CHICO – "It's a new year, a new beginning, a new team, a new challenge."
That's how Chico State women's basketball Head Coach Brian Fogel describes the 2013-14 season, which officially opens Saturday when the Wildcats take the floor at San Rafael's Conlan Center to square off with the Penguins of Dominican University. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Fogel, returning for his sixth season at the helm, has assembled a roster featuring six returners who played significants roles for last season's 23-6 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championship team and several talented newcomers that has taken expectations to a whole new level. Chico State is ranked 14th in the nation in the NCAA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll.
As defending CCAA champs, Fogel also knows the Wildcats will be sporting a king-size bullseye every night, especially in conference play, where is no room for letdowns. "You definitely can't any nights off in the CCAA, more so this season than in years past," he said. "I think there's probably four or five teams that have a legitimate chance to play for a conference championship, and another four teams that are nipping at the heels of the favorites. The competition is so tough that if your team is hit with sickness or injuries or just aren't playing well, you can go from being a second or third place team in the conference to finding yourself in seventh or eighth pretty fast."
The Wildcats will once again feature a running, wide-open style of play. "That's the way we go," Fogel said. "We're going to try to play as fast as we possibly can. It's all anchored by our defense to try to get into the open court as much as possible."
All-CCAA First Team guards Courtney Hamilton and Jazmine Miller are back for their seniors seasons. Hamilton led the conference in assists in 2012-13, while Miller paced the 'Cats in scoring (12.8 points a game), 3-pointers (58) and free throw percentage (.818) while shooting a school-record 45 percent from behind the arc.
Junior guards Hannah Womack and Annie Ward (77 treys between them last season) bolster the 'Cats' deep backcourt, along with junior college transfer Sarah Rebibo (Citrus College) and true freshman Tyler Prange (Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills).
Though the Wildcats lost All-CCAA forward Monnie Davidson-Mays to graduation, Chico State head into the 2013-14 season with several talented post players. Seniors McKenzie Dalthorp and Analise Riezebos (who averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds in a combined 42 minutes a game last year) will be counted on to make things happen in the paint, both offensively and defensively. They will be aided by former JC star Michelle Walker (Sierra College) and 6'1" sophomore Jessica Palmer, a transfer from Cal State Fullerton.
The Wildcats are hoping their other post player, Ashtyn Anderson, can recover from the ACL injury that limited her to just three games as a true freshman last season.
Chico State's season-opening opponent, Domincan, is hoping to make a marked improvement in 2013-14. Seventh year Head Coach Brianna Chambers brings back seven players from last season's Penguins squad that finished 5-21 overall and in 13th place in the Pacific West Conference.
Saturday marks only the third game ever between Chico State and Dominican and the first in nearly two years. The two teams split the previous two meetings, with Dominican winning the last head-to-head contest 51-48 on Nov. 11, 2011 in San Rafael.
Saturday's contest will be broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM and simulcast on the Internet, with Mike Baca handling the play-by-play. Live Stats and streaming video are also available online.
CLICK HERE for live play-by-play
CLICK HERE for Live Stats/streaming video
