Arizona 2-1
Lost at San Diego State 57-38 shooting only 31% and committing 27 turnovers. Ify Ibewke was the only Wildcat with more than 6 points as she scored 11 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Sadly not enough to offset her 10 turnovers. San Diego State blocked 10 Wildcat shots.
Next Games: Nov 23rd, Mississippi. Nov 27 at USD
ASU 2-1
Beat Yale 82-46 as Charlie Turner Thorne beat her former mentor at the University of Washington, Chris Gobrecht. Becca Tobin scored 14 points and Alex Earl returned to score 12, while hitting the only three pointers, two, for the Sun Devils. ASU had a 61-21 Rebounding edge but committed 28 turnovers.
ASU was down 2 with 11 minutes to play and made only one shot from the floor the remainder of the game to lose at # 9 Xavier 59-46. ASU shot only 29% and had 8 assists to 22 turnovers.
Next Games Nov 27 at Hawaii, Nov 28 ETSU at Hawaii.
Cal 2-1
Behind most of the game Cal rallied to beat St Mary’s 68-65. Natasha Vital scored 17 points to lead the Bears. Frosh DeNesha Stallworth and Talia Caldwell both had 10 points and 8 rebounds. Cal shot only 37% and didn’t make a single three.
Baylor beat Cal 69-48. Brittany Griner blocked 5 shots and disrupted several more for Baylor. Stallworth had 15 points for the Bears and Alexis Gray-Lawson had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Cal had 21 turnovers and only 8 assists making only 16 shots and shooting 29%.
Next Games: Nov 28 in Ohio, Southern, Nov 29 in Ohio, Ohio State or IUPUI
Oregon 2-0
Beat Eastern Washington 86-48. Taylor Lilly hit 7 of 14 three’s for 28 points and Nicole Canepa scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds.
Beat Montana 86-81 at Montana. Canepa continued her fine start to the season with a career high 18 points and 9 rebounds. Amanda Johnson scored 17 points and had 15 rebounds and the rugged post hit 3 of 6 three’s. Nia Jackson had 12 points and 6 steals.
Next Games: Nov 24 Santa Clara, Nov 27, Cal State Fullerton, Nov 28, Wisconsin, Nov 29, Portland State
Oregon State 2-1
Lost badly to Houston 49-32, yes only 32 points by the Beavers. Only 373 in Houston to watch the game. Oregon State shot 27% and had 7 assists vs 27 turnovers.
The Beavers beat Houston Baptist 70-42. Kristen Tilleman scored a career high 26 points and also had 13 rebounds in the win. The Beavers shot 54%.
Next Games: Nov 27 Belmont in Arizona, Nov 28 at Northern Arizona or vs Siena.
UCLA 3-1
Beat Hawaii 98-52. UCLA tied a school record with 12 three’s led by Erica Tukiainen’s 6 three’s, and 24 points. Frosh Markel Walker had 12 points, 12 rebounds and 8 steals. Darxia Morris had 18 points, connecting on 3 of 4 from three. Mariah Williams, another frosh, had 8 assists in only 19 minutes.
Beat Utah 69-33. The game started with Utah scoring, but at the wrong Basket. Walker led the way with 10 points and 8 rebounds as lots of Bruins played and they subbed freely. The Bruins had 19 assists vs only 11 turnovers.
Next Games: Nov 25, Princeton, Nov 28 at Tenn (TV)
USC 1-2
Lost to Gonzaga 70-58 in Spokane. Ashley Corral scored 23 points for the Trojans who played very poorly. Michelle Jenkins went down with a knee injury. USC shot 29% and had only 5 assists the whole game. Gonzaga is a top 20 team, who we play Sunday.
Next Games: Nov 26, Rutgers, Nov 27, Texas, Nov 28, Mississippi, all in the Virgin Islands.
Washington 1-1
The Huskies Beat BYU on a 3 pointer by Sami Whitcomb with 4 seconds left. This, after losing to Portland State with .3 seconds left last week. Whitcomb had 25 points for Washington. There were 53 turnovers in the game, 31 by BYU.
The Huskies lost at Gonzaga 81-52. Regina Rogers scored 12 points in 16 minutes as the Huskies had 24 turnovers and shot 30%. For Gonzaga, who Stanford plays Sunday, Courtney Vandersloot had 18 points and 11 assists while Katelan Redmon played against her former team and scored 18 points on 9 of 12 shooting. Gonzaga outrebound the Huskies by 20. A near capacity 4400 people saw the game.
Next Games: Nov 27, Eastern Washington, Nov 29, Sacramento State
Washington State 1-2
Lost at Kansas State 70-63. 5 for 27 from three doomed the Cougars. I trust June will point out 20 for 41, almost 50% from inside the arc. Kiki Moore had 17 points, 6 assists and steals as the Frosh continues to make an impact.
Lost at Nebraska 107-54.
Next Games: Nov 28 Bradley in Las Vegas, Nov 29, UNLV or Boise State
November 22, 2009
November 16, 2009
The first week of real play
Arizona 2-0
Arizona wins their first game beating Iona at Iona 75-70. The Wildcats led by 21 at one point, lost their lead but then came back to win in Overtime. Davellyn Whyte made her debut as the frosh scored 27 points and had 8 rebounds and 0 turnovers in 44 minutes. Whyte hit 4 of 10 three’s. Soph JC transfer Brooke Jackson added 13 points hitting 3 of 4 three’s. Ify Ibekwe only scored 11 points and had 8 turnovers, but had an amazing 21 rebounds.
The Wildcats moved to 2-0 by beating Miami of Ohio 91-67. Ibekwe had 15 points and 16 rebounds and Tournament MVP Whyte had 11 points including 3 three’s. Reiko Thomas added 17 points off the bench. The Wildcats had 20 assists and 19 turnovers, a plus on that side for the first time in my memory. Ibekwe turned around in this game with 5 assists and only 2 turnovers.
Next Games: Nov 21st at San Diego State. Nov 23rd, Mississippi.
ASU 1-0
Beat South Dakota State 73-64. Becca Tobin had a career high 18 points to lead the Sun Devils to a home victory over a team that was in the NCAA last year. Kayli Murphy added 11 points and 12 rebounds. New Point Guard Tenaya Watson had 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 17 minutes, but also 6 turnovers.
Next Games Nov 19 at Yale, Nov 21 at Xavier (big Game)
Cal 1-0
The Bears beat Idaho State 100-43, the first time Cal has reached 100 in 13 years. Natasha Vital led the Bears with 16 points and 6 steals in 17 minutes. Two frosh started, DeNesha Stallworth who had 17 points and 8 rebounds and Gennifer Brandon who scored 10 points and had 8 rebounds. Alexis Gray-Lawson hit 3 three’s and had 16points. Cal had 1900 fans at the game, a good attendance.
Next Games, Nov 17, St Mary’s, Nov 22, Baylor
Oregon 0-0 Starts tonight.
Next Games: Nov 16, Eastern Washington Nov 22nd at Montana, Nov 24th Santa Clara
Oregon State 1-0
Beat Cal Poly 71-61 in their opener. Kirsten Tilleman, who played with Jos Tinkle in HS scored 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting and added 8 rebounds. Talisa Rhea scored 20 points. Kate Lanz had 5 assists in 17 minutes.
Next Games: Nov 19th at Houston, Nov 22nd at Houston Baptist.
UCLA 1-1
Lost in OT to Illinois State in a bad loss for the Pac 10, 61-55. No Bruin with more than 12 points. Frosh Markel Walker with 10 points and 9 rebounds. The 2 UCLA centers scored 6 points and had 7 rebounds in 30 minutes. Neither started.
Beat Santa Clara 77-51. Erica Tukiainen scored 21 points on 5 of 7 from three. Frosh Mariah Williams scored 10 points and had 6 assists. Moniquee Alexander had 10 rebounds. Rebekah Gardner scored 14 points making a pair of three’s.
Next Games: Nov 19, Hawaii, Nov 21 Utah at San Diego
USC 1-1
USC dropped their opener in OT to a strong Xavier team 81-71. Ashley Corral scored 25 points going 5 of 10 from three. Brianna Gilbreath scored 19 points and had 8 rebounds, Aarika Hughes had 14 points and 7 rebounds. USC had only 12 assists and 24turnovers.
USC came back to beat Fresno State 68-63, led by Brianna Gilbreath’s 17 points and 7 rebounds. Ashley Corral added 10 points and 7 assists, but went 0 for 6 from 3. Christina Marinacci had 12 points and 7 rebounds, Kari LaPlante 12 points and 6 rebounds.
Next Games: Nov 19 at Gonzaga
Washington 0-1
Washington lost to Portland State 67-66 despite 22 points and 10 rebounds by Sami Whitcomb. Kristi Kingma missed the game with an illness. Liz Lay played her first game, playing 9 minutes. Sarah Morton had 7 assists. Regina Rodgers could only play 11 minutes and had 6 turnovers. Portland State is the favorite to win the Big Sky and is coached by Sherri Murrell who was the Washington State coach.
Washington State 1-0
Beat UC Davis 64-54, led by frosh Kiki Moore with 17 points, although she also had 7 turnovers. April Cook had 14 points and 8 rebounds. Katie Madison, who played so well in the exhibitions, only scored 4 points with 6 rebounds.
Next Games: Nov 20th at Kansas State, Nov 22nd at Nebraska
Arizona wins their first game beating Iona at Iona 75-70. The Wildcats led by 21 at one point, lost their lead but then came back to win in Overtime. Davellyn Whyte made her debut as the frosh scored 27 points and had 8 rebounds and 0 turnovers in 44 minutes. Whyte hit 4 of 10 three’s. Soph JC transfer Brooke Jackson added 13 points hitting 3 of 4 three’s. Ify Ibekwe only scored 11 points and had 8 turnovers, but had an amazing 21 rebounds.
