It’ll be the showdown at Maples Saturday afternoon as the top two teams in the Pac 10collide. Two games drew 8500 people this week, UCLA at USC and Stanford at ASU. I know big promotions and all that, but great for Women’s Basketball on the West Coast.
1. Cal (17-2, 8-0) A big, big week for Cal as they won two on the road, again. But the big win was beating ASU in Tempe. Devanie Hampton had a huge night against ASU with 28 points and 9 rebounds. Grey-Lawson and Vital had big three point nights as Cal defeated Arizona. The twosome went 8 for 10 from three. Ashley Walker had a solid 23 points and 13 rebounds for the two games.
Saturday at Stanford
2. Stanford (16-3, 6-2) Stanford remained in the chase with a huge come from behind win in Tempe, after defeating the Arizona Wildcats. In the two games, Candice with 37 points; Jayne with 32 points and 19 rebounds on 16 for 23 shooting. JJ had 11 Assists and Zero, Nada (again) Turnovers. Kayla returned home for 34 points and 17 rebounds. But a big hats off to the blue color work of rebounding and defense to Jeanette and Jillian. And those two Free Throws by Jeanette.
Saturday, Cal
3. Arizona State (11-7, 5-2) Lost two at home for the first time in 5 years. Briann January had an outstanding week with 36 points, 8 assists and only 3 turnovers. ASU played tough though, very hard on Defense. But the situation for them is now a hard road back with 4 tough road games to go in the State of California.
Thursday @ Washington, Saturday @ Washington State
4. USC (11-7, 4-3) It got very rough at the end of the USC-UCLA game but when the smoke and bodies were cleared USC had a big win. Heather Oliver led the Trojans with 15 points and Nadia Parker had 13 point and 10 rebounds.
Thursday, Oregon, Saturday, Oregon
4. UCLA (9-9, 4-3) Lost a tough one at the end to USC. Lindsey Pluimer led the Bruins with 15 points.
Thursday, Oregon, Saturday, Oregon State
4. Oregon (10-8, 4-3) The Ducks swept the Washington schools. Against Oregon State, Nicole Canepa had 12 points and Taylor Lilley led the Ducks against Washington with 20 points, hitting 4 three’s.
Thursday @ UCLA, Saturday @ USC
7. Oregon State (10-8, 3-4) Two huge wins for the Beavers at home against the Washington schools. Brittany Davis scored 35 points in the two games. My pick for Player of the Week, Talisa Rhea, had 18 points in the win over Washington, and followed that up by hitting a school record 8 three’s and 24 points against Washington State. In the two games Rhea hit 12 three’s.
Thursday @ USC, Saturday @ UCLA
8. Washington (7-12, 2-5) Visited the Oregon schools and came up empty. Losing two close games, by a total of 6 points, is a heartbreaker for the young Huskies. The big news was USD transfer Michelle Augustavo who scored 18 points against Oregon hitting 6 of 10 three point attempts. Michelle hit 9 three pointers on the weekend.
Thursday, ASU, Saturday, Arizona
9. Arizona (6-12, 0-7) lost twice this past week. Amina Njonkou and Ashley Whisonant continue to play well with 23 and 27 points for the two games, respectively.
Thursday @ Washington State, Saturday @ Washington
9. WSU (3-15, 0-7) They are just overwhelmed right now. A fine recruiting class, so wait for next year.
Thursday, Arizona, Saturday, ASU
January 20, 2008
January 15, 2008
Pac 10 Review, Week 3
The cream is rising to the top, as Cal, ASU and Stanford are now the top three teams, all ranked 26 or higher. This week the league looks to Arizona, where Cal plays ASU on Thursday and Stanford plays ASU on Sunday, on TV. An early must win for Stanford.
1. Cal (15-2, 6-0) Cal didn’t play well this week, but still handled Oregon and Oregon State to remain undefeated in league play. Ashley Walker was the leader for Cal with 42 points and 15 rebounds for the weekend. Ashley is the Pac 10 Player of the Week. Hampton had a poor game against Oregon, but a fine game against Oregon State.
Thursday @ ASU, Sat @ Arizona
2. Arizona State (11-5, 5-0) The Sun Devils beat down state rival Arizona to remain unbeaten in league play. Briann January was 7 for 7 from the floor, 3 for 3 from three and Jill Noe had 7 Assists to lead ASU. It’s a huge weekend for ASU with both Stanford and Cal coming to Tempe.
Thursday, Cal, Sunday, Stanford (TV)
3. Stanford (14-3, 4-2) Stanford easily defeated the Oregon Schools. One day it was Jayne, 12 for 13 and 25 points against ASU, the next game it was Candice with 20 against Oregon. Jillian Harmon’s 15 points and 9 rebounds were huge for Stanford against Oregon.
Thursday @ Arizona, Sunday @ ASU (TV)
3. UCLA (9-8, 4-2) The Bruins traveled to Washington and left with two wins. Lindsey Pluimer had 31 points for the weekend; Nina Earl had 18 against WSU.
Saturday @ USC
5. USC (10-7, 3-3) After beating WSU up north, USC fell apart, scoring only 45 points in their loss to Washington. Nadia Parker and Heather Oliver both had 27points on the weekend. USC lost to Washington despite the return of Camille Lenoir, who missed the WSU game. Against Washington, USC attempted 34 three’s making only 7 and shooting 26% overall.
Saturday, UCLA
6. Oregon (8-8, 2-3) The Ducks lost to both Stanford and Cal. Against Cal, Taylor Lilley, their leading scorer on the year, scored 15, including 3 of 4 from three. Against Stanford Lilley couldn’t get a shot off.
Thursday, WSU, Saturday, Washington
6. Washington (7-10, 2-3) After losing to UCLA, the Huskies trounced USC in Tia Jackson’s first big conference win. Frosh Katelan Redmon was 13 for 22 from the floor and 28 points for the weekend. Sami Whitcomb had 17 against UCLA and followed that up with 12 rebounds against USC. Sami is 5-10.
Thursday, @ Oregon State, Saturday @ Oregon
8. Oregon State (8-8, 1-4) Lost to the Bay Area schools. The Pac 10’s leading scorer, Ashley Allen, had 20 points in the two games, 22 below her average. Talisa Rhea scored 26 points in the two games.
Thursday, Washington, Saturday, WSU
9. Arizona (6-10, 0-5). The Wildcats lost to ASU but put up a fight. Amina Njonkou scored 25 and Ashley Whisonant 20 against ASU.
Thursday, Stanford, Saturday, Cal
9. WSU (3-13, 0-5) The Cougars lost two games to the LA schools
Thursday@ Oregon, Saturday @ Oregon State
1. Cal (15-2, 6-0) Cal didn’t play well this week, but still handled Oregon and Oregon State to remain undefeated in league play. Ashley Walker was the leader for Cal with 42 points and 15 rebounds for the weekend. Ashley is the Pac 10 Player of the Week. Hampton had a poor game against Oregon, but a fine game against Oregon State.
