2004-05 Women's Basketball Preview: Team Is Athletic, Quick, Deep and Ready to Challenge Top CCAA Teams
November 16, 2004

There will be a lot of new faces on the Cal State Dominguez Hills women's basketball team in 2004-05. Gone from the squad that posted an 11-16 overall and 7-15 conference record are three starters and three key reserves, including one four-year player lost to graduation and one second-team All-Region and first-team All-CCAA selection whose injuries overcame her desire to compete.

Tameka Blue's refreshing attitude gives Coach Van Girard reason for optimism as the season nears.

In their place, however, arrive a trio of highly touted freshmen who signal the beginning of a new era in Toro basketball. Add to them a two-year starting junior point guard who again looks like the player from two years past in which she was chosen a first-team All-CCAA selection as well as CCAA Freshman of the Year, and a fourth-year senior leader in her final year in Cardinal Red & Gold whom head coach Van Girard calls "our all-everything," and this Toro squad's athleticism, speed, depth and guard play will determine whether they successfully challenge the top teams in the California Collegiate Athletic Association for a postseason berth.

Last season saw the Toros peak early, winning six of their first seven contests, and falter late, dropping 10 of their last 11 games. Then-sophomore Zipporah Chase averaged 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in garnering second-team All-Region and first-team All-CCAA honors, while senior Monique Marquez provided needed leadership on the floor until an injury sidelined her in the season's 13th contest. Marquez's only appearance the rest of the year came in the Toros' final regular season home contest, when CSUDH honored its lone senior on the squad.

Octavia Askew is the team captain for the second-consecutive year, and her effort on the defensive end is her most valued commodity.

This season, Girard's returners are hungry. Hungry to remedy last year's second-half decline and finish in the upper half of the conference, a position the team hasn't reached since tying for 3rd place in the 1997-98 season. Girard knows his team had a golden opportunity to make a run during the conference's second half, but failed to take advantage of it.

"Last year was a disappointing season for us," Girard begins. "The returning players know that we dropped the ball in the second round. We had an opportunity to get into the tournament had we just done what we needed to do. But we didn't."

With that missed opportunity fresh in the returners' minds, the head coach has been pleased at the dedication his players have made over the summer to take that next step. They attended basketball camps and increased their conditioning, setting the stage for the 2004-05 Toros to become one of the most athletic squads Girard has coached. Add to that the refreshing attitude exhibited by junior point guard Tameka Blue, and the Toros have the recipe for success in hand, and will showcase the results of their hard work beginning November 19 against Metropolitan State College in the season-opener.

The Toros will operate with neither Chase nor Marquez on the floor this season, but again will rely on their guard play to cause waves in the highly competitive CCAA Conference. CSUDH's guards, led by Blue and senior Octavia Askew, will be the centerpiece of an offense designed to break defenses down, and a defense deployed to hawk opposing offenses up and down the court. The guard position is athletic all around, which will serve Girard's aggressive style of play well on both ends of the floor, and be depended upon from a team whose center pieces are young and unproven.

"I think this team is faster, more athletic and deeper than we've been," Girard offers. "We've got some really great athletic guards which should allow us to really extend defensively, and great shooters which will give us some great perimeter play. The question mark is the inside. The question mark is can our freshmen grow up fast enough."

With those answers having to wait until the season begins, Girard is optimistic about the 2004-05 squad. He has brought in three new assistant coaches, two who already know the system, and likes the hardworking make-up and "teamness" his squad has discovered.

"They're positive, supportive and demanding of each other, and there's so much more upper class leadership that I've seen from more sources in a long time," Girard explains. "I'm looking forward to a very exciting year. I like the camaraderie, the positiveness, the work ethic, and the coachability. All those things will allow us to be a better basketball team. I like this team a lot."

GUARDS

Junior point guard Tameka Blue again will be the focus of an offense that is guard-heavy. Spearheading a backcourt that Girard predicts could be "one of the best backcourts in the conference," the 5-7 playmaker has regained her freshman form after sputtering through an inconsistent sophomore season.

"Blue looks really good and I think we're going to see what we have expected to see," Girard says of the top returner from last season. "She doing all the things you want your point guard to do, and if she continues, she's going to end up having a banner junior year which will make us a much better basketball team."

Last season, Blue endured periods of the proverbial sophomore slump, though her numbers indicated otherwise (9.2 points, 5.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds). Still, Girard expected more from his then-reigning CCAA Freshman of the Year and first-team All-CCAA selection, and happily noticed changes in Blue's demeanor early in fall practices, which spoke volumes of his junior point guard's increased maturity.

"The trust factor is really big. She trusts her teammates and I think they are beginning to trust her more," Girard says of Blue's unselfishness. "She's got a much more positive attitude and she's much more connected to her teammates. Blue's really doing a lot of good things - her shot, her decision making, her commitment to be more verbal on the floor - and I really can't say enough about her."

The "yin" to Blue's "yang" will be senior Askew, whom Girard calls "our all-everything." In addition to her offensive contributions (8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists last season) and leadership role as the team captain for the second-consecutive year, Askew's effort on the defensive end is her most valued commodity, and a great example of practicing what the head coach preaches.

"Tae is probably the best perimeter defender we've got and always will be assigned to the opponent's best defensive player," Girard says. "She hustles, works hard and just does a lot of good things. She will be on the floor at the end-of-game situations."