The Wildcats moved to 2-0 by beating Miami of Ohio 91-67. Ibekwe had 15 points and 16 rebounds and Tournament MVP Whyte had 11 points including 3 three’s. Reiko Thomas added 17 points off the bench. The Wildcats had 20 assists and 19 turnovers, a plus on that side for the first time in my memory. Ibekwe turned around in this game with 5 assists and only 2 turnovers.
Next Games: Nov 21st at San Diego State. Nov 23rd, Mississippi.
ASU 1-0
Beat South Dakota State 73-64. Becca Tobin had a career high 18 points to lead the Sun Devils to a home victory over a team that was in the NCAA last year. Kayli Murphy added 11 points and 12 rebounds. New Point Guard Tenaya Watson had 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 17 minutes, but also 6 turnovers.
Next Games Nov 19 at Yale, Nov 21 at Xavier (big Game)
Cal 1-0
The Bears beat Idaho State 100-43, the first time Cal has reached 100 in 13 years. Natasha Vital led the Bears with 16 points and 6 steals in 17 minutes. Two frosh started, DeNesha Stallworth who had 17 points and 8 rebounds and Gennifer Brandon who scored 10 points and had 8 rebounds. Alexis Gray-Lawson hit 3 three’s and had 16points. Cal had 1900 fans at the game, a good attendance.
Next Games, Nov 17, St Mary’s, Nov 22, Baylor
Oregon 0-0 Starts tonight.
Next Games: Nov 16, Eastern Washington Nov 22nd at Montana, Nov 24th Santa Clara
Oregon State 1-0
Beat Cal Poly 71-61 in their opener. Kirsten Tilleman, who played with Jos Tinkle in HS scored 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting and added 8 rebounds. Talisa Rhea scored 20 points. Kate Lanz had 5 assists in 17 minutes.
Next Games: Nov 19th at Houston, Nov 22nd at Houston Baptist.
UCLA 1-1
Lost in OT to Illinois State in a bad loss for the Pac 10, 61-55. No Bruin with more than 12 points. Frosh Markel Walker with 10 points and 9 rebounds. The 2 UCLA centers scored 6 points and had 7 rebounds in 30 minutes. Neither started.
Beat Santa Clara 77-51. Erica Tukiainen scored 21 points on 5 of 7 from three. Frosh Mariah Williams scored 10 points and had 6 assists. Moniquee Alexander had 10 rebounds. Rebekah Gardner scored 14 points making a pair of three’s.
Next Games: Nov 19, Hawaii, Nov 21 Utah at San Diego
USC 1-1
USC dropped their opener in OT to a strong Xavier team 81-71. Ashley Corral scored 25 points going 5 of 10 from three. Brianna Gilbreath scored 19 points and had 8 rebounds, Aarika Hughes had 14 points and 7 rebounds. USC had only 12 assists and 24turnovers.
USC came back to beat Fresno State 68-63, led by Brianna Gilbreath’s 17 points and 7 rebounds. Ashley Corral added 10 points and 7 assists, but went 0 for 6 from 3. Christina Marinacci had 12 points and 7 rebounds, Kari LaPlante 12 points and 6 rebounds.
Next Games: Nov 19 at Gonzaga
Washington 0-1
Washington lost to Portland State 67-66 despite 22 points and 10 rebounds by Sami Whitcomb. Kristi Kingma missed the game with an illness. Liz Lay played her first game, playing 9 minutes. Sarah Morton had 7 assists. Regina Rodgers could only play 11 minutes and had 6 turnovers. Portland State is the favorite to win the Big Sky and is coached by Sherri Murrell who was the Washington State coach.
Washington State 1-0
Beat UC Davis 64-54, led by frosh Kiki Moore with 17 points, although she also had 7 turnovers. April Cook had 14 points and 8 rebounds. Katie Madison, who played so well in the exhibitions, only scored 4 points with 6 rebounds.
Next Games: Nov 20th at Kansas State, Nov 22nd at Nebraska
November 10, 2009
Play begins for Pac 10 Teams
Arizona beat Arizona 75-60 in an exhibition game. All five starters scored in double figures. The lineup included three newcomers, two JC transfers and one frosh. Ify Ibekwe had 11 points and 14 rebounds in 24 minutes. JC transfer Brooke Jackson had 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Wildcats played with three Guards and two Forwards most of the game.
Arizona won their final exhibition, beating Grand Canyon 83-56. Foothill transfer Jennifer Kioa had 9 points, 9 rebounds and 8 blocked shots. Arizona hit 12 of 21 three’s.
Next Games: Nov 14th at Iona, Nov 15th at Iona against either Bucknell or Miami of Ohio.
ASU won their exhibition beating Vanguard 97-64. Kali Bennett, the transfer from Washington, made her Sun Devil debut and scored 18 point with 13 rebounds in only 15 minutes of play. Two other post players played very well. Kimberly Brandon had 19 points and 7 rebounds and Redshirt Frosh Janae Fulcher made her ASU debut with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Impressive and just when we wondered how strong ASU might be in the Post.
Next game Nov 15 vs South Dakota St.
Cal opened their season with an exhibition win over Vanguard, 101-81. DeNesha Stallworth debut with 21 points and 9 rebounds. Fellow frosh Brenna Heater scored 9 points and had 17 rebounds. Alexis Gray-Lawson had 18 points, building on the 4 three’s she made. On the down side Cal had 23 turnovers.
Next game, Nov 15, Idaho State.
Oregon beat Southern Oregon 109-47 in their first exhibition. Micaela Cocks had 22 points and Center Amanda Johnson had 19 points and 9 steals. The run and gun Ducks took 98 shots. Compare that to Stanford’s Sunday total of 72.
Oregon then beat Western Oregon 109-65 in their final exhibition. In this game they took 91 shots and hit 53%. Johnson had 25 points and 11 rebounds. Nia Jackson had 23 points and 6 assists.
Next Game: Nov 18, Eastern Washington.
Oregon State went over 100 in their exhibition win over Concordia 113-35. Seven Beavers scored in double figures. Talisa Rhea hit 4 of 8 three’s on her way to 23 points, and 8 assists. Frosh Kate Lenz had 16 points, 8 assists and only 2 turnovers in her debut. Frosh Guard Haiden Palmer debuted with 20 points, 3 of 6 from three, and had 6 steals.
The Beavers beat Lewis and Clark for their 2nd exhibition win, 103-25. Six players scored in double figures, led by Frosh Kate Lenz with 16. Four others had 6 or 8 points.
Next Game: Nov 13 vs Cal Poly.
UCLA beat Masters College 80-66. It seems that Atonye Nyingifa had a knee operation in May and will be out for a while, I don’t know how long. She would be a starter, so a big blow. Frosh Markel Walker made her debut with 8 points and 11 rebounds. Erica Tukiainen had 16 points and 3 blocks, Doreena Campbell had 13 points and 7 assists, Darxia Morris had 10 points and 6 assists and 3 steals. Candice Brown a little used post player has left the team.
Next Games: Nov 14th, Illinois State in Iowa, Nov 15th, Iowa or Santa Clara in Iowa.
USC hasn’t played yet although they did scrimmage UC Riverside and lost.
Next Games: Nov 13, Xavier, Nov 15, Fresno State
Washington edged Seattle Pacific 69-61 in their first game. A Seattle Pacific played hit 5 of 6 three’s. Liz Lay sat out this game, resting the knee that did NOT have the ACL a year and a half ago. Washington started four Guards and Regina Rogers at Center, but Laura McLellan came off the bench for Rogers and scored 18 points. Sami Whitcomb had 15 points, Sara Mosiman 14 points and Kristi Kingma 9 points and 9 rebounds.
Washington beat Corban 106-34. Sami Whitcomb led the Huskies with 23 points.
Next Games: Nov 14th at Portland State
Washington State won their Exhibition over Lewis and Clark, 76-58. The Cougars had 26 steals and Lewis and Clark 39 Turnovers. The down side: The Cougars only shot 30% and only 6 of 25 from three. Idaho transfer Katie Madison, at 6’, started at Center for the Cougars and had 11 points and 15 rebounds, 10 offensive. Quite a debut. Frosh Kiki Moore from San Francisco had 12 points and 6 steals but 5 turnovers. Jasmine Perkins led the way with 19 points.
Arizona won their final exhibition, beating Grand Canyon 83-56. Foothill transfer Jennifer Kioa had 9 points, 9 rebounds and 8 blocked shots. Arizona hit 12 of 21 three’s.
Next Games: Nov 14th at Iona, Nov 15th at Iona against either Bucknell or Miami of Ohio.
ASU won their exhibition beating Vanguard 97-64. Kali Bennett, the transfer from Washington, made her Sun Devil debut and scored 18 point with 13 rebounds in only 15 minutes of play. Two other post players played very well. Kimberly Brandon had 19 points and 7 rebounds and Redshirt Frosh Janae Fulcher made her ASU debut with 12 points and 8 rebounds. Impressive and just when we wondered how strong ASU might be in the Post.
Next game Nov 15 vs South Dakota St.
Cal opened their season with an exhibition win over Vanguard, 101-81. DeNesha Stallworth debut with 21 points and 9 rebounds. Fellow frosh Brenna Heater scored 9 points and had 17 rebounds. Alexis Gray-Lawson had 18 points, building on the 4 three’s she made. On the down side Cal had 23 turnovers.
Next game, Nov 15, Idaho State.
Oregon beat Southern Oregon 109-47 in their first exhibition. Micaela Cocks had 22 points and Center Amanda Johnson had 19 points and 9 steals. The run and gun Ducks took 98 shots. Compare that to Stanford’s Sunday total of 72.