Thursday @ ASU, Sat @ Arizona
2. Arizona State (11-5, 5-0) The Sun Devils beat down state rival Arizona to remain unbeaten in league play. Briann January was 7 for 7 from the floor, 3 for 3 from three and Jill Noe had 7 Assists to lead ASU. It’s a huge weekend for ASU with both Stanford and Cal coming to Tempe.
Thursday, Cal, Sunday, Stanford (TV)
3. Stanford (14-3, 4-2) Stanford easily defeated the Oregon Schools. One day it was Jayne, 12 for 13 and 25 points against ASU, the next game it was Candice with 20 against Oregon. Jillian Harmon’s 15 points and 9 rebounds were huge for Stanford against Oregon.
Thursday @ Arizona, Sunday @ ASU (TV)
3. UCLA (9-8, 4-2) The Bruins traveled to Washington and left with two wins. Lindsey Pluimer had 31 points for the weekend; Nina Earl had 18 against WSU.
Saturday @ USC
5. USC (10-7, 3-3) After beating WSU up north, USC fell apart, scoring only 45 points in their loss to Washington. Nadia Parker and Heather Oliver both had 27points on the weekend. USC lost to Washington despite the return of Camille Lenoir, who missed the WSU game. Against Washington, USC attempted 34 three’s making only 7 and shooting 26% overall.
Saturday, UCLA
6. Oregon (8-8, 2-3) The Ducks lost to both Stanford and Cal. Against Cal, Taylor Lilley, their leading scorer on the year, scored 15, including 3 of 4 from three. Against Stanford Lilley couldn’t get a shot off.
Thursday, WSU, Saturday, Washington
6. Washington (7-10, 2-3) After losing to UCLA, the Huskies trounced USC in Tia Jackson’s first big conference win. Frosh Katelan Redmon was 13 for 22 from the floor and 28 points for the weekend. Sami Whitcomb had 17 against UCLA and followed that up with 12 rebounds against USC. Sami is 5-10.
Thursday, @ Oregon State, Saturday @ Oregon
8. Oregon State (8-8, 1-4) Lost to the Bay Area schools. The Pac 10’s leading scorer, Ashley Allen, had 20 points in the two games, 22 below her average. Talisa Rhea scored 26 points in the two games.
Thursday, Washington, Saturday, WSU
9. Arizona (6-10, 0-5). The Wildcats lost to ASU but put up a fight. Amina Njonkou scored 25 and Ashley Whisonant 20 against ASU.
Thursday, Stanford, Saturday, Cal
9. WSU (3-13, 0-5) The Cougars lost two games to the LA schools
Thursday@ Oregon, Saturday @ Oregon State
January 10, 2008
The Pac 10, Week 2
Wow, the league turned topsy turvy in just one week. With Stanford losing two in SoCal and Cal winning both, the Bears join ASU in the # 1 spot in the Pac 10.
1. Cal (13-2, 4-0) While Stanford lost two in the Southland, Cal swept the two LA schools. Devanei Hampton was the Pac 10 Player of the Week, with 37 points and 21 rebounds in the two games. Ashley Walker also had a big weekend, 28 points and 23 rebounds. Cal beat USC by 5 with 25 turnovers, then beat UCLA in overtime and only had 10 turnovers.
Thursday, Oregon; Saturday, Oregon State
2. Arizona State (10-5, 4-0) ASU traveled to Oregon and swept the Beavers and Ducks.
ASU beat Oregon by 13, but only beat Oregon State by 9 as the Beavers outrebounded the Sun Devils by 11. Lauren Lacey lead the scoring on the weekend with 36, followed by Dymond Simon with 31 points.
Saturday at Arizona
3. Oregon (8-6, 2-1) Now it gets tough as the Ducks come to the Bay Area. They lost to ASU and beat Arizona by only 6. Taylor Lilley scored 32 points in the two games.
Thursday @ Cal, Saturday @ Stanford
4. Stanford (12-3, 2-2). The disaster in the Southland for the Cards. ‘Nuff said other than Candice led the Card with 46 points and 14 rebounds. Jayne Appel had 39 points and 19 rebounds. In the one point loss Jayne led the two USC Centers to ONE rebound in 26 minutes.
Thursday, Oregon State, Saturday, Oregon
4. USC (9-6, 2-2). A close loss to Cal and a close win over Stanford. A fine week for SC. Camille LeNoir scored 21 against Stanford on 5 of 7 from three point land.
Thursday @ WSU, Sunday @ Washington
4. UCLA (7-8, 2-2). An Overtime loss to Cal after a nice win over Stanford. Darxia Morris, my pick for Player of the Week, scored 34 points in the two games. Sadly she couldn’t finish the Cal game with a knee injury. The extent of her injury is not yet known but she will not play this weekend. Lindsey Pluimer had 29 points and 15 rebounds in the two games.
Thursday @ Washington, Saturday @ WSU
7. Oregon State (7-6, 2-1). The Beavers loss to ASU and beat Arizona in the now infamous double overtime win as the Wildcats worked their way down to 2 players finishing the game. Ashley Allen again led the Beavers with 52 points on the weekend. Brittany Davis was close behind with 41. Tiffany Drucker had 16 rebounds in the Arizona game.
Thursday @ Stanford, Saturday @ Cal
8. Washington (6-9, 1-2) The Huskies beat cross state rival WSU is a close game. Jess McCormack had 16 points and 9 rebounds, while sparkplug Emily Florence had 13 points and 9 rebounds.
Thursday, UCLA, Sunday, USC
9. Washington State (3-11, 0-3), a close loss this past week to Washington. Katie Appleton had 16 points on 4 of 5 from 3.
Thursday, USC, Saturday, UCLA
10. Arizona (6-9, 0-4). Playing with 6 players and finishing with 2 is tough as the Wildcats lost two in Oregon. Ashley Whisonat scored 51 points in a highlight effort, draining 7 three’s in 13 attempts in the two games.
Saturday, ASU
1. Cal (13-2, 4-0) While Stanford lost two in the Southland, Cal swept the two LA schools. Devanei Hampton was the Pac 10 Player of the Week, with 37 points and 21 rebounds in the two games. Ashley Walker also had a big weekend, 28 points and 23 rebounds. Cal beat USC by 5 with 25 turnovers, then beat UCLA in overtime and only had 10 turnovers.
Thursday, Oregon; Saturday, Oregon State
2. Arizona State (10-5, 4-0) ASU traveled to Oregon and swept the Beavers and Ducks.
ASU beat Oregon by 13, but only beat Oregon State by 9 as the Beavers outrebounded the Sun Devils by 11. Lauren Lacey lead the scoring on the weekend with 36, followed by Dymond Simon with 31 points.
