Saturday. Cal will have its biggest crowd of the season waiting for us. Candice has been named Pac-10 Player of the Week, bouncing back from her injury. We are playing very well right now.

Jan 2: @ Fresno State
Jan 6: @ Cal

1. Washington, 4-0 & 11-4

Cameo Hicks continues to lead the Huskies, 4-0 after their first 2 weeks. Emily Florence and Andrea Plouffe are also playing well. Against UCLA, Jill Bell came off the bench for 12 points and 8 rebounds, and Erica Schelly came off the deep end of the bench to score 11 against USC.

However things now get very tough for Washington as they play at ASU on Sunday, then host Stanford the following Thursday.

Jan 4: @ Arizona
Jan 7: @ ASU -- on FSN

3. ASU, 2-1, 12-2

Beat Cal on the road and came close to beating us at Maples, but no cigar. Kristin Thompson had a big game against us, with 17 points, and could provide a big boost to their one weakness, post play -- not that they have a huge weakness. ASU showed this past week that they are an outstanding team, and could go through their remaining Pac-10 schedule without a loss.

Jan 4: WSU
Jan 7: Washington

4. UCLA, 2-2, 8-8

UCLA split in Washington this past week. Trailing Washington by 11 with 1:49 left, they scored 7 points in 61 seconds to almost pull out the win. That comeback shows that UCLA will be a player in the race, capable of beating anyone, and probably a top 5 team in the conference. Noelle Quinn had 43 points, 16 assists and 14 rebounds in the two games.

Jan 5: Oregon State
Jan 7: Oregon

4. Cal, 2-2, 10-3

The loss of Alexis Gray-Lawson for the season will continue to haunt the Bears. But despite many turnovers against Arizona, their frosh guards helped Cal to the victory. Also, in the Arizona game, the Bears sank 9 of 14 3-point attempts. With their outstanding posts, Cal will be a treat to win any game. The Chronicle and Mercury said Hampton and Walker were often double- and triple-teamed this past week. If both were triple-teamed, does that mean Joan B played some defense? :)

Jan 2: Rhode Island (they are 2-11, 'nuff said)
Jan 6: Stanford

6. Oregon, 1-1, 9-3

Oregon beat BYU at home before 3,100, and beat them at the free throw line. Oregon canned 26 of 31 to 9 of 15 by BYU in the 9-point win. Big 6-7 center Jessie Shetters continued her very strong rebounding with 13 Boards.

Jan 5: @ USC
Jan 7: @ UCLA

7. USC, 1-3, 7-7

Now missing four players, the Trojans are just too short-handed for the Pac-10. Shay Murphy had another big week with 28 points and 18 rebounds in the two games. Chloe Kerr was the difference against WSU in USC's 6-point win, with 19 points.

Jan 5: Oregon
Jan 7: Oregon State

7. Washington State, 1-3, 5-9

Washington State lost two close games in Pullman this past week. A 3-point loss to UCLA was followed by a 6-point loss to USC. Two winnable games that could have changed their whole season.

Jan 4: @ ASU
Jan 6: @ Arizona

9. Oregon State, 0-2, 5-6

The Beavers lost to Texas by only one and beat Holy Cross at a tournament in San Diego. Casey Nash had 25 points against the now 10-3 Texas Longhorns, ranked # 27 in the country. In the Holy Cross game, 4 of the 5 starters played all 40 minutes for OSU.

Jan 5: @ UCLA
Jan 7: @ USC

10. Arizona, 0-3, 6-9

It won't get any better. Not much to say.

Jan 4: Washington
Jan 6: WSU