Oregon then beat Western Oregon 109-65 in their final exhibition. In this game they took 91 shots and hit 53%. Johnson had 25 points and 11 rebounds. Nia Jackson had 23 points and 6 assists.
Next Game: Nov 18, Eastern Washington.
Oregon State went over 100 in their exhibition win over Concordia 113-35. Seven Beavers scored in double figures. Talisa Rhea hit 4 of 8 three’s on her way to 23 points, and 8 assists. Frosh Kate Lenz had 16 points, 8 assists and only 2 turnovers in her debut. Frosh Guard Haiden Palmer debuted with 20 points, 3 of 6 from three, and had 6 steals.
The Beavers beat Lewis and Clark for their 2nd exhibition win, 103-25. Six players scored in double figures, led by Frosh Kate Lenz with 16. Four others had 6 or 8 points.
Next Game: Nov 13 vs Cal Poly.
UCLA beat Masters College 80-66. It seems that Atonye Nyingifa had a knee operation in May and will be out for a while, I don’t know how long. She would be a starter, so a big blow. Frosh Markel Walker made her debut with 8 points and 11 rebounds. Erica Tukiainen had 16 points and 3 blocks, Doreena Campbell had 13 points and 7 assists, Darxia Morris had 10 points and 6 assists and 3 steals. Candice Brown a little used post player has left the team.
Next Games: Nov 14th, Illinois State in Iowa, Nov 15th, Iowa or Santa Clara in Iowa.
USC hasn’t played yet although they did scrimmage UC Riverside and lost.
Next Games: Nov 13, Xavier, Nov 15, Fresno State
Washington edged Seattle Pacific 69-61 in their first game. A Seattle Pacific played hit 5 of 6 three’s. Liz Lay sat out this game, resting the knee that did NOT have the ACL a year and a half ago. Washington started four Guards and Regina Rogers at Center, but Laura McLellan came off the bench for Rogers and scored 18 points. Sami Whitcomb had 15 points, Sara Mosiman 14 points and Kristi Kingma 9 points and 9 rebounds.
Washington beat Corban 106-34. Sami Whitcomb led the Huskies with 23 points.
Next Games: Nov 14th at Portland State
Washington State won their Exhibition over Lewis and Clark, 76-58. The Cougars had 26 steals and Lewis and Clark 39 Turnovers. The down side: The Cougars only shot 30% and only 6 of 25 from three. Idaho transfer Katie Madison, at 6’, started at Center for the Cougars and had 11 points and 15 rebounds, 10 offensive. Quite a debut. Frosh Kiki Moore from San Francisco had 12 points and 6 steals but 5 turnovers. Jasmine Perkins led the way with 19 points.
November 6, 2009
The Bruins want to Dance
Last year UCLA had a decent 19-12 record, but only 9-9 in Pac 10 play as Nikki Caldwell made her Coaching debut for the Bruins. Two years ago UCLA was 16-15, but 10-8 in league play, for Kathy Olivier’s last season. And three years ago UCLA had a losing record for both the season and league play. In 2005-06 UCLA went to the NCAA winning their first game, after going 21-11 overall and 12-6 in the Pac 10. So four years later, UCLA wants to return to the Dance, the NCAA tournament.
UCLA lost only two players from last year and replace them with three newcomers with far more potential. Tierra Henderson averaged 6 points per game and Chinyere Ibekwe averaged 5 points and 6 rebounds per game. Both have graduated.
UCLA welcomes three newcomers, and two of them, Markel Walker and Jasmine Dixon were top 10 players in High School.
In the Post position the Bruins have three players led by 6-4 Jr Christina Nzekwe. Nzekwe hit a couple of Three’s at Stanford and 10 on the year, so we know she can step out and shoot, however she only 39% on all her attempts. She was UCLA’s 4th leading scorer, 6.3 and tied for 3rd leading rebounder, 4.8 per game, last season. Moniquee Alexander is a 6-6 Sr, who averaged 4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Alexander only played 15 minutes per game. Candice Brown is a 6-3 Jr who didn’t play much this past season.
At the forward position UCLA has skill and depth. Markel Walker is a 6-1 frosh and a top 5 recruit. She was recruited from Philadelphia by Coach Caldwell and should have an immediate impact. Atonye Nyingifa is a 5-11 Soph who was a top 20 High School player and did have an immediate impact as a frosh. Atonye started 16 games and averaged 6.1 points, 6th on the team, and 4.9 rebounds, 2nd on the team.
Jasmine Dixon is a 5-1l Soph who transferred from Rutgers and will be eligible Dec 12th. She’s listed as a Guard, but could well be an Ashley Walker type player. Her game is power, but she is highly skilled, a top 10 player in High School. Nina Earl is a 6-1 Jr who averaged 16 minutes a game last season, scoring 6 points per game.
The top three scorers for the Bruins last season were Guards and they all return. Doreena Campbell is an all star candidate. She’s a 5-10 Jr who lead the team in scoring, 12.9, Assists, with a ratio of 1.25:1 assists to turnovers, and three point shooting, 40%. It should be noted that Campbell’s 26 three’s were only one behind the leader. UCLA does not shoot a lot of three’s. Erica Tukiainen is a 6-0 Sr and the # 2 scorer from last season at 8.3 points per game. Erica started all but one game.
Darxia Morris is a 5-8 Jr who was the # 3 scorer last season with an 8.1 average per game. Morris is very, very quick and was the 3rd Guard last year behind Tukiainen and Campbell. Rebekah Gardner is a 6-0 Soph who averaged 14 minutes and 4.4 points per game. 5-8 Sr Allison Taka saw action in every game last season. 5-3 Frosh Mariah Williams is a super quick Point Guard from Colorado and will add depth to this group.
UCLA’s non conference schedule includes Utah, Tennessee, Kansas and Texas Tech and maybe Iowa. They open Pac 10 at ASU then at home to Stanford and Cal. They are looking to make the NCAA Tournament, and being consistently a Post Season Player.
UCLA lost only two players from last year and replace them with three newcomers with far more potential. Tierra Henderson averaged 6 points per game and Chinyere Ibekwe averaged 5 points and 6 rebounds per game. Both have graduated.
UCLA welcomes three newcomers, and two of them, Markel Walker and Jasmine Dixon were top 10 players in High School.
In the Post position the Bruins have three players led by 6-4 Jr Christina Nzekwe. Nzekwe hit a couple of Three’s at Stanford and 10 on the year, so we know she can step out and shoot, however she only 39% on all her attempts. She was UCLA’s 4th leading scorer, 6.3 and tied for 3rd leading rebounder, 4.8 per game, last season. Moniquee Alexander is a 6-6 Sr, who averaged 4.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Alexander only played 15 minutes per game. Candice Brown is a 6-3 Jr who didn’t play much this past season.
At the forward position UCLA has skill and depth. Markel Walker is a 6-1 frosh and a top 5 recruit. She was recruited from Philadelphia by Coach Caldwell and should have an immediate impact. Atonye Nyingifa is a 5-11 Soph who was a top 20 High School player and did have an immediate impact as a frosh. Atonye started 16 games and averaged 6.1 points, 6th on the team, and 4.9 rebounds, 2nd on the team.
Jasmine Dixon is a 5-1l Soph who transferred from Rutgers and will be eligible Dec 12th. She’s listed as a Guard, but could well be an Ashley Walker type player. Her game is power, but she is highly skilled, a top 10 player in High School. Nina Earl is a 6-1 Jr who averaged 16 minutes a game last season, scoring 6 points per game.
The top three scorers for the Bruins last season were Guards and they all return. Doreena Campbell is an all star candidate. She’s a 5-10 Jr who lead the team in scoring, 12.9, Assists, with a ratio of 1.25:1 assists to turnovers, and three point shooting, 40%. It should be noted that Campbell’s 26 three’s were only one behind the leader. UCLA does not shoot a lot of three’s. Erica Tukiainen is a 6-0 Sr and the # 2 scorer from last season at 8.3 points per game. Erica started all but one game.
Darxia Morris is a 5-8 Jr who was the # 3 scorer last season with an 8.1 average per game. Morris is very, very quick and was the 3rd Guard last year behind Tukiainen and Campbell. Rebekah Gardner is a 6-0 Soph who averaged 14 minutes and 4.4 points per game. 5-8 Sr Allison Taka saw action in every game last season. 5-3 Frosh Mariah Williams is a super quick Point Guard from Colorado and will add depth to this group.
UCLA’s non conference schedule includes Utah, Tennessee, Kansas and Texas Tech and maybe Iowa. They open Pac 10 at ASU then at home to Stanford and Cal. They are looking to make the NCAA Tournament, and being consistently a Post Season Player.
November 2, 2009
Basketball on Roller Skates at Oregon
Last season the Ducks were 9-21, the year before 14-17, and the year before 17-14. The Ducks were getting worse and worse and not attracting top players. The result, Paul Westhead was hired to replace Bev Smith. Now if you go by contracts, this is a huge upgrade. Plus, Westhead is the only Coach to ever win both an NCAA title and a WNBA Title. His record coaching college men is a 56% winning percentage. He is best known for his run and gun style of play with Loyola Marymount and the NBA Denver Nuggets. The huge question is can Westhead come back to college and give 5 years or so to build a program? It remains to be seen.
The Ducks losses were minimal. Center Ellie Manou was their # 3 scorer, 8 points per game, and # 2 rebounder, 5 per game. Manou returned to her native Australia. Guard Darriel Gaynor was their # 11 scorer and she did not return.
Now the next question is, will Oregon really play a run and gun, get to 100 type of game? Well I don’t know, but I really doubt that they have that kind of team today. They have a very light schedule, GaTech, Wisconsin and Utah being their toughest games by far. So maybe they will run. It’s a team with only four players over 6 feet, if that’s any indication.