Saturday at Arizona
3. Oregon (8-6, 2-1) Now it gets tough as the Ducks come to the Bay Area. They lost to ASU and beat Arizona by only 6. Taylor Lilley scored 32 points in the two games.
Thursday @ Cal, Saturday @ Stanford
4. Stanford (12-3, 2-2). The disaster in the Southland for the Cards. ‘Nuff said other than Candice led the Card with 46 points and 14 rebounds. Jayne Appel had 39 points and 19 rebounds. In the one point loss Jayne led the two USC Centers to ONE rebound in 26 minutes.
Thursday, Oregon State, Saturday, Oregon
4. USC (9-6, 2-2). A close loss to Cal and a close win over Stanford. A fine week for SC. Camille LeNoir scored 21 against Stanford on 5 of 7 from three point land.
Thursday @ WSU, Sunday @ Washington
4. UCLA (7-8, 2-2). An Overtime loss to Cal after a nice win over Stanford. Darxia Morris, my pick for Player of the Week, scored 34 points in the two games. Sadly she couldn’t finish the Cal game with a knee injury. The extent of her injury is not yet known but she will not play this weekend. Lindsey Pluimer had 29 points and 15 rebounds in the two games.
Thursday @ Washington, Saturday @ WSU
7. Oregon State (7-6, 2-1). The Beavers loss to ASU and beat Arizona in the now infamous double overtime win as the Wildcats worked their way down to 2 players finishing the game. Ashley Allen again led the Beavers with 52 points on the weekend. Brittany Davis was close behind with 41. Tiffany Drucker had 16 rebounds in the Arizona game.
Thursday @ Stanford, Saturday @ Cal
8. Washington (6-9, 1-2) The Huskies beat cross state rival WSU is a close game. Jess McCormack had 16 points and 9 rebounds, while sparkplug Emily Florence had 13 points and 9 rebounds.
Thursday, UCLA, Sunday, USC
9. Washington State (3-11, 0-3), a close loss this past week to Washington. Katie Appleton had 16 points on 4 of 5 from 3.
Thursday, USC, Saturday, UCLA
10. Arizona (6-9, 0-4). Playing with 6 players and finishing with 2 is tough as the Wildcats lost two in Oregon. Ashley Whisonat scored 51 points in a highlight effort, draining 7 three’s in 13 attempts in the two games.
Saturday, ASU
January 2, 2008
Pac 10, Week One
Conference play opened this past weekend with few surprises. Maybe ASU hanging on the win two close games is a bit of a surprise, and that they were so close a bit of a surprise.
1. Stanford (12-1, 2-0) # 2 Stanford stands atop the standings with ASU and Cal at 2-0. They certainly had an easy time with the Washington Schools. Frosh Jeanette Pohlen led the team in scoring with 34 points in the two games. Fellow Frosh Kayla Pederson had 30 points and 20 rebounds. Candice had 26 points.
The Trip to SoCal will be telling for the Cardinal, as they will have a huge # 2 in the Country target on them.
Friday @ UCLA, Sunday @ USC
1. Cal (11-2, 2-0), Cal is now top 10 in the US, maybe their first top 10 ranking ever as they stand at # 10. Like Stanford they had an easy time with the Washington schools. They welcomed back 2006-07 Player of the Year Devanei Hampton, who had 25 points and 13 rebounds in 37 minutes in the two games. Ashley Walker had 25 points and 18 rebounds. Lauren Greif had maybe her best weekend with 6 of 9 three pointers and 25 points. Alexis Gray-Lawson was 5 for 9 from three, and was the leading scorer with 31 points,
Friday @ USC, Sunday @ USC, 12:30 on FSBA
1. ASU (8-5, 2-0), after a very disappointing pre-season, the Sun Devils won very close games against USC and UCLA at home. They did it with great post play from their new transfers. Lauren Lacey had 35 points and 18 rebounds while Sybil Dosty had 34 points and 18 boards in the two games.
Thursday @ Oregon, Saturday at Oregon State
4. Oregon (7-5, 1-0). The Ducks opened with Civil War rival Oregon State and prevailed by 4. Taylor Lilley led Oregon with 21 points.
Thursday, ASU, Saturday, Arizona
5. UCLA (7-6, 1-1). The Brubabes (OK that’s what they used to call the frosh men’s teams in the day), opened with a split in the desert. The Bruins beat Arizona but lost a 3 point game to ASU. Lindsey Pluimer had 22 points and 13 rebounds in the two games. But the weekend star was Frosh Nina Earl with a breakout 23 point game and 31 points with 13 rebounds for the two games.
Friday, Stanford, Sunday at 12:30 on FSBA, Cal
5. USC (8-5, 1-1). SC led ASU by 11 at the half and lost a close game to the Sun Devils, after beating Arizona. The Trojans were led by Nadia Parker’s 22 against ASU and 30 points with 15 rebounds for the weekend. Morgan Medlock had her career game against Arizona with 18 points and 13 rebounds. She only scored 4 against ASU. In the up and down realm of USC Basketball, they hit 13 three’s against Arizona, a school record, but only 3 against ASU.
Friday, Cal, Sunday, Stanford
7. Oregon State (6-5, 0-1). The Beavers lost their only game this week to arch rival Oregon. Brittany Davis led them with 23 points.
Thursday, Arizona, Saturday, ASU
8. Arizona (6-7, 0-2). The Wildcats lost to the two SoCal schools. Amina Njonkou continues to be their go to player with 34 points and 24 rebounds for the week.
Thursday, Oregon State, Saturday, Oregon
8. Washington (5-9, 0-2). The Huskies were not competitive against the Bay Area schools. Kali Bennett’s 11 points and 11 boards against Stanford was the highlight.
Friday @ WSU
8. WSU (3-10, 0-2). Two 50+ point losses for the Cougs. Alexa Price did hit 7 three’s in the two games.
Friday, Washington
1. Stanford (12-1, 2-0) # 2 Stanford stands atop the standings with ASU and Cal at 2-0. They certainly had an easy time with the Washington Schools. Frosh Jeanette Pohlen led the team in scoring with 34 points in the two games. Fellow Frosh Kayla Pederson had 30 points and 20 rebounds. Candice had 26 points.
The Trip to SoCal will be telling for the Cardinal, as they will have a huge # 2 in the Country target on them.
