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