Oregon returns two big Centers, 6-5 JR Nicole Canepa, and 6-4 Jr Ellyce Ironmonger. Canepa averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game as a frosh, but injuries held her to 6 points and 2 rebounds per game last season. She’s athletic and can run. Ironmonger is, well a banger. She started 17 games two years ago as a frosh, averaging 6.5 points and 4 rebounds per game. Her highs were 18 points and 14 rebounds. However she fell off as a Soph to only 7.5 minutes per game. Both Centers played behind the departed Manou.
Amanda Johnson had a fine Frosh year, she’s a 6-2 Soph who led the Ducks in rebounding at 5.4 per game while averaging 7.9 points per game. Johnson was Honorable Mention All Pac 10 Frosh, and was the first Duck Frosh to lead the team in rebounding in 30 years, or since…Bev Smith, the former Head Coach. Victoria Kenyon is a 6-2 Jr from Australia. Kenyon has been mostly a back up Post for two seasons, although she did start 12 games as a frosh.
The Ducks have two fine Sr Guards in Taylor Lilley, 5-6, and Jillian Harmon’s Olympic teammate, 5-8 Micaela Cocks. Cocks was the leading scorer for the Ducks at 13.5 point per game, including 68 three’s at 39%. Cocks is also the all time Free Throw % leader at Oregon. Lilly was the # 2 scorer with 10 points per game, and hit 31% of her three’s. As a soph, two years ago, Lilly made 74 three’s. In High School Lilly made 275 three’s at a 44% rate.
Oregon has a number of players who could move into the rotation. 6-0 Soph Jasmin Holliday started 20 games and averaged 5 points per game last season. 5-10 Sr Lindsey Stafford started 14 games and averaged 4 points per game. 5-11 Jr Tatianna Thomas started 8 games and averaged almost 3 points per game. All three of these players should receive quite a bit of playing time. A note on all three, none are three point shooters.
Aliyah Green is a 5-11 Frosh from Portland, the only player signed by the old coaching staff last November. Nia Jackson is a 5-7 Soph. Nia lost last year to an ACL and had two difficult injuries as a frosh. She had a 9 point, 7 rebound game early in her career though, so has shown potential.
Two players were signed by the new Staff in April. Kristi Fallin was the Oregon JC Player of the Year. She’s a 5-10 Jr who scored 23 points per game. In her two JC years she hit 208 three’s and last year hit 118 at 45%. She could be a big addition and the 3rd outside bomber for the Ducks.
Candyce Flynn is another JC transfer, although she played her frosh year at Morehead State. Flynn is a 5-6 Point Guard who could start. She averaged 14 points and 5 assists a game last year in JC.
It’ll be an interesting year for Westhead and the Ducks. Not a great year but playing a very up tempo game.
The Ducks losses were minimal. Center Ellie Manou was their # 3 scorer, 8 points per game, and # 2 rebounder, 5 per game. Manou returned to her native Australia. Guard Darriel Gaynor was their # 11 scorer and she did not return.
Now the next question is, will Oregon really play a run and gun, get to 100 type of game? Well I don’t know, but I really doubt that they have that kind of team today. They have a very light schedule, GaTech, Wisconsin and Utah being their toughest games by far. So maybe they will run. It’s a team with only four players over 6 feet, if that’s any indication.
Oregon returns two big Centers, 6-5 JR Nicole Canepa, and 6-4 Jr Ellyce Ironmonger. Canepa averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game as a frosh, but injuries held her to 6 points and 2 rebounds per game last season. She’s athletic and can run. Ironmonger is, well a banger. She started 17 games two years ago as a frosh, averaging 6.5 points and 4 rebounds per game. Her highs were 18 points and 14 rebounds. However she fell off as a Soph to only 7.5 minutes per game. Both Centers played behind the departed Manou.
Amanda Johnson had a fine Frosh year, she’s a 6-2 Soph who led the Ducks in rebounding at 5.4 per game while averaging 7.9 points per game. Johnson was Honorable Mention All Pac 10 Frosh, and was the first Duck Frosh to lead the team in rebounding in 30 years, or since…Bev Smith, the former Head Coach. Victoria Kenyon is a 6-2 Jr from Australia. Kenyon has been mostly a back up Post for two seasons, although she did start 12 games as a frosh.
The Ducks have two fine Sr Guards in Taylor Lilley, 5-6, and Jillian Harmon’s Olympic teammate, 5-8 Micaela Cocks. Cocks was the leading scorer for the Ducks at 13.5 point per game, including 68 three’s at 39%. Cocks is also the all time Free Throw % leader at Oregon. Lilly was the # 2 scorer with 10 points per game, and hit 31% of her three’s. As a soph, two years ago, Lilly made 74 three’s. In High School Lilly made 275 three’s at a 44% rate.
Oregon has a number of players who could move into the rotation. 6-0 Soph Jasmin Holliday started 20 games and averaged 5 points per game last season. 5-10 Sr Lindsey Stafford started 14 games and averaged 4 points per game. 5-11 Jr Tatianna Thomas started 8 games and averaged almost 3 points per game. All three of these players should receive quite a bit of playing time. A note on all three, none are three point shooters.
Aliyah Green is a 5-11 Frosh from Portland, the only player signed by the old coaching staff last November. Nia Jackson is a 5-7 Soph. Nia lost last year to an ACL and had two difficult injuries as a frosh. She had a 9 point, 7 rebound game early in her career though, so has shown potential.
Two players were signed by the new Staff in April. Kristi Fallin was the Oregon JC Player of the Year. She’s a 5-10 Jr who scored 23 points per game. In her two JC years she hit 208 three’s and last year hit 118 at 45%. She could be a big addition and the 3rd outside bomber for the Ducks.
Candyce Flynn is another JC transfer, although she played her frosh year at Morehead State. Flynn is a 5-6 Point Guard who could start. She averaged 14 points and 5 assists a game last year in JC.
It’ll be an interesting year for Westhead and the Ducks. Not a great year but playing a very up tempo game.
October 22, 2009
Does new Coach equal new results at USC?
Michael Cooper started as the Head Coach the other day, months after he hired a staff. It’s a funny world. Funnier still is USC has 3 recruits already, and Michael will meet them soon. The firing of Mark Trakh and his staff was disappointing to many, but the truth is the Trojans have been very disappointing for several seasons. Three years ago 17-13, 10-8 in the Pac 10. Two years ago, the same and last year 17-15, and 9-9 in the Pac 10. Add to the barely winning records, three years without an NCAA trip. Combined with poor attendance in a beautiful new arena, and you have a new coaching staff.
USC lost their coaching staff and their top two scorers and their sixth best scorer. Graduated are Camille LeNoir, 13 points, 4 assists per game. She shot 40 % from Three, and had a 4:3 Turnover to Assist ratio. Also graduated is the # 2 scorer, Nadia Parker, 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Nadia only started 17 games last season due to injuries. The 3rd graduate is Brynn Cameron, who led the team with 52 Three’s, 35% and averaged 8 points per game.
The sad part is, of course, the USC injuries. Jacki Gemelos, a fantastic change the game performer out of High School, has missed 3 seasons with knee injuries and is not expected back until the start of Pac 10 play at the earliest. When and if healthy, maybe she will be a game changer again. Even if her mobility is hindered, she is an even better catch and shoot performer than Cameron has been. Gemelos is a 6-0 Guard who is on schedule to graduate in June. Least we forget, Jacki averaged 39 points per game as a High School Sr.
Stefanie Gilbreath is a 6-1 Wing, a redshirt Soph, who has missed her first two seasons at USC and will miss her 3rd, this year, with a knee injury. Like Gemelos, Stefanie was a McDonald’s All American.
The Trojans have 11 healthy players, including 4 Srs to keep them in the top five of the Pac 10, and they hope an NCAA berth. At Center will be Jr Kari LaPlante. Kari averaged 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds a game last season, while starting half the games. She is the only true Center on the team and must really step up for USC to succeed. She was a top 100 player out of High School. Kari was also a Travel teammate of Kayla Pederson.
The back up Center, and also a Power Forward, is 6-3 Soph Michelle Jenkins, a High School teammate of JJ Hones. Jenkins averaged 10 minutes, 2 points and 1.4 rebounds as a frosh last season. Michelle is an excellent student, and needs that to carry onto the floor. USC needs a big jump in her numbers if they want to make the NCAA Tournament.
USC is talented in the back court and pretty weak and thin in the front court. Eight of their 10 healthy scholarship players are wings and guards. Frosh Christina Marinacci is a 6-1 wing and was a McDonald’s All American. She is one of the two incoming players of the four in her class. The other two, top rated players at that, asked for and received their Letter of Intent Release. Both were front court players. Marinacci has an excellent chance of starting, and at worse will see many minutes. She’s an athletic player and an excellent three point shooter.
Briana Gilbreath is a 6-1 Soph wing who was the Pac 10 Frosh of the Year last season. She was also a McDonald’s All-American, one of five of the team. She averaged 10.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season. Briana was 3rd on the team in scoring and 2nd, almost 1st, in rebounding.
Aarika Hughes, a 6-2 Sr is also in the mix at a wing/forward position. Last year she averaged 4 points and 5 rebounds, but does bring some ruggedness to the mix. And yes, former teammate of JJ’s.
One of the most interesting happenings at USC will be replacing LeNoir at the Point. I suspect Hailey Durham with Ashley Corral her backcourt mate. Dunham is a 6-2 Sr who is a wonderfully gifted athlete who could really benefit from the new coaching. She is not a three point shooter, only 2 in her career, and averaged just 4.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season. Corral is an excellent shooter, led the team with 53 Three’s although only shot 31% from Three. The 5-9 Soph had a positive Assist to Turnover ratio as a frosh. Corral was a McDonald’s All American.