Friday @ UCLA, Sunday @ USC
1. Cal (11-2, 2-0), Cal is now top 10 in the US, maybe their first top 10 ranking ever as they stand at # 10. Like Stanford they had an easy time with the Washington schools. They welcomed back 2006-07 Player of the Year Devanei Hampton, who had 25 points and 13 rebounds in 37 minutes in the two games. Ashley Walker had 25 points and 18 rebounds. Lauren Greif had maybe her best weekend with 6 of 9 three pointers and 25 points. Alexis Gray-Lawson was 5 for 9 from three, and was the leading scorer with 31 points,
Friday @ USC, Sunday @ USC, 12:30 on FSBA
1. ASU (8-5, 2-0), after a very disappointing pre-season, the Sun Devils won very close games against USC and UCLA at home. They did it with great post play from their new transfers. Lauren Lacey had 35 points and 18 rebounds while Sybil Dosty had 34 points and 18 boards in the two games.
Thursday @ Oregon, Saturday at Oregon State
4. Oregon (7-5, 1-0). The Ducks opened with Civil War rival Oregon State and prevailed by 4. Taylor Lilley led Oregon with 21 points.
Thursday, ASU, Saturday, Arizona
5. UCLA (7-6, 1-1). The Brubabes (OK that’s what they used to call the frosh men’s teams in the day), opened with a split in the desert. The Bruins beat Arizona but lost a 3 point game to ASU. Lindsey Pluimer had 22 points and 13 rebounds in the two games. But the weekend star was Frosh Nina Earl with a breakout 23 point game and 31 points with 13 rebounds for the two games.
Friday, Stanford, Sunday at 12:30 on FSBA, Cal
5. USC (8-5, 1-1). SC led ASU by 11 at the half and lost a close game to the Sun Devils, after beating Arizona. The Trojans were led by Nadia Parker’s 22 against ASU and 30 points with 15 rebounds for the weekend. Morgan Medlock had her career game against Arizona with 18 points and 13 rebounds. She only scored 4 against ASU. In the up and down realm of USC Basketball, they hit 13 three’s against Arizona, a school record, but only 3 against ASU.
Friday, Cal, Sunday, Stanford
7. Oregon State (6-5, 0-1). The Beavers lost their only game this week to arch rival Oregon. Brittany Davis led them with 23 points.
Thursday, Arizona, Saturday, ASU
8. Arizona (6-7, 0-2). The Wildcats lost to the two SoCal schools. Amina Njonkou continues to be their go to player with 34 points and 24 rebounds for the week.
Thursday, Oregon State, Saturday, Oregon
8. Washington (5-9, 0-2). The Huskies were not competitive against the Bay Area schools. Kali Bennett’s 11 points and 11 boards against Stanford was the highlight.
Friday @ WSU
8. WSU (3-10, 0-2). Two 50+ point losses for the Cougs. Alexa Price did hit 7 three’s in the two games.
Friday, Washington
December 29, 2007
Predicting the Pac 10 Race
This year even more than previous could be the “have’s” and the “have-not’s”. Stanford is ranked # 2 and Cal is # 11, while ASU hovers at the # 25 level. Here’s my prediction for the final standings of the Pac 10:
10. Washington State (3-9, 0-1 with no quality wins). Good 3 point shooting by leading scorer Katie Appleton and a decent post in 6-3 Heather Molzen, but that’s about it. June has no Seniors and an incoming recruiting class that is getting better and better, but any Pac 10 wins this season will be a surprise, or because they turn off the heat in their Gym (which has happened).
Friday lost to Stanford, Sunday at Cal
9. Oregon State (7-4). It’s hard to fault Coach Wagner for playing an extremely weak pre-season schedule. She needs to build confidence in a team that has not had success for several years. OSU is led by SR Ashley Allen at 20.7 points per game. It’s the 2nd year in a row that a Sr from OSU has lead the conference in scoring. The only frosh contributing much is 5-11 Talisa Rhea, scoring 11 points per game. 6-2 Jr Tiffany Ducker has returned from a year off to average 9 points and nearly 7 rebounds.
Saturday, Oregon
8. Oregon (6-5, with a win over UCSB). Taylor Lilly is scoring just over 11 points per game, but her 3 point shooting is down 20% to 32%. Nothing here to get excited about.
Saturday at Oregon State
7. Arizona (6-5, with a win over New Mexico). Ashley Whisonant is leading the team in scoring at 14.6. Amina Njonkou has really stepped up, averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds while Frosh Ify Ibekwe has been a pleasant surprise averaging 11 points and almost 8 rebounds per game. Would be starters Hobson and Arnold have only played one game between them.
Friday lost to USC, Sunday, UCLA.
6. Washington (5-8, 0-1). Frosh Katelan Redmon leads the team in scoring at almost 13 per game, and she’s the 2nd leading rebounder on the team. Soph Sami Whitcomb is 2nd in scoring at over 11 per game, while the leading rebounder is 5-5 Jr Point Guard Emily Florence. They’ve had some injury problems and are very young. My guess is they will improve quite a bit as the season moves along.
Friday lost to cal, Sunday at Stanford.
5. USC (8-4, 1-0). Losing two starters before the season started has held back USC and makes it difficult for them to challenge for the top three. Center Nadia Parker is the leader scorer and rebounder at 11 and 6. Camille LeNoir has made a comeback after missing last season to average over 11 points per game. Morghan Medlock started off the conference season Friday night with a huge game against Arizona.
Friday, beat Arizona, Sunday at ASU.
4. UCLA (5-7, 0-1). While Sr Lindsey Pluimer leads the team in both scoring, 14, and rebounding, 7.5 per game, the next four leading scorers are Frosh. UCLA has played a tough schedule, almost won some big games and they have also lost some games they should have won.
Friday lost at ASU, Sunday at Arizona
3. ASU (7-5, 1-0). A hard team to figure, they lost all their tough pre-season games, and lost their top outside scoring treat, Danielle Orsillo for the season. They now play more of a power game with fine games recently from their two transfers, Lauren Lacey and Sybil Dotsy.
Friday beat UCLA, Sunday –USC
2. Cal (10-2 1-0). They have the # 11 ranking despite Hampton missing 9 of their first 12 games. Ashley Walker has really stepped up for the Bears, averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. Soph Rama N’diaye has shown great improvement, averaging 10 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Friday beat Washington, Sunday, WSU
1. Who else, the # 2 team in the Nation, our Stanford Cardinal.
Friday beat WSU, Sunday, Washington
10. Washington State (3-9, 0-1 with no quality wins). Good 3 point shooting by leading scorer Katie Appleton and a decent post in 6-3 Heather Molzen, but that’s about it. June has no Seniors and an incoming recruiting class that is getting better and better, but any Pac 10 wins this season will be a surprise, or because they turn off the heat in their Gym (which has happened).
Friday lost to Stanford, Sunday at Cal
9. Oregon State (7-4). It’s hard to fault Coach Wagner for playing an extremely weak pre-season schedule. She needs to build confidence in a team that has not had success for several years. OSU is led by SR Ashley Allen at 20.7 points per game. It’s the 2nd year in a row that a Sr from OSU has lead the conference in scoring. The only frosh contributing much is 5-11 Talisa Rhea, scoring 11 points per game. 6-2 Jr Tiffany Ducker has returned from a year off to average 9 points and nearly 7 rebounds.
