CHICO – Players and coaches alike have been chafing at the bit for weeks. The Chico State women's basketball team has gone through countless practices and a pair of exhibition games in preparation for the main event – namely, the start of the 2014-15 season. This Saturday a decidedly different-looking Wildcat squad will lift the lid on the new campaign when it hosts Dominican University in the 42nd annual Coslet Classic, tipping off at 1 p.m. in Acker Gym.
The 2014-15 edition of the Wildcats feature seven new players – including four true freshmen and a redshirt freshman – and of the six returners, one is out for the season while another is attempting to come back from a knee injury. Brian Fogel, entering his seventh season as head coach, lost four starters from the team that went 19-10 last season and reached the NCAA Championship Tournament for the 10th time in the past 12 years. But based on the team's 95-point effort in last weekend's exhibition game against Sacramento State, there's plenty of optimism surrounding this new batch of 'Cats.
Returning seniors Hannah Womack and Annie Ward (a combined 96 3-pointers last season and a 19.6 points per game average) will be asked to shoulder a healthy amount of Chico State's scoring responsibilities, with senior Michelle Walker expected to provide the 'Cats with their rebounding and putback muscle.
The Wildcats are well-stocked with backcourt talent. Returner Tyler Prange, redshirt freshman Courtney Brignac, junior college transfer Chanelle Di Croce and true freshmen Whitney Branham and Lauren Johnson could provide the 'Cats with important minutes over the next several months.
Down low, Brooke Bowen, a transfer from Washington's Clark College (where she won Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges MVP honors last season) with Division II experience (17 games as a freshman at Seattle Pacific) will be a key to the Wildcats' success in 2014-15. True freshmen Natalie Valenzuela and Haley Cremen will be counted on to complement Walker and Bowen underneath.
Ashtyn Anderson, now in her third year in the program, is working hard to return to the lineup after suffering a preseason knee injury. A knee injury has sidelined senior guard Sarah Rebibo for the year.
Saturday is also the season opener for Dominican University, a member of the Pacific West Conference. Last season the Penguins finished 9-18 overall and in eighth place in the Pac West with a 9-11 conference record. Dominican split two November exhibition games preparing for the 2014-15 campaign, falling to Santa Clara Nov. 6 and beating California Maritime Academy 84-74 on Wednesday.
Chico State and Dominican have met three times prior to Saturday's season-opening matchup. The Wildcats have won two of those contests, including last season's 88-60 victory Nov. 9 to open the 2013-14 campaign.
Fans unable to attend the game in person can hear all the action locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM and online through the Wildcat Athletics website. Live Stats and streaming video will also be available online.
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