January 1, 2009

Let the New Year Begin.

Before we review the past 10 days of play, let’s predict the Final Pac 10 standings and who might advance to the Post Season “Dance”.

1. Stanford, 9-3. With Stanford’s post skill and depth they are the highest rated team in the Coaches Poll. Must establish a Point Guard with JJ Hones’ injury and improve their 3 point shooting.

2. Cal, 9-2. Ashley Walker leads the conference in scoring with 22.5 points per game. Ashley is also averaging 8.3 rebounds per game. Devanei Hampton is coming back slowly from another knee operation but started the last game. Cal has a 1:1 assist to turnover ratio and is shooting 36% from Three. The Bears has proven to be a Top 10 team while Hampton recovers and she will only get better as she gets healthier. Rama’s return remains a question.

3. Arizona State, 8-4, always plays hard and comes at you in hordes. This season they have 11 players averaging at least 11 minutes per game. Briann January is the leader, scoring 13.3, and shooting 45% from Three. Briann’s assist to turnover ratio is 2.3:1 and she averages 3 steals per game. ASU plays a 3 Guard offense and the other two Guards, Dymond Simon is averaging 12.8 points per game while Danielle Orsillo is averaging 8.1 points per game. Center Sybil Dosty is averaging 10.1 points per game and is averaging 7.9 rebounds per game. As a team ASU is shooting 41.8% from Three and has a 1:1 assist to turnover ratio.

4. UCLA, 9-2, is off to their best start in years. While Doreena Campbell is the only player in double figures scoring wise, at 12 per game, 6 other players are averaging between 7.3 and 9.1 points per game. The Bruins have averaged an outstanding 12 steals per game. This offsets their 1:1.4 assist to turnover ratio. The Bruins don’t rely on the Three, making only 3 per game. However they really rebound at 46 per game a plus 14.5 over their opponents, # 2 in the nation.

5. USC, 6-5, the team no one can understand. Terrible injuries to Jackie Gemelos and Stephanie Gilbreath, again, but they are left with some outstanding players. They often seem better than there record. They are balanced with 4 players scoring almost the same. Brianna Gilbreath leads the team at 11.9 points per game, then Nadia parker and Camille LeNoir both at 11.0 and Ashley Corral at 10.5. The Trojans out rebound their opponents by 6.5, but their assist to turnover ratio is a poor 1:1.3. They do shot a lot of Three’s make almost 7 per game at 32.6%.

6. Oregon State, 9-1, is the most improved team in the league. While their schedule has been slight, their only loss is by 4 points to # 2 North Carolina on a neutral court, Talisa Rhea leads the Beavers in scoring with 15.5 per game, hitting 39% from Three. Two others, Alex Mitchell, 12.9 and Brittany Davis 12.8, are scoring in double figures. Oregon State is averaging 75 points per game and hitting 35% of their Three’s. Their assist to turnover ratio is 1.1:1. Tiffany Ducker at 6.4 per game leads the team in rebounding.

7. Washington State, 7-4, is a scrappy, very young, vastly improved team. They have 5 players averaging in double figures, 3 of them frosh. Jasmine Perkins leads at 14.9 then April Cook at 13.9 points per game. After the two frosh are Katie Appleton, 11.3, frosh Rosie Tarnowski, 10.2, and the leading 2nd leading rebounder at 6.5. The leading rebounder at 7.0 is Heather Molzen who is averaging 10.0 points per game. As a team they are only shooting 38.3%.

8. Arizona, 7-4 is greatly improved and playing hard for new Coach Niya Butts. Ify Ibekwe is averaging 15.5 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. She is also leading the team in steals. Guard Reiko Thomas is averaging 11.7 points per game and Forward Amina Njonkou is averaging 10.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. The Wildcats don’t shot Three’s well, 21% and 2 per game. They also have a 1:2 assist to turnover ratio. Jhakia McDonald and Tasha Dickey are out for the season with injuries.