Saturday, Oregon
8. Oregon (6-5, with a win over UCSB). Taylor Lilly is scoring just over 11 points per game, but her 3 point shooting is down 20% to 32%. Nothing here to get excited about.
Saturday at Oregon State
7. Arizona (6-5, with a win over New Mexico). Ashley Whisonant is leading the team in scoring at 14.6. Amina Njonkou has really stepped up, averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds while Frosh Ify Ibekwe has been a pleasant surprise averaging 11 points and almost 8 rebounds per game. Would be starters Hobson and Arnold have only played one game between them.
Friday lost to USC, Sunday, UCLA.
6. Washington (5-8, 0-1). Frosh Katelan Redmon leads the team in scoring at almost 13 per game, and she’s the 2nd leading rebounder on the team. Soph Sami Whitcomb is 2nd in scoring at over 11 per game, while the leading rebounder is 5-5 Jr Point Guard Emily Florence. They’ve had some injury problems and are very young. My guess is they will improve quite a bit as the season moves along.
Friday lost to cal, Sunday at Stanford.
5. USC (8-4, 1-0). Losing two starters before the season started has held back USC and makes it difficult for them to challenge for the top three. Center Nadia Parker is the leader scorer and rebounder at 11 and 6. Camille LeNoir has made a comeback after missing last season to average over 11 points per game. Morghan Medlock started off the conference season Friday night with a huge game against Arizona.
Friday, beat Arizona, Sunday at ASU.
4. UCLA (5-7, 0-1). While Sr Lindsey Pluimer leads the team in both scoring, 14, and rebounding, 7.5 per game, the next four leading scorers are Frosh. UCLA has played a tough schedule, almost won some big games and they have also lost some games they should have won.
Friday lost at ASU, Sunday at Arizona
3. ASU (7-5, 1-0). A hard team to figure, they lost all their tough pre-season games, and lost their top outside scoring treat, Danielle Orsillo for the season. They now play more of a power game with fine games recently from their two transfers, Lauren Lacey and Sybil Dotsy.
Friday beat UCLA, Sunday –USC
2. Cal (10-2 1-0). They have the # 11 ranking despite Hampton missing 9 of their first 12 games. Ashley Walker has really stepped up for the Bears, averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. Soph Rama N’diaye has shown great improvement, averaging 10 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Friday beat Washington, Sunday, WSU
1. Who else, the # 2 team in the Nation, our Stanford Cardinal.
Friday beat WSU, Sunday, Washington
December 18, 2007
Pac 10 Preview-ASU
ASU has started off slowly this season compiling a 6-4 record. All four losses were to good teams: Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Auburn and North Carolina. Their victories include UCSB, Gonzaga and Iowa, none of whom are top teams. However an injury in the first game to sharp shooting Danielle Orsillo, has kept her out since. She opened with 21 points in 21 minutes, hard numbers to replace.
In the past ASU has been the team for Stanford to beat. If they get Orsillo back, and I can’t find a timetable, then they’ll be much better as their posts are playing better and better each game. Until then they may struggle a bit with other first division Pac 10 teams. They open with UCLA and USC at home after Christmas.
ASU could be very good in the post, quite a change from being a wing/guard oriented team recently. They start two big post players and three wing/guards. And they have five good and improving post players. Minnesota transfer 6-3 JR Lauren Lacey starts at one post position. She is averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds over 23 minutes. The other starter has been either 6-3 Jr Tennessee transfer Sybil Dosty or 6-6 Jr Kristen Thompson. Dosty is averaging 7 points and 6 rebounds in 16 minutes and Thompson 7 points and 3 rebounds in 14 minutes. The other two post players are 6-4 frosh Becca Tobin and 6-2 Jr Kayli Murphy. Tobin is averaging 4 points and 2 rebounds in 10 minutes, and Murphy 3 points and 3 rebounds in 16 minutes.
The other starters include 5-10 Sr and 6th year player, Jill Noe, and 5-8 Jr Briann January. Reagan Pariseau, a 5-5 Sr and Dymond Simon a 5-5 Soph have shared the 3rd spot as both have battled injuries. Pariseau just returned after missing 2 ½ games and Simon missed their game yesterday, but is day to day. And then there is the 5-9 JR Danielle Orsillo who has been out since the first game. The productivity of the five is:
Noe: 11 points per game and hitting 41% of her three point attempts
January: 11 points, 4.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
Pariseau: 4 points per game
Simon: 9 points per game
Orsillo is a pure scorer; hitting 3 three’s in her only game to go with her 21 points.
Two other guards who see action are Kate Engelbrecht, a 5-10 Jr and 5-22 Soph Gabby Fage.
ASU is ranked # 22, and as always will be a contender for the Pac 10 title and a NCAA bid. They need their post players to continue their development, and for Orsillo and Simon to be healthy. They’ve played some very good teams, but haven’t beaten them. However they’ll be tough in conference play. Charli will see to that.
In the past ASU has been the team for Stanford to beat. If they get Orsillo back, and I can’t find a timetable, then they’ll be much better as their posts are playing better and better each game. Until then they may struggle a bit with other first division Pac 10 teams. They open with UCLA and USC at home after Christmas.
ASU could be very good in the post, quite a change from being a wing/guard oriented team recently. They start two big post players and three wing/guards. And they have five good and improving post players. Minnesota transfer 6-3 JR Lauren Lacey starts at one post position. She is averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds over 23 minutes. The other starter has been either 6-3 Jr Tennessee transfer Sybil Dosty or 6-6 Jr Kristen Thompson. Dosty is averaging 7 points and 6 rebounds in 16 minutes and Thompson 7 points and 3 rebounds in 14 minutes. The other two post players are 6-4 frosh Becca Tobin and 6-2 Jr Kayli Murphy. Tobin is averaging 4 points and 2 rebounds in 10 minutes, and Murphy 3 points and 3 rebounds in 16 minutes.
The other starters include 5-10 Sr and 6th year player, Jill Noe, and 5-8 Jr Briann January. Reagan Pariseau, a 5-5 Sr and Dymond Simon a 5-5 Soph have shared the 3rd spot as both have battled injuries. Pariseau just returned after missing 2 ½ games and Simon missed their game yesterday, but is day to day. And then there is the 5-9 JR Danielle Orsillo who has been out since the first game. The productivity of the five is:
Noe: 11 points per game and hitting 41% of her three point attempts
January: 11 points, 4.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
Pariseau: 4 points per game
Simon: 9 points per game
Orsillo is a pure scorer; hitting 3 three’s in her only game to go with her 21 points.