Heather Oliver is a 5-10 Sr who can shoot. Oliver, an Aussie, shot 42% from Three and averaged 9 points per game. Whether Oliver starts or comes off the bench, her shooting and good defense, Honorable Mention All Pac 10 defense, will merit her a lot of playing time.
Two guards round out the roster, 5-7 Sr Daniela Roark from Pinewood High School and 5-9 Frosh Vicky Tagalicod. Roark played her first two years at Fordham and made 104 Three’s at a clip of 37%. Tagalicod was HoopGrulz 21st rated Point Guard as a High School Sr, despite missing the year with a knee injury.
With the new coaching staff this will be an interesting team to follow. If they were healthy, this would be an excellent team to follow.
USC plays a solid schedule with Gonzaga, Rutgers, Texas and Duke headlining it. No cupcakes for USC, let’s see how they develop. If they do, and Jackie Gemelos can contribute, this team could surprise in 2010, instead of disappointment as in the past.
USC lost their coaching staff and their top two scorers and their sixth best scorer. Graduated are Camille LeNoir, 13 points, 4 assists per game. She shot 40 % from Three, and had a 4:3 Turnover to Assist ratio. Also graduated is the # 2 scorer, Nadia Parker, 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Nadia only started 17 games last season due to injuries. The 3rd graduate is Brynn Cameron, who led the team with 52 Three’s, 35% and averaged 8 points per game.
The sad part is, of course, the USC injuries. Jacki Gemelos, a fantastic change the game performer out of High School, has missed 3 seasons with knee injuries and is not expected back until the start of Pac 10 play at the earliest. When and if healthy, maybe she will be a game changer again. Even if her mobility is hindered, she is an even better catch and shoot performer than Cameron has been. Gemelos is a 6-0 Guard who is on schedule to graduate in June. Least we forget, Jacki averaged 39 points per game as a High School Sr.
Stefanie Gilbreath is a 6-1 Wing, a redshirt Soph, who has missed her first two seasons at USC and will miss her 3rd, this year, with a knee injury. Like Gemelos, Stefanie was a McDonald’s All American.
The Trojans have 11 healthy players, including 4 Srs to keep them in the top five of the Pac 10, and they hope an NCAA berth. At Center will be Jr Kari LaPlante. Kari averaged 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds a game last season, while starting half the games. She is the only true Center on the team and must really step up for USC to succeed. She was a top 100 player out of High School. Kari was also a Travel teammate of Kayla Pederson.
The back up Center, and also a Power Forward, is 6-3 Soph Michelle Jenkins, a High School teammate of JJ Hones. Jenkins averaged 10 minutes, 2 points and 1.4 rebounds as a frosh last season. Michelle is an excellent student, and needs that to carry onto the floor. USC needs a big jump in her numbers if they want to make the NCAA Tournament.
USC is talented in the back court and pretty weak and thin in the front court. Eight of their 10 healthy scholarship players are wings and guards. Frosh Christina Marinacci is a 6-1 wing and was a McDonald’s All American. She is one of the two incoming players of the four in her class. The other two, top rated players at that, asked for and received their Letter of Intent Release. Both were front court players. Marinacci has an excellent chance of starting, and at worse will see many minutes. She’s an athletic player and an excellent three point shooter.
Briana Gilbreath is a 6-1 Soph wing who was the Pac 10 Frosh of the Year last season. She was also a McDonald’s All-American, one of five of the team. She averaged 10.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season. Briana was 3rd on the team in scoring and 2nd, almost 1st, in rebounding.
Aarika Hughes, a 6-2 Sr is also in the mix at a wing/forward position. Last year she averaged 4 points and 5 rebounds, but does bring some ruggedness to the mix. And yes, former teammate of JJ’s.
One of the most interesting happenings at USC will be replacing LeNoir at the Point. I suspect Hailey Durham with Ashley Corral her backcourt mate. Dunham is a 6-2 Sr who is a wonderfully gifted athlete who could really benefit from the new coaching. She is not a three point shooter, only 2 in her career, and averaged just 4.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season. Corral is an excellent shooter, led the team with 53 Three’s although only shot 31% from Three. The 5-9 Soph had a positive Assist to Turnover ratio as a frosh. Corral was a McDonald’s All American.
Heather Oliver is a 5-10 Sr who can shoot. Oliver, an Aussie, shot 42% from Three and averaged 9 points per game. Whether Oliver starts or comes off the bench, her shooting and good defense, Honorable Mention All Pac 10 defense, will merit her a lot of playing time.
Two guards round out the roster, 5-7 Sr Daniela Roark from Pinewood High School and 5-9 Frosh Vicky Tagalicod. Roark played her first two years at Fordham and made 104 Three’s at a clip of 37%. Tagalicod was HoopGrulz 21st rated Point Guard as a High School Sr, despite missing the year with a knee injury.
With the new coaching staff this will be an interesting team to follow. If they were healthy, this would be an excellent team to follow.
USC plays a solid schedule with Gonzaga, Rutgers, Texas and Duke headlining it. No cupcakes for USC, let’s see how they develop. If they do, and Jackie Gemelos can contribute, this team could surprise in 2010, instead of disappointment as in the past.
October 11, 2009
Cougars are on the Rise
This is June Daugherty’s third year as Head Coach at Washington State. In the year before June arrived, the Cougars won 5 games and lost 24, winning only one conference game. In June’s first season the Cougars improved by one, winning 5 total and 2 conference games. However last season, June’s second in the Palouse, the Cougars won 11, lost 19 and went 4-14 in league play. This season they could challenge for the first division.
The former Stanford Assistant has won 330 games in her 20 year Head Coaching career, at a 56% win rate. She also has a built in Associate Head Coach of some acclaim, her husband Mike. All three Assistants and the support staff begin their 3rd season with June in Pullman.
First, what did the Cougars lose from last year? Well eight players is the simple answer. However this is very much a team on the rise. Four graduated and four did not return. However there are six newcomers to take the place of those who left.
The two Centers from last season, Ebonee Coates and Heather Molzen, both graduated. Top 3 Point shooter Katie Appleton also graduated. Coates and Molzen played some together, and they combined to average 44 minutes, 9 points and 11 rebounds per game. Appleton scored 8.5 points per game averaging 31 minutes per game and hit 35% of her Three’s, a total of 45.
Two who didn’t play at all are gone, Brynn Bemis who graduated, and Alexa Price.
Also gone from last year’s team are Jasmine Williams, who played 2 games, Salena Dickson, who played 38 minutes for the season, and Kezia Kelly who played as a reserve but did not start. Kelly’s case is quite interesting, she is from New Zealand and was
Pre med. She needed to finish her undergrad degree in New Zealand to get into Med School there.
Bottom line, some loses to graduation, and not earthshaking.
Having now been in Pullman for three years, and I’m sure has read the “How the Stanford Fast Break Club got Started” book by Harriett Benson, June has started the Cougar Pawz Club, a booster group.
On to this season. The Center position is big and young and talented. 6-5 Frosh Carly Noyes is the probable starter. Noyes could be a double, double type of player. Carly was a three time League MVP and played for a solid Travel team, the Spokane Stars. She’s aggressive, good footwork and can score.
Jessica Oestreicher, a 6-8 Soph will also play quite a bit at Center. She was held to only 18 games and only 8 minutes per game last year by a knee injury and the two Seniors ahead of her. She was ranked as high as # 25 and # 71 in the nation by two publications. She also missed her Jr year in High School with an ACL. As a Sr she was the Homecoming Queen. If her knees are fine, Jessica will be a big factor for the Cougs.
A third Center might enroll in January, Aussie Razz Muir, 6-4. She was not cleared to play by the NCAA to start the school year.
6-1 Soph Rosie Tarnowski will play the 4. Last year she debuted starting 20 games and averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds. Rosie had a high of 10 rebounds, and that should be her forte. Also at the 3 or 4 will be 6-0 Jr Katie Calderwood. She played little last season but as a Frosh the year before Katie started 20 games averaging 4.6 points and 4 rebounds per game.
Katie Madison is a 6-0 Jr who transferred from Idaho and sat out last season. Katie may well start, as a Soph at Idaho she averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds a game and as a frosh 19 points and 9 rebounds. Her high game was 35 points. Idaho is in the WAC, so she has a solid background.
Lexie Pettersen is a 6-1 Soph who played in every game last season. Amy Waltenburg is a 6-0 Sr who has walked on. She played two years in JC.
All this and you might wonder how is this a team on the rise? It’s the Guards. This is a team whose best players are quick, high scoring Guards. And they are young.
April Cook is a 5-8 Soph who led the team at 14 points per games. April shot 33% from Three while making 43 on the season. She was 5th in the Pac 10 in scoring, 7th in scoring among the Nation’s Frosh.
Danielle LeNoir, is a 5-6 Frosh, whose sister played the past four years for USC. Danielle played 17 minutes a game behind the graduated Appleton, and scored 4 points per game. We remember her when she made 3 Three’s against Stanford.
Jazmine Perkins is a 5-10 Soph who started every game last season scoring 14 points per game, and added 2 steals per game. Like Cook she needs to take care of the ball, Perkins had 4 turnovers per game, Cook 2.5. Perkins did lead the Cougs with 2.6 assists per game.
5-8 Frosh KiKi Moore comes from the fabled Scared Heart Cathedral High School and might move right in as the Point Guard. Moore was All State, Top 100 in the Nation, and as a Sr in High School averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, 7 steals and 6 assists per game. KiKi could bring the stability, even as a frosh, this team needs.
Two other Guards are 5-8 Soph Katie Grad and 5-9 Frosh Ireti Amojo. Grad suffered a foot injury and didn’t play last season. As a High School Sr she was named by one newspaper as the State of Washington Player of the Year while scoring 21 points grabbing 11 rebounds and adding 5 steals per game. Amojo is from Germany but spent a year as an exchange student playing with Katie Grad at a Washington High School. Amojo has already played for the German National 16U, 18U and 20U teams.