9. Washington, 4-6, is a young, inexperienced team after losing 4 transfers and 3 graduates after the past season. Their assist to turnover ratio is 1:1.6, worst in the Pac 10, and they are only averaging 12.4 assists per game. The return of Liz Lay will really help, as she regains her playing form. The top 3 scorers are Laura McClellan at 11.6, Sami Whitcomb at 10.4 and Kristi Kingma at 9.0. Michelle Augustavo has almost half the Three’s on the team as is successful 35.5% of the time.

10. Oregon, 3-7, is really having trouble scoring points, averaging only 57 points per game. Micaela Cocks is their leading scorer at 15.4 points per game, but she is the only player averaging in double figures. The Ducks assist to turnover ratio is a very poor 1:2. They are shooting only 36% this season.


Last 10 days:

1. Stanford 9-3:
Next Games, Jan 2 at ASU, Jan 4 at Arizona.


2. Cal, 9-2: The Dec 22 Baylor game was cancelled when Baylor couldn’t get out of Portland.

Beat St Mary’s 85-44. Frosh Casey Morris had a great game with 20 points, followed by Alexis Gray-Lawson with 19 points and Ashley Walker with 18 points. Devanei Hampton made her first start and had 13 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes.

Next Games: Jan 2 at Arizona, Jan 4 at ASU


3. Arizona State, 8-4: Lost to Nebraska 62-58 after leading by 16 points. Danielle Orsillo scored 16 points on 7 of 11 shooting, but Briann January went 1 for 10 from the floor.

Next Games: Jan 2, Stanford, Jan 4, Cal


4. UCLA, 9-2: Lost to Texas Tech, at Texas Tech, 72-62. 25 turnovers hurt, but their non 3 point shooting killed them, only 14 for 45. From Three they were 9 for 15. Erica Tukaianen led the way with 16 points and Doreena Campbell had 15 points. Moniquee Alexander had 9 rebounds.

Next Games: Jan 2, Oregon State, Jan 4, Oregon.


5. USC, 6-5: Lost to Utah in Utah, 87-77. USC shot only 32% but did make 28 of 34 Free Throws on the road. Nadia Parker had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Brynn Cameron had 16 points.

Next Games, Jan 2, Oregon, Jan 4, Oregon State.


6. Oregon State, 9-1: Beat Western Oregon 66-32. Talisa Rhea scored 15 points and Tiffany Ducker had 11 rebounds to lead the Beavers to the easy win.

Next Games, Jan 2 at UCLA, Jan 4 at USC.



7. Washington State, 7-4: Lost to an undefeated Kansas State 74-58. Heather Molzen had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Jasmine Perkins led the Cougars with 18 points.

Lost to Hawaii 65-59. This loss came after spending several days in Hawaii, and after beating Hawaii last Friday. Jazmine Perkins had 14 points and 7 steals. The Cougars had 18 steals but were out rebounded by 12.

Next Games: Jan 3 at Washington.


8. Arizona, 7-4: Beat Boise State 53-48 behind their One Woman Band, Ify Ibekwe. Ify scored 28 points, had 20 rebounds, 12 offensive, and 4 steals.

Next Games: Jan 2, Cal, Jan 4, Stanford



9. Washington, 4-6: Lost to a 12-0 Kansas State team 73-60 at home. Kristi Kingma had 14 points and Sami Whitcomb had 13. Liz Lay, a highly touted frosh, made her debut after recovering from a High School ACL injury and scored 5 points and had 2 rebounds in 8 minutes.

Next Games: Jan 3, Washington State


10. Oregon, 3-7:
Oregon’s Game with Portland was cancelled due to heavy snow.

Lost to Utah 63-49. Taylor Lilley and Jasmin Holliday each had 10 points. Oregon, which lives by the Three, was only 4 for 20 from Three.

Next Games, Jan 2 at USC, Jan 4 at UCLA.

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