Two other guards who see action are Kate Engelbrecht, a 5-10 Jr and 5-22 Soph Gabby Fage.
ASU is ranked # 22, and as always will be a contender for the Pac 10 title and a NCAA bid. They need their post players to continue their development, and for Orsillo and Simon to be healthy. They’ve played some very good teams, but haven’t beaten them. However they’ll be tough in conference play. Charli will see to that.
December 11, 2007
Pac 10 Preview-UCLA
UCLA has started the season 4-4, losing 4 of their last 5. They had a very close loss to highly ranked Maryland, and they then lost to far lesser teams. It’s not going to get easier with BYU and Tennessee two of the three games remaining before the conference begins. UCLA is very young, 6 Frosh and only one Sr.
One thing UCLA does have is depth. They have six post players, for the 4/5 positions. 6-4 Frosh Regina Rogers has started 7 of the 8 games thus far, averaging 10 points and over 5 rebounds per game. Her problem is she is only averaging 16 minutes per game. She is averaging almost one foul per 5 minutes of play.
Outstanding 6-4 Sr Lindsey Pluimer is the Starting 4. She is averaging team highs of 14 points and 8 rebounds per game. Lindsey is also shooting 47% from 3 point land, although taking less than 3 per game.
Back up post players include 6-6 Soph Center Monique Alexander. Monique is averaging 3 points and 3 rebounds in 10 minutes. 6-4 Jr C/F Chinyere Ibekwe is averaging 2 points and 3 rebounds in 8 minutes per game. Chinyere started many games over the past two seasons. 6-4 Frosh Christina Nzekwe is averaging 3 points and 4 rebounds in 14 minutes per game. 6-4 Frosh Candice Brown is averaging over 3 points and 3 rebounds in only 9 minutes per game.
The other three starters are Wing players and the Point Guard. 5-9 Fr Darxia Morris is the Point Guard. She has started 6 of the 8 games, averaging 8 points and 3 assists. She leads the team in steals and has an assist to turnover ration of 1:1. Not bad at all for a young PG and a very young team.
The Wings are 5-10 Frosh Doreena Campbell and 6-0 Soph Erica (Latimer) Tukiainen. Campbell is averaging 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game. And she leads the team averaging 31 minutes per game. If that isn’t enough she has hit 59% of her 17 three point attempts. The former Latimer now Tukiaianen has averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds per game.
The main back-ups have each started games thus far. 6-1 Frosh Nina Earl is the 2nd leading scorer at over 10 points per game. 5-10 Jr Tierra Henderson has averaged 8 points per game.
UCLA is scoring 77 points per game, but giving up 73. They are very young, but with 5 weak teams in the conference UCLA has an excellent chance at a winning conference record.
One thing UCLA does have is depth. They have six post players, for the 4/5 positions. 6-4 Frosh Regina Rogers has started 7 of the 8 games thus far, averaging 10 points and over 5 rebounds per game. Her problem is she is only averaging 16 minutes per game. She is averaging almost one foul per 5 minutes of play.
Outstanding 6-4 Sr Lindsey Pluimer is the Starting 4. She is averaging team highs of 14 points and 8 rebounds per game. Lindsey is also shooting 47% from 3 point land, although taking less than 3 per game.
Back up post players include 6-6 Soph Center Monique Alexander. Monique is averaging 3 points and 3 rebounds in 10 minutes. 6-4 Jr C/F Chinyere Ibekwe is averaging 2 points and 3 rebounds in 8 minutes per game. Chinyere started many games over the past two seasons. 6-4 Frosh Christina Nzekwe is averaging 3 points and 4 rebounds in 14 minutes per game. 6-4 Frosh Candice Brown is averaging over 3 points and 3 rebounds in only 9 minutes per game.
The other three starters are Wing players and the Point Guard. 5-9 Fr Darxia Morris is the Point Guard. She has started 6 of the 8 games, averaging 8 points and 3 assists. She leads the team in steals and has an assist to turnover ration of 1:1. Not bad at all for a young PG and a very young team.
The Wings are 5-10 Frosh Doreena Campbell and 6-0 Soph Erica (Latimer) Tukiainen. Campbell is averaging 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game. And she leads the team averaging 31 minutes per game. If that isn’t enough she has hit 59% of her 17 three point attempts. The former Latimer now Tukiaianen has averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds per game.
The main back-ups have each started games thus far. 6-1 Frosh Nina Earl is the 2nd leading scorer at over 10 points per game. 5-10 Jr Tierra Henderson has averaged 8 points per game.
UCLA is scoring 77 points per game, but giving up 73. They are very young, but with 5 weak teams in the conference UCLA has an excellent chance at a winning conference record.
December 3, 2007
PAC 10 Preview- Oregon State
Any discussion of this season’s Beavers has to start with their player losses. Casey Nash led the league in scoring averaging 20 points per game, but has graduated. Could have been Soph’s Judie Lomax and Jasmine Smith transferred out of the program. The 5-11 Lomax was awesome in post, and Smith would have seen a great deal of playing time. But that was then and this is now.
So far the Beavers are 4-2 without a quality win and a two point loss Sunday night to USF. Their pre-season schedule isn’t much so they could enter the Pac 10 with a winning record. However I would think their goal this season is to simply stay ahead of WSU and Arizona as they build up their team.
Tiffany Ducker has returned from a redshirt year to be a solid post for the Beavers. She’s a 6-2 Jr who has had two 10 rebound games and has scored 19 in a game thus far this season. Tiffany has averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds per game. Prized 6-4 frosh Alex Mitchell is the backup Center.
Oregon State starts two post players and three guards. The other post is 6-1 Frosh, and former teammate of JJ Hones’, Stacy Nichols. She’s averaged just shy of 5 points and 5 rebounds per game. Other Forwards are 6-4 Frosh Viki Wohlers and 6-3 Frosh Brittany Eskridge. Neither has seen much action yet.
Mercedes Fox-Griffin, a 5-7 Jr returns as the starting Point Guard. She was outstanding last season and thus far has averaged 8.5 points per game and 4 Assists per game. Mercedes has missed two games and 5-11 Frosh Talisa Rhea moved over from back up off guard. Rhea has been a big surprise, scoring 12.5 points per game, and is also seeing a lot of time at a Wing position.
Other Wings are Ashley Allen, a 5-10 Sr and the only Sr on the team. She has had games of 23 and 25 points and 8 rebounds. She leads the team with 17 points per game. The other starting wing is Brittany Davis, a 5-10 Jr who transferred from Minnesota. She’s averaging 7 points per game. The only other Wing getting much playing time is 5-8 Soph Julie Futch, averaging just under 2 points per game.
While their record is 4-2, Oregon State is only scoring 63 points per game and being out shot and out rebounded. Coach LaVonda Wagner has the Beavers playing hard, a tribute to her coaching abilities.
