Toros Women’s Basketball Debuts at No. 7 in First West Region Ranking of Season
January 24, 2007

Carson, CA - The CSUDH women’s basketball team is among the best in the West Region, it was announced this afternoon by the NCAA in its first regional poll of the year. The team checks in at the No. 7 spot.

The Toros currently hold an 8-3 Division II record and an in-region record of 7-3.

Last season the Toros floated around the bottom of the regional poll for much of the year before a late season skid dropped them off at the end.

This season the Toros are led by a duo of dynamic guards, who each bring something different to the table. Junior transfer Brigayle Iglehart (San Diego, CA/Grossmont College) is the Toros’ scoring leader with 11.0 points per game, with many of those points coming courtesy of her driving ability. Providing the contrast to Iglehart’s scoring style is long range shooter Jessica Liang (Alhambra, CA/Mark Keppel HS), who is averaging 10.8 points per game. Liang is doing her damage from beyond the arc, currently leading the CCAA in 3-point percentage and 3-point makes per game, and is also ranked in the top 35 in the nation in both categories.

Doing most of the dirty work down low has been returning 2nd-Team All-CCAA selection Alana Bailey (Altadena, CA/John Muir HS), who is chipping in 9.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Fellow conference member Chico State earned the top spot with a Division II record of 12-1, with the lone loss coming in a 73-54 drubbing at the hands of the Toros.

If the Toros are to make the regional for the first time in two years, the next two weeks will determine their fate. This week, CSUDH embarks on a five-game road trip that includes rematches with No. 6-ranked Chico State and No. 23-ranked UC San Diego.

Eight teams per region qualify for the postseason, with the winner of both the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) receiving automatic bids. The final regional poll will determine which other six teams are awarded the six at-large berths, with those teams joining the CCAA and GNAC regular-season champions in the West Regional of the NCAA II National Tournament, taking place from March 10-13 at a site to be determined.