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Teams gear up as conference play approaches

Pac-10 race open, Stanford still favored; UCLA aiming to finish in top half

Mayar Zokaei
Published: Monday, December 11, 2000

Stanford Sports Information Stanford's Bethany Donaphin will be expected to lead the Cardinal to the top of the Pac-10 this year.

By Mayar Zokaei

Daily Bruin Contributor The road to the Pac-10 title isn’t the one less traveled. It’s just that most women’s basketball teams would elect not to go through favorite Stanford to get it. However, with only a few weeks left before the conference begins, it seems the Cardinal isn’t the only serious contender in a race that’s considered up for grabs between at least three teams. Stanford doesn’t even have the best non-conference record in the Pac-10. The 16th-ranked Cardinal, which finished tied for second with Arizona last season with a 13-5 conference record, opened the season with an 11-point loss to St. Mary’s. But since then, Stanford has won five consecutive games, equating to the third best start among conference teams. “It’s early, but I see some good things out there,” Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer said during the conference media day. “I don’t like making predictions, but I like coaching our team.” Sophomore Jamie Carey, who made 81 three-pointers last season, and senior center Carolyn Moos, who averaged 12.4 points and 5.5 rebounds a game, represent Stanford on the preseason All-Pac-10 first team. Two-time defending conference champion Oregon, ranked 10th in the nation by the AP, has sprinted to a 4-0 record and features 11 returning letter-winners, including first-team All-Pac-10 pick Angelina Wolvert, a 6-feet-3 forward. The Ducks could be hindered by the loss of 2000 conference player of the year Shaquala Williams, a junior guard who will likely miss the entire season with a torn ACL. If Oregon atones for Williams’ loss, they’ll likely finish second. Oregon State has yet to garner a national ranking but boasts the best record in the Pac-10 at 5-0. The Beavers also boast first-team All-Pac-10 preseason selection Felicia Ragland. The junior guard averaged 12.9 points last season. The Beavers led the conference in scoring defense with 61.0 points a game and more contributions from centers Ericka Cook and Kristina Rukstelyte could propel them to a top-three spot in the conference. “All the clubs are solid this year,” UCLA coach Kathy Olivier said. “We don’t have the experience like the other squads, but expectations here are to finish in the top half.” The Bruins were winless through their first six non-conference contests but figure to make a run when the conference season begins. Expected back are sophomore Nicole Kaczmarski, who is out at least until mid-December for personal reasons, and LaCresha Flannigan, who is academically ineligible but slated to return around the same time. Sans the two guards, UCLA’s play has vacillated between mediocre and futile this season. The Bruins lost All-American forward Maylana Martin and five other seniors, but junior guard Michelle Greco, sophomore Natalie Nakase and an influx of three junior college transfers is a start. Olivier is hoping her squad gels in time for the Bruins to make a run for the conference title and the NCAA tournament. A fourth-place finish is possible. “If we were a 100 percent healthy, and had our full team, it would be a different story,” Olivier said. “We’re quicker this year, but we definitely lack height.” Crosstown rival USC and head coach Chris Gobrecht know that the young Trojans, despite their 3-2 record through Friday, are a talented squad. USC got a No. 3 ranking in the preseason coaches’ poll on the strength of their top-notch freshman class, which features heralded forward Ebony Hoffman, and their 7-2 finish in conference play, which included victories in both games against Oregon. Inexperience makes a fifth-place finish more likely. Arizona, picked to finish fourth, is better suited at No. 6. The Wildcats won 25 games last year, thanks in large to a potent offense that averaged a Pac-10 best 77.6 points a contest. Their top two scorers are gone, but junior forward Elizabeth Pickney looks to build on a solid sophomore campaign when she averaged 9.8 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. Freshman Veranda James and sophomore Krista Warren, who just returned from wrist surgery, should provide depth. Arizona State gets seven new faces in its lineup, and it should help since their top returning scorer averaged only 7.0 points a game. Amanda Levens, who transferred in from Old Dominion, will make her ASU debut after sitting out last season. All but one starter return for Washington, including guards Megan Franza and Loree Payne, who combined for 34.6 points and 6.5 assists a game. LeAnn Sheets is the leading returning rebounder in the conference with a 6.8 a game average. California gets a new coach in Caren Horstmeyer, but not much else. Seven juniors and seniors mean this squad has experience, especially with senior guard Courtney Johnson leading the way. Johnson averaged 11.7 points a game last season and the Bears were third-best in scoring defense in the conference last season, giving up 64.6 points a game. Washington State returns three starters and had the best free-throw percentage in the conference. If anything, the back court will make good decisions: seniors Katie Nyseth and Victoria Harrod were both Pac-10 All-Academic selections last season.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STARTERS, AS OF 12/8 SOURCE: UCLA Sports Info Original graphic by VICTOR CHEN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Web adaptation by MIKE OUYANG/Daily Bruin Staff PAC-10 CONFERENCE PREVIEW 1. Stanford The No. 16-ranked Cardinal have made 13 straight NCAA tournament appearances and finished tied for second with Arizona last season in the final Pac-10 standings. Stanford received nine of 10 first-place votes in the preseason coach's poll. Sophomore Jamie Carey and senior Carolyn Moos were both named pre-season first-team All-Pac-10. 2. Oregon The two-time defending conference champion Ducks return eight juniors and seniors. The absence of junior Shaquala Williams, the 2000 Pac-10 Player of the Year who tore her ACL, could hinder No. 10 Ducks. 3. Oregon State The Beavers currently have the top non-conference record among Pac-10 teams at 5-0. They led the conference in 2000 in scoring defense and rebounding differential, giving up only 61.0 points a game and out-rebounding foes by a 5.7 margin. Leading rebounder Felicia Ragland returns for her junior season. 4. UCLA The Bruins lost six seniors as well as Nicole Kaczmarski and LaCresha Flannigan for at least the fall quarter, resulting in a 0-6 season-opening record. A trio of Texas community college transfers should bolster the small front court. Junior Michelle Greco, third in the Pac-10 in steals in 2000, will be counted on to carry the scoring load. 5. USC One of the top freshman classes in the nation is a big asset for a Trojan squad that went 7-2 in the second half of Pac-10 play last season. The squad returns nine letter-winners, including two-time Pac-10 honorable mention Tiffany Elmore, who averaged 10.6 points and 3.7 rebounds a game. 6. Arizona The Wildcats registered a school-best 25 wins last season. They led the conference in scoring last season with 77.6 points per game. Arizona returns junior Elizabeth Pickney and Reshea Bristol, who combined for 15.4 points and 4.5 rebounds last season. 7. Arizona State Seven newcomers, including three redshirts and a community college transfer, should solidify the Sun Devil lineup. Leading scorer Natalie Tucker averaged only 7.0 points per game last season. Amanda Levens, a transfer from perennial power Old Dominion, should make an immediate impact. 8. Washington The Huskies return four starters, including senior Megan Franza and sophomore Loree Payne, who combined to average 34.6 points and 6.5 assists a game. 9. California The Golden Bears start the season with 10 returning letter-winners under new coach Caren Horstmeyer, who coached at Santa Clara for 12 seasons. Last season the Bears finished third in Pac-10 in scoring defense, giving up 64.6 points a game. 10. Washington State The Cougars led the conference in free throw percentage at 71.1 percent last year. They have three starters returning, and seniors Katie Nyseth and Victoria Harrod were Pac-10 All-Academic selections last season. SOURCE: UCLA Sports Info Original graphic by JACOB LIAO/Daily Bruin Web adaptation by CHRISTINE TAN/Daily Bruin