BONUS: Pac 10 team Records thus far.
Stanford: 7-1
Cal: 7-1
Oregon State: 4-2
Arizona State: 4-3
Oregon: 4-3
UCLA: 4-3
USC: 3-2
Washington: 4-4
Arizona: 2-4
Washington State: 2-5
So far the Beavers are 4-2 without a quality win and a two point loss Sunday night to USF. Their pre-season schedule isn’t much so they could enter the Pac 10 with a winning record. However I would think their goal this season is to simply stay ahead of WSU and Arizona as they build up their team.
Tiffany Ducker has returned from a redshirt year to be a solid post for the Beavers. She’s a 6-2 Jr who has had two 10 rebound games and has scored 19 in a game thus far this season. Tiffany has averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds per game. Prized 6-4 frosh Alex Mitchell is the backup Center.
Oregon State starts two post players and three guards. The other post is 6-1 Frosh, and former teammate of JJ Hones’, Stacy Nichols. She’s averaged just shy of 5 points and 5 rebounds per game. Other Forwards are 6-4 Frosh Viki Wohlers and 6-3 Frosh Brittany Eskridge. Neither has seen much action yet.
Mercedes Fox-Griffin, a 5-7 Jr returns as the starting Point Guard. She was outstanding last season and thus far has averaged 8.5 points per game and 4 Assists per game. Mercedes has missed two games and 5-11 Frosh Talisa Rhea moved over from back up off guard. Rhea has been a big surprise, scoring 12.5 points per game, and is also seeing a lot of time at a Wing position.
Other Wings are Ashley Allen, a 5-10 Sr and the only Sr on the team. She has had games of 23 and 25 points and 8 rebounds. She leads the team with 17 points per game. The other starting wing is Brittany Davis, a 5-10 Jr who transferred from Minnesota. She’s averaging 7 points per game. The only other Wing getting much playing time is 5-8 Soph Julie Futch, averaging just under 2 points per game.
While their record is 4-2, Oregon State is only scoring 63 points per game and being out shot and out rebounded. Coach LaVonda Wagner has the Beavers playing hard, a tribute to her coaching abilities.
BONUS: Pac 10 team Records thus far.
Stanford: 7-1
Cal: 7-1
Oregon State: 4-2
Arizona State: 4-3
Oregon: 4-3
UCLA: 4-3
USC: 3-2
Washington: 4-4
Arizona: 2-4
Washington State: 2-5
November 21, 2007
Pac 10 Preview-Oregon
Oregon has started off the season 2-1, with an easy win over San Jose State, an embarrassing loss to South Dakota State, and a win over Marquette. The Marquette game was in Eugene and they didn’t have their top player. Still it was a good win for the very young Ducks. Oregon is a team with only 2 Srs and 8 new players. So they’ll need time to jell, and that may last most of the year.
Recruiting by Oregon continues to consist of foreign players. The Ducks have 3 players from Australia, 2 from Canada and players from Italy, New Zealand and Hungry. That leaves only 4 Americans on the 12 person roster and none from the State of Oregon.
The starting Center is 6-5 Frosh Nicole Canepa from San Francisco. Nicole has scored 27 points in the first two games, but her rebounds have matched her fouls (8) thus far. Australian Ellyce Ironmonger, a 6-4 frosh is the backup Center and scored 12 points against San Jose State.
At the Forward position is starter Ellie Manou, a 6-3 Frosh. She had 17 points and 8 rebounds against SJS. Ellie played on the Australian 19U team this past summer. Back ups include Victoria Kenyon a 6-2 Frosh and Mary Sbrissa a 6-2 Soph. 6-0 Sr Rita Kollo is a transfer from Oklahoma State and will redshirt this season. Kenyon played for the Hungarian 21U team this past summer.
Oregon is using a Three Guard Line up. Starters are 5-6 Soph Taylor Lilley, 5-10 Sr Kaela Chapdelaine and 5-8 Jr Tamika Nurse. Lilley shot 51% from 3 last season to lead the Pac 10. She averaged 8.3 PPG. Chapdelaine averaged 6.5 PPG and 3.5 Assists per Game last season. The starting Point Guard is Nurse who averaged 9.2 PPG and 3.3 Assists per game while playing 34 minutes per game. An aside, Nurse’s aunt is married to FB star Donovan McNabb.
The other two guards, 5-7 Frosh Nia Jackson and 5-8 Soph Micaela Cocks have already played quite a bit. Jackson is the back up PG and was the PG last year for the outstanding Chief Stealth High School of Seattle. Cocks saw a lot of action last season for the Ducks and played for the New Zealand National team during the summer.
Oregon is young but with a number of players with international experience. Their attendance for the Marquette game was 2100 so the interest is there to cheer them on. However they lack a marquee player and being so young appear to be a 2nd division Pac 10 team.
Recruiting by Oregon continues to consist of foreign players. The Ducks have 3 players from Australia, 2 from Canada and players from Italy, New Zealand and Hungry. That leaves only 4 Americans on the 12 person roster and none from the State of Oregon.
The starting Center is 6-5 Frosh Nicole Canepa from San Francisco. Nicole has scored 27 points in the first two games, but her rebounds have matched her fouls (8) thus far. Australian Ellyce Ironmonger, a 6-4 frosh is the backup Center and scored 12 points against San Jose State.
At the Forward position is starter Ellie Manou, a 6-3 Frosh. She had 17 points and 8 rebounds against SJS. Ellie played on the Australian 19U team this past summer. Back ups include Victoria Kenyon a 6-2 Frosh and Mary Sbrissa a 6-2 Soph. 6-0 Sr Rita Kollo is a transfer from Oklahoma State and will redshirt this season. Kenyon played for the Hungarian 21U team this past summer.
Oregon is using a Three Guard Line up. Starters are 5-6 Soph Taylor Lilley, 5-10 Sr Kaela Chapdelaine and 5-8 Jr Tamika Nurse. Lilley shot 51% from 3 last season to lead the Pac 10. She averaged 8.3 PPG. Chapdelaine averaged 6.5 PPG and 3.5 Assists per Game last season. The starting Point Guard is Nurse who averaged 9.2 PPG and 3.3 Assists per game while playing 34 minutes per game. An aside, Nurse’s aunt is married to FB star Donovan McNabb.
The other two guards, 5-7 Frosh Nia Jackson and 5-8 Soph Micaela Cocks have already played quite a bit. Jackson is the back up PG and was the PG last year for the outstanding Chief Stealth High School of Seattle. Cocks saw a lot of action last season for the Ducks and played for the New Zealand National team during the summer.
Oregon is young but with a number of players with international experience. Their attendance for the Marquette game was 2100 so the interest is there to cheer them on. However they lack a marquee player and being so young appear to be a 2nd division Pac 10 team.
