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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 2003)
Women’s Pac-10 Preview by Jerry Thompson 2002-2003 Conference Standings: Stanford Washington Arizona UCLA Oregon State W L 15 13 13 12 8 3 5 5 6 10 USC Oregon Arizona State California Washington State W L 8 8 7 5 1 10 10 11 13 17 2. Leigh Gregory, 6-0 junior: 12.7 3. Kristin Iwanaga, 5-6 junior: 9.7 4. LaTasha O’Keith, 5-7 senior: 7.7 5. Kiki Williams, 6-1, junior: 6.3 Forecast: The Bears won 3 more conference games last year (5) than the year before but still finished in 9th place. California is off to a good start this year with 4 wins at home including victories over Miami of Ohio and Tulane. The Bears rely on their back- court for most of their scoring with Anaz from Turkey leading the way. The first series with Oregon and Oregon State will tell a lot about those three teams who will probably be fighting it out for the 6th through 9th positions in the final standings. ARIZONA WILDCATS Head Coach: Joan Bonvicini, 13th year Gone: Krista Warren, Julie Brase, Robin Roberson Top Returnees: Shawntinice Polk, Dee-Dee Wheeler, Aimee Grzyb Top Newcomer: 6-2, Forward/Center, Shannon Hobson Top 5 scorers (pre-conference): Shawntinice Polk, 6-5, sophomore: 17.0 Dee-Dee Wheeler, 5-6, junior: 15.7 Aimee Grzyb, 5-7, senior: 10.9 Danielle Adefeso, 6-2: junior, 7.6 CoCoa Sanford, 6-0: sophomore, 7.0 Kristin Iwanaga OREGON DUCKS Brian Schapper, BODOGSPORTS.COM Forecast: Arizona recorded 22 wins last year for the first time since 1999-2000 and finished second in the conference. That is again possible, but not as likely this year as the conference is stronger. The Wildcats have lost to Virginia and UC-Santa Barbara in the preseason and are a little thin up front. They were 9th in free throw percentage and Shawntinice Polk giving up 3-pointers last year. Polk was freshman-of-the-year in the Pac-10, a 4-time Pac-10 player-of-the-week and is a bonafide All-American candidate this year. She and Wheeler made last year's all-Pac-10 ten player team. Arizona’s strength is their balanced scoring inside and on the perimeter as well as playing at home where they have an 18 game winning streak. They should fight it out for second with Washington, USC, and UCLA. Ducks in Berkeley: Saturday, Dec. 27th Bears in Eugene: Saturday, Feb. 28th Head Coach: Bev Smith, 3rd year Gone: Alissa Edwards (5.8 ppg) and Amy Taylor (4.0 ppg.) Top Returnees: 6-4, senior forward, Cathrine Kraayeveld; 6-3 junior forward, Andrea Bills; 6-0 junior guard, Brandi Davis; 6-3 sophomore forward, Carolyn Ganes. Top Newcomers: 5-8 junior guard, Corrie Mizusawa; 6-1 freshman forward,Eleanor Haring; 5-10 sophomore guard, Chelsea Wagner; and 6-6 freshman center, Jessica Shetters. Cats in Eugene: Thursday, Jan. 22 Ducks in Tucson: Sat. Feb. 21 Top 5 scorers (pre-conference): Andrea Bills, 6-3 junior: 13.1 Carolyn Ganes, 6-3 sophomore: 8.2 Corrie Mizusawa, 5-8 junior: 7.2 Brandi Davis, 6-0 junior: 6.9 Kedzie Gunderson, 6-0 junior: 6.4 ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS Head Coach: Charli Turner Thorne, 8th year Gone: Iman Young Top Returnees: 6-1 forward, Betsy Boardman, 5-7 guard, Kylan Loney, 6-1 forward, Amy Denson, and 5-7 guard,YoVanna Rosenthal Top Newcomers: Freshmen: 6-2 forward, Aubree Johnson, 5-10 guard, Alisha Godette, and 6-0 forward, Emily Westerberg. Top 5 scorers (pre-conference): Betsy Boardman, 6-1, junior: 12.0 Kylan Loney, 5-7, junior: 9.1 Amy Denson, 6-1, sophomore: 7.9 YoVanna Rosenthal, 5-7, sophomore: 7.9 Kristen Kovesdy, 6-3, sophomore: 6.6 Forecast: The Sun Devils have a distinct Oregon flavor with Boardman (Beaverton), Denson (Central Point) and Buckner (Corvallis). Also, Jill Noe (Wilsonville) is listed on the roster but has not played this Betsy Boardman year. ASU is young, with no senior being a major contributor on the team, but most of the main players have at least one year under their belt. Depth is a strength as Coach Thorne plays a lot of players and 9 players average at least 5 points per game. ASU has lost to Kansas State and George Washington and has no major preseason victories. ASU should be stronger this year with the return of Boardman, but they will still be contending with Oregon and Cal for 7th place. ASU in Eugene: Saturday, January 24 Ducks in Tempe: Thursday, February 19 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS Head Coach: Caren Horstmeyer, 4th year Gone: Timea Invanyl (9.8 ppg) Top Returnees: 5-9 senior guard, Nihan Anaz; 6-0 junior forward, Leigh Gregory; 5-6 junior guard, Kristin Iwanaga; 6-1 junior forward, Kiki Williams; and 5-7 senior guard LaTasha O’Keith. Top Newcomer: 5-10 freshman guard, Keanna Levy Top 5 scorers (pre-conference): 1. Nihan Anaz, 5-9 senior: 17.1 4 DECEMBER 24, 2003 DucksIllustrated Forecast: The Ducks have lost two of heir top scorers from last year: Cathrine Kraayeveld due to a season ending injury during a practice before their loss to Portland, and Brandi Davis due to a puzzling lack of playing time. With both of those players, who definitely have “game” playing major minutes, the Ducks would have been in the thick of the Pac-10 championship race. Now, they may be struggling to stay ahead of Washington State. Corrie Mizusawa has been a great addition at point guard and Andrea Bills grabbed 20 and 21 rebounds in two consecutive games. Chelsea Wagner has been knocking down some threes and Eleanor Haring and Jessica Shetters have had some good moments as true freshman, especially after “Cat” went down. O.K. Ducks, prove me wrong, but I (and many other fans) believe some needed offensive firepower is on the bench and I don’t see things changing. Corrie Mizusawa OREGON STATE BEAVERS Head Coach: Judy Spoelstra, 9th year Gone: Michelle Smith (4.1 ppg) Top Returnees: 5-7 senior guard, Leilani Estavan; 6-2 senior forward, Hollye Chapman; 6-5 senior center, Brina Chaney; 5-8 junior guard, Jessica Jones; 5-11 sophomore forward, Mandy Close. Top Newcomer: none Top 5 scorers (pre-conference): Hollye Chapman, 6-2 senior: 11.4 Leilani Estavan, 5-7 senior: 9.8 Mandy Close, 5-11 sophomore: 9.0 Brina Chaney, 6-5 senior: 8.6 Casey Bunn, 6-0 sophomore forward: 8.4 Forecast: Last year the Beavers finished in a tie for 5th and they have a good shot of repeating or maybe climbing a little higher even though the league is improved overall. This team is senior laden and experienced with key scorers both inside and on the Leilani Estavan perimeter. Estavan made the All Pac-10 team last year and needs another big year for OSU to improve on last year. The Beavers upset #21 Utah in the preseason which will