Washington State is guard oriented with some very big post players. They play Kansas State and Nebraska early, so we should see how they mesh. The remainder of the pre- season schedule is pretty easy, so it’s very possible, really probable, that the Cougars will open the Pac 10 season with a winning record.
The former Stanford Assistant has won 330 games in her 20 year Head Coaching career, at a 56% win rate. She also has a built in Associate Head Coach of some acclaim, her husband Mike. All three Assistants and the support staff begin their 3rd season with June in Pullman.
First, what did the Cougars lose from last year? Well eight players is the simple answer. However this is very much a team on the rise. Four graduated and four did not return. However there are six newcomers to take the place of those who left.
The two Centers from last season, Ebonee Coates and Heather Molzen, both graduated. Top 3 Point shooter Katie Appleton also graduated. Coates and Molzen played some together, and they combined to average 44 minutes, 9 points and 11 rebounds per game. Appleton scored 8.5 points per game averaging 31 minutes per game and hit 35% of her Three’s, a total of 45.
Two who didn’t play at all are gone, Brynn Bemis who graduated, and Alexa Price.
Also gone from last year’s team are Jasmine Williams, who played 2 games, Salena Dickson, who played 38 minutes for the season, and Kezia Kelly who played as a reserve but did not start. Kelly’s case is quite interesting, she is from New Zealand and was
Pre med. She needed to finish her undergrad degree in New Zealand to get into Med School there.
Bottom line, some loses to graduation, and not earthshaking.
Having now been in Pullman for three years, and I’m sure has read the “How the Stanford Fast Break Club got Started” book by Harriett Benson, June has started the Cougar Pawz Club, a booster group.
On to this season. The Center position is big and young and talented. 6-5 Frosh Carly Noyes is the probable starter. Noyes could be a double, double type of player. Carly was a three time League MVP and played for a solid Travel team, the Spokane Stars. She’s aggressive, good footwork and can score.
Jessica Oestreicher, a 6-8 Soph will also play quite a bit at Center. She was held to only 18 games and only 8 minutes per game last year by a knee injury and the two Seniors ahead of her. She was ranked as high as # 25 and # 71 in the nation by two publications. She also missed her Jr year in High School with an ACL. As a Sr she was the Homecoming Queen. If her knees are fine, Jessica will be a big factor for the Cougs.
A third Center might enroll in January, Aussie Razz Muir, 6-4. She was not cleared to play by the NCAA to start the school year.
6-1 Soph Rosie Tarnowski will play the 4. Last year she debuted starting 20 games and averaging 7 points and 5 rebounds. Rosie had a high of 10 rebounds, and that should be her forte. Also at the 3 or 4 will be 6-0 Jr Katie Calderwood. She played little last season but as a Frosh the year before Katie started 20 games averaging 4.6 points and 4 rebounds per game.
Katie Madison is a 6-0 Jr who transferred from Idaho and sat out last season. Katie may well start, as a Soph at Idaho she averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds a game and as a frosh 19 points and 9 rebounds. Her high game was 35 points. Idaho is in the WAC, so she has a solid background.
Lexie Pettersen is a 6-1 Soph who played in every game last season. Amy Waltenburg is a 6-0 Sr who has walked on. She played two years in JC.
All this and you might wonder how is this a team on the rise? It’s the Guards. This is a team whose best players are quick, high scoring Guards. And they are young.
April Cook is a 5-8 Soph who led the team at 14 points per games. April shot 33% from Three while making 43 on the season. She was 5th in the Pac 10 in scoring, 7th in scoring among the Nation’s Frosh.
Danielle LeNoir, is a 5-6 Frosh, whose sister played the past four years for USC. Danielle played 17 minutes a game behind the graduated Appleton, and scored 4 points per game. We remember her when she made 3 Three’s against Stanford.
Jazmine Perkins is a 5-10 Soph who started every game last season scoring 14 points per game, and added 2 steals per game. Like Cook she needs to take care of the ball, Perkins had 4 turnovers per game, Cook 2.5. Perkins did lead the Cougs with 2.6 assists per game.
5-8 Frosh KiKi Moore comes from the fabled Scared Heart Cathedral High School and might move right in as the Point Guard. Moore was All State, Top 100 in the Nation, and as a Sr in High School averaged 16 points, 10 rebounds, 7 steals and 6 assists per game. KiKi could bring the stability, even as a frosh, this team needs.
Two other Guards are 5-8 Soph Katie Grad and 5-9 Frosh Ireti Amojo. Grad suffered a foot injury and didn’t play last season. As a High School Sr she was named by one newspaper as the State of Washington Player of the Year while scoring 21 points grabbing 11 rebounds and adding 5 steals per game. Amojo is from Germany but spent a year as an exchange student playing with Katie Grad at a Washington High School. Amojo has already played for the German National 16U, 18U and 20U teams.
Washington State is guard oriented with some very big post players. They play Kansas State and Nebraska early, so we should see how they mesh. The remainder of the pre- season schedule is pretty easy, so it’s very possible, really probable, that the Cougars will open the Pac 10 season with a winning record.
October 4, 2009
Washington looks forward to continuity
Head Coach Tia Jackson started her Washington Husky career with a 13-18 record, 8-10 in the Pac 10. After a number of young players left in the off season, Washington fell to 8-22, 3-15 in the Pac 10. However the losses from last season are minimal so Tia can hope for improvement in her 3rd season.
Graduation took Heidi McNeill, who scored 4 points a game from the Center position and wing Michelle Augustavo who also scored 4 points per game. Also Aussie Nicole Romero, who didn’t get much playing time, decided not to return.
Bottom line, 12 players return, and however one might feel about their 8-22 record, its good having that experience. Tia needs the continuity.
The schedule has some interesting games. At home against BYU and Memphis and on the road at Gonzaga and Michigan State.
Regina Rogers returns to her native Seattle after a frosh year at UCLA. She sat out last season. At UCLA she averaged about 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, starting half the games. Her high was 12 points and 16 rebounds against Pepperdine. She’s 6-3 and has three years remaining, and may cause Washington to revamp their offense a bit to get the Centers more involved. This will help 6-2 Sr Laura McLellan who was the Huskies second leading scorer with almost 9 points per game, leading the team by making 47% of her shots.
Liz Lay, a 6-1 Soph returns at the 4 position. Liz had knee surgery in February of her Sr year of High School and missed 10 games last season coming back from this injury. She averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds a game, but did start 9 of the last 20 games. She was a top 20 player out of High School, and with a year to recover from the surgery she will really help the Huskies. Fans have yet to see the real Liz Lay. I saw her play several games in High School and she is a skilled, extremely high energy player. Having Rogers and a healthy Lay in the post with McLellan with make the Huskies a much different team from last year.
Sami Whitcomb will start at a wing position. The 5-10 Sr was the leading scorer last season, 12.8 points per game, and hit 33% of her Three point shots, the team high for those who took more than one Three per game. She has twice been Honorable Mention All Pac 10 and also twice Honorable Mention Defensive All Pac 10. Her high game was 29 points against ASU last season.
The other wing should be Kristi Kingma a 5-10 Soph. Kingma averaged 8.2 points per game and was the # 3 scorer for the Huskies. She only shot 27% from Three, but with stronger offensive post play, she should improve quite a bit. Her high game was 25 against UCLA, and she was the Husky Defensive Player of the Year. A side note, her Dad was a small school All American basketballer and Mom qualified four times for the Olympic Marathon trials.
Christina Rozier returns as the Point Guard, she is a 5-8 Sr who transferred from a JC. She averaged 5 points per game, but her assist to turnover ration was 1:1.2, a ratio that must improve quite a bit for the Huskies to have any success. The back up appears to be 5-8 Jr Sarah Morton, who scored 2 points per game while averaging 17 minutes. However she was the only player with a 1:1 assist to turnover ration on the team.
Other Forward type players will be: Mackenzie Argens, a 6-3 So who scored 4 points per game while averaging 11 minutes; Charmaine Barlow a 5-10 Soph who played just 8 games; 6-2 Soph Mollie Williams who scored 2.6 points per game while averaging 10 minutes; 5-11 Sr Lydia Young who scored 2.5 points per game averaging 13 minutes; and 6-0 frosh Jeneva Anderson.
Argens missed her Frosh year with an ACL then missed 8 games mid season last year with an MCL knee injury. If healthy she will contribute. 15 rebounds a game as a High School Sr.
Sara Mosiman is a 5-9 Sr Guard who scored 3.5 points per game last year. She averaged 4.5 points per game as a Soph. However she has yet to make a Three.
Amanda Johnson is the Huskies top recruit, a 5-5 Guard.
So much depends on Rogers and Lay being in great shape and being able to play 28-30 minutes per game. They are the keys to this season. Kingma and Whitcomb can score from the outside, but the keys are the two post players. Washington appears to be in the 8-10th place level in the Pac 10.
Graduation took Heidi McNeill, who scored 4 points a game from the Center position and wing Michelle Augustavo who also scored 4 points per game. Also Aussie Nicole Romero, who didn’t get much playing time, decided not to return.
Bottom line, 12 players return, and however one might feel about their 8-22 record, its good having that experience. Tia needs the continuity.
The schedule has some interesting games. At home against BYU and Memphis and on the road at Gonzaga and Michigan State.
Regina Rogers returns to her native Seattle after a frosh year at UCLA. She sat out last season. At UCLA she averaged about 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, starting half the games. Her high was 12 points and 16 rebounds against Pepperdine. She’s 6-3 and has three years remaining, and may cause Washington to revamp their offense a bit to get the Centers more involved. This will help 6-2 Sr Laura McLellan who was the Huskies second leading scorer with almost 9 points per game, leading the team by making 47% of her shots.