November 7, 2007
Pac 10 Preview-Cal
Last year the University of California went 23-9 and 12-6 in the conference with a first round NCAA tournament loss. This year they expect more, maybe much more. Cal is riding the recruiting success of their former coach who recruited 6-3 Center Jessica Lawson four years ago and then the Fab 5 three years ago. Then she was shown the door. To be fair, excellent players or not, there was nothing in Caren’s win loss record at Cal to indicate she could go 23-9.
Fast forward three years and Cal is ready to contend for the Pac 10 Championship and make a deep run into the Dance, the NCAA Tournament. Four of the Fab 5 are only Jrs, although one of them hasn’t turned out Fab. Also Cal lost Morris, a Fab 5er, Lawson, the Center, and recent recruit Sanford. This would have been the depth and maybe even two of them starters, making the depth for Cal awesome. Alas, that have what is left. However in Hampton, Walker and Gray-Lawson they certainly have three athletes who may well be All Conference and more.
Head Coach Joanne Boyle thought about the Duke job, then thought some more and then said Cal will be just fine thank you, and stayed. She immediately turned over her staff with two new Assistants. Former Stanford star and Assistant Charmin Smith moved to Cal as did well known AAU Coach Kevin Morrison.
The post players will be 6-3 Jr Devanei Hampton and 6-1 Jr Ashley Walker. Hampton was the Pac 10 Player of the Year while averaging 16.6 points per game and 8.0 rebounds per game. The best part is she plays to her middle name, Devanei is Unique. Walker led the Bears in both scoring and rebounding with 17.3 and 8.7. She may be 6-1 but she is a Bear (enough of that) under the basket. The only posts back up, whoa could they use the depth that left, is 6-5 Soph, Rama N’diaye. Rama averaged 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds, while averaging 17 minutes per game.
There are two other potential 4’s, although they are more likely 3’s. 6-0 Sr (the only Cal Sr) Krista Foster and 6-0 Jr and Fab 5er Shantrell Snead. Foster played a bit less last year than her first 2 years, but remained consistent with 4 points and 2 rebounds in 15 minutes per game for her Cal career. She’s a solid player both offensively and defensively. Sneed hasn’t played much at Cal, but may be the healthiest she has been in 3 years.
Cal will start with a 3 Guard, 2 Post line-up. Alexis Gray-Lawson returns after having torn her ACL in her 9th game last year. She’s a 5-8 Jr. Her career numbers are 4 points and 4 rebounds per game. Her assist to turnover ratio is not good, 1.3 turnovers per assist. She’s 37% from 3. Alexis is a natural scorer and if 5-8 Soph Natasha Vital can continue her improvement that the Point this would be huge toward Cal’s successful season. Vital averaged 7.2 points per game and had a plus turnover ratio of 1.1 assist per turnover. Vital certainly took better care of the ball later in the season than after having to suddenly replace Alexis at the Point.
5-10 Soph Lauren Grief will be the 5th starter, and the 3rd Guard in the Line-up. She started every game last year, averaged 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds, and 36 minutes per game and had a plus assist to turnover ratio. And Lauren shot 35% from 3. She is a fan favorite. How big a fan favorite? At her 100 plus year old High School she was the first player to have her jersey number retired.
Back ups will be the 6-1 Canadian National Team member, Frosh Kelsey Adrian and 5-11 Frosh Rachelle Federico. Adrian can play the 2, 3 or 4, and should be able to add some instant offensive off the bench. Federico will have competition for playing time, but there are only 10 players on Cal’s roster so she may get some quality minutes at some point.
Cal is ranked from 8-12 in the National Polls and while lacking depth, should be an outstanding team.
Fast forward three years and Cal is ready to contend for the Pac 10 Championship and make a deep run into the Dance, the NCAA Tournament. Four of the Fab 5 are only Jrs, although one of them hasn’t turned out Fab. Also Cal lost Morris, a Fab 5er, Lawson, the Center, and recent recruit Sanford. This would have been the depth and maybe even two of them starters, making the depth for Cal awesome. Alas, that have what is left. However in Hampton, Walker and Gray-Lawson they certainly have three athletes who may well be All Conference and more.
Head Coach Joanne Boyle thought about the Duke job, then thought some more and then said Cal will be just fine thank you, and stayed. She immediately turned over her staff with two new Assistants. Former Stanford star and Assistant Charmin Smith moved to Cal as did well known AAU Coach Kevin Morrison.
The post players will be 6-3 Jr Devanei Hampton and 6-1 Jr Ashley Walker. Hampton was the Pac 10 Player of the Year while averaging 16.6 points per game and 8.0 rebounds per game. The best part is she plays to her middle name, Devanei is Unique. Walker led the Bears in both scoring and rebounding with 17.3 and 8.7. She may be 6-1 but she is a Bear (enough of that) under the basket. The only posts back up, whoa could they use the depth that left, is 6-5 Soph, Rama N’diaye. Rama averaged 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds, while averaging 17 minutes per game.
There are two other potential 4’s, although they are more likely 3’s. 6-0 Sr (the only Cal Sr) Krista Foster and 6-0 Jr and Fab 5er Shantrell Snead. Foster played a bit less last year than her first 2 years, but remained consistent with 4 points and 2 rebounds in 15 minutes per game for her Cal career. She’s a solid player both offensively and defensively. Sneed hasn’t played much at Cal, but may be the healthiest she has been in 3 years.
Cal will start with a 3 Guard, 2 Post line-up. Alexis Gray-Lawson returns after having torn her ACL in her 9th game last year. She’s a 5-8 Jr. Her career numbers are 4 points and 4 rebounds per game. Her assist to turnover ratio is not good, 1.3 turnovers per assist. She’s 37% from 3. Alexis is a natural scorer and if 5-8 Soph Natasha Vital can continue her improvement that the Point this would be huge toward Cal’s successful season. Vital averaged 7.2 points per game and had a plus turnover ratio of 1.1 assist per turnover. Vital certainly took better care of the ball later in the season than after having to suddenly replace Alexis at the Point.
5-10 Soph Lauren Grief will be the 5th starter, and the 3rd Guard in the Line-up. She started every game last year, averaged 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds, and 36 minutes per game and had a plus assist to turnover ratio. And Lauren shot 35% from 3. She is a fan favorite. How big a fan favorite? At her 100 plus year old High School she was the first player to have her jersey number retired.
Back ups will be the 6-1 Canadian National Team member, Frosh Kelsey Adrian and 5-11 Frosh Rachelle Federico. Adrian can play the 2, 3 or 4, and should be able to add some instant offensive off the bench. Federico will have competition for playing time, but there are only 10 players on Cal’s roster so she may get some quality minutes at some point.
Cal is ranked from 8-12 in the National Polls and while lacking depth, should be an outstanding team.
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