The Toros' most accomplished outside threat, senior Lindsay Peloza made great strides this off-season, increasing her foot speed and quickness. Last season, Peloza drained 32% of her 3-point attempts (20-62), and is primed to sink more than her fair share this season.

"Lindsay's the best shooter in the program, no doubt," begins Girard. "Give her any kind of an opening, she'll make it. She should be a major scorer for us."

Girard will also count on freshman Jessica Liang to provide quality minutes at the guard position. A redshirt last season, Liang knows the system and will play both guard positions, utilizing her ability to dribble-penetrate and shooting acumen to provide solid minutes when called upon.

"Jessica's real solid," Girard says. "She's a blue-collar type worker, just a real smart basketball player who does the right thing."

One of Girard's prized freshmen recruits, Brittney Blankenship will have to grow up quickly for the Toros to contend.

"Brittney is a big-time steal for us and we expect her to be a major contributor to the program," Girard says with a smile. "She's athletic and probably one of the best freshman defenders I've had in a long time. Brittney really loves to harass the basketball, and is going to be a special player."

Sophomore Adiana Vega-Howard, a great shooter in her own right who stepped up her conditioning in the off-season, should contribute and see substantial minutes as well.

FORWARDS

Girard can't help but smile when talking about newcomer Karen Shirley. A transfer from Arizona Western College, Shirley brings toughness and maturity to a program that returned only seven players from last year's squad.

With an intense 5-10 frame, Girard notes that Shirley "gives us great ability to break people down." He adds that she is a "good deep shooter, provides solid rebounding and that her presence makes us a better team."

The only two-sport athlete on the squad, Tiare Alailima brings tremendous athleticism to the forward position. While Alailima's jumping suits her well during her stint as starting outside hitter on the CSUDH volleyball team, Girard will look for more of that on the offensive and defensive glass once mid-November hits.

"Tiare's should be a real positive addition to the program," says Girard. "She's strong enough to play inside and could be a good shooter for us."

Celeste Haueter will provide stability to both forward positions. A "phenomenal athlete" who "works really hard," Girard predicts Haueter will provide the team with great leadership and another great shooter. An athletic and sturdy 5-10, look for Haueter to see time at the power forward slot as well.

The two other freshmen who will make their presence felt are Alana Bailey and Michelle Kribell. Says Girard, Bailey is "just a tremendous athlete and will develop into something very special." The head coach notes Bailey's great hands, ability to finish and her "physicalness" as key attributes that will benefit the Toros throughout this season, and through 2008. Kribell, whom Girard says is "probably one of the more skilled freshman post players that we've gotten in a while," will also see minutes at the forward position. Possessing great hands and adept at finishing plays, Girard looks forward to major contributions from his 6-1 Buena Park native.

CENTER

Returnee Ree Browne will be the focal point at the center position, and will be responsible for trying to fill the loss of Chase. Girard admits it won't be an easy task, but feels Browne is up to the challenge.

"If she plays like a junior, we'll be fine," he states of his sophomore post player. "Ree's going to score for us. She needs to be able to defend and rebound around the basket; those are her question marks. But she is stepping up and providing us with positive play."

Crystal Maciel is another post player who is expected to log many minutes this season. An atypical center, Maciel was the Toros' top 3-point threat last season, making a team-high 36 shots from behind the arc and draining 3s at a 38% clip. At 6-1, however, Maciel also will provide key time on the glass, as evidenced by last year's 2.1 rebounds per game average.

Newcomer Naupaka Uperesa will be the last piece to the center puzzle. Equipped with an imposing 6-2 frame, Uperesa will be counted on for easy buckets, rebounds and setting solid screens.

"She's got great hands, absolutely great hands, and is a force," gushes Girard. "In terms of posting up, setting the big screen and running some pick and roll action, she does help us a lot and should be an offensive weapon for us."

YOUTH MOVEMENT

With four freshmen and two sophomores in the lineup expected to challenge for quality playing time, coach Girard has both the luxury and dilemma of dealing the team's youth. In freshmen Bailey, Blankenship, Kribell and Liang, and sophomores Browne and Vega-Howard, the Toros are primed for future success, but Girard knows to be competitive this season, those six need to play beyond their years.

"They have to contribute this year for us to win, and that's kind of a tough place. The question mark is experience. There's no substitute for game experience."

PROGRESS

Equipped with proven guards who excel at both getting out on the break and applying full-court pressure, Girard likes his chances of challenging for a spot in the upper half of the conference.

"I expect us to be above .500, and in a position to be in the tournament or on the bubble," he says of his team's outlook. "We're kind of young, so reaching our goal is going to be determined by how our freshmen play, but I think we're capable of taking a step."

And although the Toros will miss Chase's double-figure points and rebounds average, Girard already has his plan in place to fill the middle, and will let the guards take care of the rest.

"We have five guards who are very active so we are going to be very much up-tempo and much more of a trapping team to take advantage of what I think is our strength, the perimeter," Girard begins. "If Blue plays like she's practicing, if our freshmen grow up sooner than later, and if we can get 15 points and about 15 boards out of those post players we mentioned, I think we'll be one of the top 5 teams in the conference. That's the goal.

"I'm looking forward to a very exciting year. I think we're going to be a very entertaining basketball team. We have very good people in our program, just good and hardworking kids, and now it's a matter of the coaching staff doing a better job of teaching.

"We're making progress every day."