Liz Lay, a 6-1 Soph returns at the 4 position. Liz had knee surgery in February of her Sr year of High School and missed 10 games last season coming back from this injury. She averaged 3 points and 3 rebounds a game, but did start 9 of the last 20 games. She was a top 20 player out of High School, and with a year to recover from the surgery she will really help the Huskies. Fans have yet to see the real Liz Lay. I saw her play several games in High School and she is a skilled, extremely high energy player. Having Rogers and a healthy Lay in the post with McLellan with make the Huskies a much different team from last year.
Sami Whitcomb will start at a wing position. The 5-10 Sr was the leading scorer last season, 12.8 points per game, and hit 33% of her Three point shots, the team high for those who took more than one Three per game. She has twice been Honorable Mention All Pac 10 and also twice Honorable Mention Defensive All Pac 10. Her high game was 29 points against ASU last season.
The other wing should be Kristi Kingma a 5-10 Soph. Kingma averaged 8.2 points per game and was the # 3 scorer for the Huskies. She only shot 27% from Three, but with stronger offensive post play, she should improve quite a bit. Her high game was 25 against UCLA, and she was the Husky Defensive Player of the Year. A side note, her Dad was a small school All American basketballer and Mom qualified four times for the Olympic Marathon trials.
Christina Rozier returns as the Point Guard, she is a 5-8 Sr who transferred from a JC. She averaged 5 points per game, but her assist to turnover ration was 1:1.2, a ratio that must improve quite a bit for the Huskies to have any success. The back up appears to be 5-8 Jr Sarah Morton, who scored 2 points per game while averaging 17 minutes. However she was the only player with a 1:1 assist to turnover ration on the team.
Other Forward type players will be: Mackenzie Argens, a 6-3 So who scored 4 points per game while averaging 11 minutes; Charmaine Barlow a 5-10 Soph who played just 8 games; 6-2 Soph Mollie Williams who scored 2.6 points per game while averaging 10 minutes; 5-11 Sr Lydia Young who scored 2.5 points per game averaging 13 minutes; and 6-0 frosh Jeneva Anderson.
Argens missed her Frosh year with an ACL then missed 8 games mid season last year with an MCL knee injury. If healthy she will contribute. 15 rebounds a game as a High School Sr.
Sara Mosiman is a 5-9 Sr Guard who scored 3.5 points per game last year. She averaged 4.5 points per game as a Soph. However she has yet to make a Three.
Amanda Johnson is the Huskies top recruit, a 5-5 Guard.
So much depends on Rogers and Lay being in great shape and being able to play 28-30 minutes per game. They are the keys to this season. Kingma and Whitcomb can score from the outside, but the keys are the two post players. Washington appears to be in the 8-10th place level in the Pac 10.
September 28, 2009
Two out of three ain’t bad
Arizona State has been to the Elite Eight two of the past three seasons. Their record for the three seasons has been 79-25 and 45-9 in the Pac 10. Stanford Grad Charli Turner Thorne enters her thirteenth as the Sun Devil Head Coach and is on a roll with five straight 20 win seasons, joining Tara and “Sit Down” Chris Gobrecht as the only Pac 10 Coaches to do this in the past 24 years. Also ASU has had the same staff together for seven seasons.
Then there is the bad news. Two Sun Devils will miss the season. Standout Guard Dymond Simon suffered her second knee injury in three years last March at Stanford, and will sit out this season, returning for her final season next year. Simon was ASU’s leading scorer last season with a 13.8 average per game and shot 38 % from three. She will really be missed.
JC transfer Markisha Patterson will also sit out this season with a knee injury. Patterson was a top JC recruit and the 5-9 Guard will be counted on next season.
Also gone is Guard Jazlyn Davis, a 5-9 Guard who played in just 3 games last year then hurt her knee. She has left due to academics.
Now the graduation losses, all six of them. Sybil Dosty and Lauren Lacy both graduated from the Post positions. Dosty averaged 8 points and 7 rebounds in 19 minutes and Lacy averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes. The big loss is Briann January, All Pac 10 and certainly one of the top players in the league over the past several years. She averaged 14 points almost 5 assists in 27 minutes and made nearly twice as many three point shots than anyone else while shooting a great 45% from Three. Also graduating were Kristen Thompson, Nia Fanaika and Kate Englebrecht who was 3rd on the team in minutes per game.
Nine big losses must leave Charli scratching her head, OK she wouldn’t do that.
However the losses are huge and it’ll take all her wiles to get the Sun Devils near the top of the Pac 10 again.
At Center will be 6-5 Jr Becca Tobin who averaged almost 19 minutes, 5 points and 5 rebounds a game. The other post will be 6-2 Sr Kayli Murphy. Kayli’s brother is a freshman football player at Stanford. Except for missing the first 6 games last year with a hand injury, she has played in every game during her three year ASU career. Last season Kayli averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds in 19 minutes.
Two newcomers will see lots of playing team at the post positions as Charli runs her players in and out of games with her ice hockey style substitutions. Kali Bennett transferred from Washington a year ago and is now ready to play. She is 6-5 with 3 years left. At Washington she averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds two years ago. Her best game? 11 points and 11 rebounds against Stanford. Kali was a High School All American and will immediately help the Sun Devils. Joy Burke is a 6-5 frosh, highly recruited after averaging 20 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 5.5 blocks per game as a High School Sr... Joy suffered a knee injury last year, but is expected to be ready to practice by mid October.
Kim Brandon is a 6-2 Soph, her sister is at Cal, who can play both the 3 and the 4. Last year she averaged 6 minutes per game. however she was the # 27 Forward out of High School.
The Point Guard will be 5-10 soph Alex Earl. Alex was the High School teammate of JJ Hones and during Alex’s 4 years at Southridge they won four straight State titles. She also played soccer with Kelsy Hones, JJ sister. Last year as a frosh Alex only played 99 minutes. So she lacks experience, but has talent. Other Point Guards are 5-5 frosh Sabrina McKinney, and 5-5 redshirt frosh Haley Parsons. McKinney was not a big scorer in High School, but Charli loves her passing and defense.
5-9 5th year Sr Danielle Orsillo returned last season from her knee injury suffered in the previous season and averaged 9 points per game, the top returning scorer. She scored 21 points in her only Jr game and 10 points per game as a true Soph. She shot 38% from Three last season, making only 37, but expect her to double that number or more. Frosh Deja Mann is a 5-7 frosh, who could play either Guard position. Deja averaged 16 points per game as a High School soph, then missed her Jr season with a knee injury. Hoop Gurlz ranked her as the # 37 shooting guard, and mentions that she appears to have recovered from her injury.
Tenaya Watson is a 5-9 JC transfer who is expected to contribute right away. Playing the Point for the number one team in the country, she averaged 16 points and 8 assists. Charli called Tenaya the top JC Guard in the country.
Janae Fulcher is a 6-3 Soph with 4 years left to play . She sat out last season. She’ll be in the mix at a post position. Another who will see action is 5-11 Sr Gaby Fage.
ASU has a fairly easy non conference schedule, the big games are at Xavier early in the season, then games 9 and 10 against Texas A&M and Baylor at a tournament in Las Vegas. The Sun Devils open the Pac 10 at home against the LA schools, then close against them in LA. It’ll be an interesting season for the young Sun Devils.
Then there is the bad news. Two Sun Devils will miss the season. Standout Guard Dymond Simon suffered her second knee injury in three years last March at Stanford, and will sit out this season, returning for her final season next year. Simon was ASU’s leading scorer last season with a 13.8 average per game and shot 38 % from three. She will really be missed.
JC transfer Markisha Patterson will also sit out this season with a knee injury. Patterson was a top JC recruit and the 5-9 Guard will be counted on next season.
Also gone is Guard Jazlyn Davis, a 5-9 Guard who played in just 3 games last year then hurt her knee. She has left due to academics.
Now the graduation losses, all six of them. Sybil Dosty and Lauren Lacy both graduated from the Post positions. Dosty averaged 8 points and 7 rebounds in 19 minutes and Lacy averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes. The big loss is Briann January, All Pac 10 and certainly one of the top players in the league over the past several years. She averaged 14 points almost 5 assists in 27 minutes and made nearly twice as many three point shots than anyone else while shooting a great 45% from Three. Also graduating were Kristen Thompson, Nia Fanaika and Kate Englebrecht who was 3rd on the team in minutes per game.
Nine big losses must leave Charli scratching her head, OK she wouldn’t do that.
However the losses are huge and it’ll take all her wiles to get the Sun Devils near the top of the Pac 10 again.
At Center will be 6-5 Jr Becca Tobin who averaged almost 19 minutes, 5 points and 5 rebounds a game. The other post will be 6-2 Sr Kayli Murphy. Kayli’s brother is a freshman football player at Stanford. Except for missing the first 6 games last year with a hand injury, she has played in every game during her three year ASU career. Last season Kayli averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds in 19 minutes.
Two newcomers will see lots of playing team at the post positions as Charli runs her players in and out of games with her ice hockey style substitutions. Kali Bennett transferred from Washington a year ago and is now ready to play. She is 6-5 with 3 years left. At Washington she averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds two years ago. Her best game? 11 points and 11 rebounds against Stanford. Kali was a High School All American and will immediately help the Sun Devils. Joy Burke is a 6-5 frosh, highly recruited after averaging 20 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 5.5 blocks per game as a High School Sr... Joy suffered a knee injury last year, but is expected to be ready to practice by mid October.
Kim Brandon is a 6-2 Soph, her sister is at Cal, who can play both the 3 and the 4. Last year she averaged 6 minutes per game. however she was the # 27 Forward out of High School.
The Point Guard will be 5-10 soph Alex Earl. Alex was the High School teammate of JJ Hones and during Alex’s 4 years at Southridge they won four straight State titles. She also played soccer with Kelsy Hones, JJ sister. Last year as a frosh Alex only played 99 minutes. So she lacks experience, but has talent. Other Point Guards are 5-5 frosh Sabrina McKinney, and 5-5 redshirt frosh Haley Parsons. McKinney was not a big scorer in High School, but Charli loves her passing and defense.
5-9 5th year Sr Danielle Orsillo returned last season from her knee injury suffered in the previous season and averaged 9 points per game, the top returning scorer. She scored 21 points in her only Jr game and 10 points per game as a true Soph. She shot 38% from Three last season, making only 37, but expect her to double that number or more. Frosh Deja Mann is a 5-7 frosh, who could play either Guard position. Deja averaged 16 points per game as a High School soph, then missed her Jr season with a knee injury. Hoop Gurlz ranked her as the # 37 shooting guard, and mentions that she appears to have recovered from her injury.
Tenaya Watson is a 5-9 JC transfer who is expected to contribute right away. Playing the Point for the number one team in the country, she averaged 16 points and 8 assists. Charli called Tenaya the top JC Guard in the country.
Janae Fulcher is a 6-3 Soph with 4 years left to play . She sat out last season. She’ll be in the mix at a post position. Another who will see action is 5-11 Sr Gaby Fage.
ASU has a fairly easy non conference schedule, the big games are at Xavier early in the season, then games 9 and 10 against Texas A&M and Baylor at a tournament in Las Vegas. The Sun Devils open the Pac 10 at home against the LA schools, then close against them in LA. It’ll be an interesting season for the young Sun Devils.
September 22, 2009
The Wildcats go in a different direction.
Head Coach Niya Butts finished her first year at the University of Arizona with a 12-19 record, 4-14 in the Pac 10. After the season she cleaned house and released four of her five frosh players. Gone are Courtney Clements who started 19 games and averaged 10 points per game, Amani Butler, Malia Nahinu and Jhakia McDonald who started all five games she played, averaging 7 points per game. That and graduation left the Wildcats with five players in the spring.
Butts replaced the seven who graduated or left with four JC transfers and an incoming frosh. They also have a transfer from Arkansas who will sit out this season.
Arizona does have four returnees who started at least 13 games last season, and one of the top players in the West, Ify Ibekwe, but the JC players will be asked to contribute many minutes and results immediately. History doesn’t indicate that this is likely to happen.
Arizona plays a decent non conference schedule this season with San Diego State, Mississippi, Georgia Tech and New Mexico. Last year they were 8-4 pre Pac 10, and that would be good start for the Wildcats this year.
Ify Ibekwe is a 6-1 Jr who is one of only four West Coast Players on the Wooden Watch List. Last season she really came on as a Pac 10 star, scoring almost 16 points per game and a great 11.6 rebounds per game. Ify will be at the 4 position, and will certainly be the player other teams have to shut down. She’s fun to watch and the backbone of the Wildcat team.
Jennifer Kioa is a 6-4 Center and a transfer from Foothill College where she averaged almost 12 points per game and 7 rebounds while being named all State JC. She was ranked the 7th and 9th Center and 26th and 32nd overall player by two JC publications. I saw her play several times in the San Francisco ProAm and I think she will contribute right away. That’s good for the Wildcats, as she has to be the starting Center immediately. Jennifer will be backed by another JC transfer, 6-3 Amanda Pierson. Amanda averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds as a JC sophomore last year. As a Sr in High School she averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds per game. Amanda comes from Kansas.
Soana Lucet is another JC player and the only other Wildcat player over 5-10. That’s right; only four Wildcats are taller than 5-10. Soana is a native of New Caldedonia and transferred from the College of Southern Idaho. She is the first female player from her country to play college basketball in the US. She was ranked the # 3 Power Forward and # 4 overall JC player. At JC last season she averaged 21 points and 8 rebounds. While the Wildcats may often use three guards, Soana will certainly see quite a bit of playing time.
5-6 Sr Ashley Frazier stated every game last year for the Wildcats at the Point Guard. Last season she averaged 7 points and 4 assists per game, and a 1:1 assist to turnover ratio. Ashley was in her first season as she was also a JC transfer.
Reiko Thomas will be the other starting guard, as she started 19 games last season while averaging 10 points per game. She was the top 3 point shooter, of those taking more than one per game, but only hit 30%. Reiko is a 5-8 soph and the only player of the 5 person frosh class to stay at Arizona. She did hit 82% of her Free Throws, and was a High School teammate of Ify’s.
Davellyn Whyte is a 5-10 frosh who was the Gatorade POY in Arizona last year. She is the daughter of former Major Leaguer Devon Whyte. She will fight for a starting position if three guards, with returnee 5-10 redshirt soph Tasha Dickey. Tasha sat out last season with an injury, after averaging 7 points per game while starting 21 games in 2007-08. Tasha’s Father was a Football player at Arizona and her Mother was a Basketball player at Arizona.
Other players are 5-5 Jr Guard Faihza Hill, a walk on who scored 2.5 points per game while starting 13 games. Her Dad played Football at Purdue and her Mom played Basketball at Cal. Her major: Molecular and Cellular Biology. Brooke Jackson is another JC transfer and will be a soph. She had a storied High School career in Arizona, scoring 2,250 points and averaging 18 per game over her four year career. This included 271 Three’s and 41% from the deep line. She scored 16 points per game including hitting 45% from Three as a JC frosh last year.
The Wildcats will have 10 players, 9 on scholarship for the season, but also have Shanita Arnold who must sit out this season after transferring from Arkansas. Last season she started every game for the Razorbacks and scored almost 6 points per game. Her high was 22 points on 6 of 11 from Three. Mike White rated Arnold the # 24 High School player in the country 3 years ago. She will have two seasons to play starting next season.
The Wildcats will certainly struggle in the Pac 10 this year. It’ll be hard to finish above 8th place. However they certainly have an opportunity to prove themselves with some good non conferences wins.
Butts replaced the seven who graduated or left with four JC transfers and an incoming frosh. They also have a transfer from Arkansas who will sit out this season.
Arizona does have four returnees who started at least 13 games last season, and one of the top players in the West, Ify Ibekwe, but the JC players will be asked to contribute many minutes and results immediately. History doesn’t indicate that this is likely to happen.
Arizona plays a decent non conference schedule this season with San Diego State, Mississippi, Georgia Tech and New Mexico. Last year they were 8-4 pre Pac 10, and that would be good start for the Wildcats this year.
Ify Ibekwe is a 6-1 Jr who is one of only four West Coast Players on the Wooden Watch List. Last season she really came on as a Pac 10 star, scoring almost 16 points per game and a great 11.6 rebounds per game. Ify will be at the 4 position, and will certainly be the player other teams have to shut down. She’s fun to watch and the backbone of the Wildcat team.
Jennifer Kioa is a 6-4 Center and a transfer from Foothill College where she averaged almost 12 points per game and 7 rebounds while being named all State JC. She was ranked the 7th and 9th Center and 26th and 32nd overall player by two JC publications. I saw her play several times in the San Francisco ProAm and I think she will contribute right away. That’s good for the Wildcats, as she has to be the starting Center immediately. Jennifer will be backed by another JC transfer, 6-3 Amanda Pierson. Amanda averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds as a JC sophomore last year. As a Sr in High School she averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds per game. Amanda comes from Kansas.
Soana Lucet is another JC player and the only other Wildcat player over 5-10. That’s right; only four Wildcats are taller than 5-10. Soana is a native of New Caldedonia and transferred from the College of Southern Idaho. She is the first female player from her country to play college basketball in the US. She was ranked the # 3 Power Forward and # 4 overall JC player. At JC last season she averaged 21 points and 8 rebounds. While the Wildcats may often use three guards, Soana will certainly see quite a bit of playing time.
5-6 Sr Ashley Frazier stated every game last year for the Wildcats at the Point Guard. Last season she averaged 7 points and 4 assists per game, and a 1:1 assist to turnover ratio. Ashley was in her first season as she was also a JC transfer.
Reiko Thomas will be the other starting guard, as she started 19 games last season while averaging 10 points per game. She was the top 3 point shooter, of those taking more than one per game, but only hit 30%. Reiko is a 5-8 soph and the only player of the 5 person frosh class to stay at Arizona. She did hit 82% of her Free Throws, and was a High School teammate of Ify’s.
Davellyn Whyte is a 5-10 frosh who was the Gatorade POY in Arizona last year. She is the daughter of former Major Leaguer Devon Whyte. She will fight for a starting position if three guards, with returnee 5-10 redshirt soph Tasha Dickey. Tasha sat out last season with an injury, after averaging 7 points per game while starting 21 games in 2007-08. Tasha’s Father was a Football player at Arizona and her Mother was a Basketball player at Arizona.
Other players are 5-5 Jr Guard Faihza Hill, a walk on who scored 2.5 points per game while starting 13 games. Her Dad played Football at Purdue and her Mom played Basketball at Cal. Her major: Molecular and Cellular Biology. Brooke Jackson is another JC transfer and will be a soph. She had a storied High School career in Arizona, scoring 2,250 points and averaging 18 per game over her four year career. This included 271 Three’s and 41% from the deep line. She scored 16 points per game including hitting 45% from Three as a JC frosh last year.
The Wildcats will have 10 players, 9 on scholarship for the season, but also have Shanita Arnold who must sit out this season after transferring from Arkansas. Last season she started every game for the Razorbacks and scored almost 6 points per game. Her high was 22 points on 6 of 11 from Three. Mike White rated Arnold the # 24 High School player in the country 3 years ago. She will have two seasons to play starting next season.
The Wildcats will certainly struggle in the Pac 10 this year. It’ll be hard to finish above 8th place. However they certainly have an opportunity to prove themselves with some good non conferences wins.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)