Oct. 31, 2008
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University women's basketball begins its 2008-09 season on Sunday, Nov. 2 when it hosts an exhibition game against Whitman College at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The game is slated to begin at 2 p.m.
Whitman was 14-11 overall last season, including 8-8 in the Northwest Conference. The Missionaries 8-8 NWC record tied them with Whitworth University for fourth place.
Whitman was recently picked to finish first in the NWC this season, according to a preseason poll of coaches. The Missionaries garnered four first-place votes and a total of 73 points in the 2008-09 coaches poll. Whitman returns junior forward Michelle Krall, who was named to the All-NWC second team last season, and sophomore guard Jenele Peterson, who garnered All-NWC honorable mention accolades in her first season with the Missionaries. Whitman also returns juniors Hilary White, Ellen Vertatschitsch and Dawna Mello, and sophomores Rebecca Sexton, Jessica Brice, Anna Forge and Meredith Danko.
The Missionaries will have to match up with a Gonzaga squad that is at the top of its game. The Bulldogs, who have claimed the West Coast Conference regular-season title for the past four seasons, are primed to have another successful year. The Zags finished 25-9 in 2007-08, had a 13-1 mark in conference for the second year in a row, and made a post-season appearance for the fourth time in five years.
Why are the Bulldogs so confident they will again have a successful run? Well its simple, GU returns 80% of its offense from a season ago. The Zags also have the West Coast Conference Player of the Year Heather Bowman, Newcomer of the Year Courtney Vandersloot and Defensive Player of the Year Jami Schaefer (formerly Bjorklund) returning to the squad. GU also boats four-time Coach of the Year Kelly Graves, returning for his ninth year at the helm.
"We have an extremely strong core group of returners," stated Graves. "Who can't be excited about returning nine letterwinners, three of which were recognized as the top players in the conference last year? But we were young last year and the best thing about these players is that they've worked hard in the off-season to improve."
Gonzaga did graduate two players from the Bulldogs second round WNIT squad. But half of what it lost in its senior class is still around, just in a different capacity. Michelle Elliott, a two-year starter and leading three-point shooter for the Bulldogs, hung up her jersey last season but is now lacing up her coaching shoes as one of the Zags assistant coaches in 2008-09.
"We could not be more excited about Michelle joining our staff," stated Graves. "She personifies the best of about Gonzaga University and our basketball program. She is a great natural leader, always positive and very enthusiastic. Michelle is extremely bright and articulate and knows and believes in our coaching staff, team, and system. I anticipate that she will continue to inspire our players as a coach just like she did as a player and I know with all my heart that she'll be a tremendous representative of our university and basketball program. I could not think of anyone more fitting for this position at this time."
Bowman continues to have one of the best playing careers in Zag history. The Spokane native closed out her sophomore campaign averaging 20.1 points per game; 12th highest in NCAA Division I last season. She shot an impressive 52.9 percent (217-410) from the field and was 80.6 percent at the free throw line, sinking 150-186 attempts. Bowman also eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau as a sophomore, finishing the year with 1,025 career points. She is the only player in school history to break 1,000 points in two short seasons. A huge feat for somebody who missed five games last season after breaking her hand.
"Heather is just an outstanding player," praised Graves. "She missed five games last year due to an injury, but never missed a beat when she returned. People forget she played two-thirds of the season with a cast-like wrap on her hand and still put up the numbers she did. Despite the attention from other team's defenses, she consistently put up 20 and 10 every night.
I've coached in the WCC for 16 years and have coached nine players who have won the WCC Player of the Year and I honestly feel that Heather could be one of the best of them all. I believe Heather is one of the top players in the nation. She is so quick around the basket and has a variety of ways she can score, both from inside and out, which makes her so difficult to defend."
Vandersloot proved herself to be one of the top players in the conference as a freshman last season. The point guard was inserted into the starting lineup seven games into the season and truly shined. She dished out 5.6 assists per game, 17th best in the nation, and added an offensive spark, averaging 10.6 points per game; second best on the squad.
"Courtney had a break out freshman campaign. She is certainly one of the best guards in the nation," stated Graves. "She has no fear. Her ability to see the floor and make plays in uncanny. She's the kind of player that makes you say `wow, did you see that?' She definitely the engine that makes us go. Courtney became our leader on the court last season. I am looking forward her becoming even better in that area this season. The sky is truly the limit for her. There is no question she can be a bigger scorer for us too."
Schaefer has played in every game since her freshman season, totaling 98 straight contests, including 75 starting nods. She has been the Bulldogs tough-as-nails defender for the past three seasons, earning the distinction of guarding the opposing team's best player. She was finally rewarded for her efforts, garnering the WCC Defensive Player of the Year honor as a junior. Schaefer made 31 steals last year, blocked seven shots and grabbed 4.4 rebounds per game.
"I love having Jami on our team," explained Graves. "Her work ethic is second to none. Statistics don't do her justice. Our team gains so much by having her on our squad. She never quits, pushes herself and the other players both in practice and games. She is that lock-down defensive player who is stuck to the opposing player. What's best about her defense is she can and has defended every position on the floor. She is perhaps the best leader I've ever coached and is truly a team player,"
Joining Gonzaga on the court this season are six other returning players, including one other starter, and four newcomers. Junior Vivian Frieson returns to the starting mix, while classmate Tiffanie Shives and sophomore Janelle Bekkering will vie for starting positions. Senior Amanda Brown and sophomores Claire Raap and Tatriana Lorenzo add depth to the Gonzaga squad. New faces to the Zag family are redshirt freshman Katelan Redmon and true freshman Kelly Bowen, Shannon Reader and Kayla Standish.
Frieson played in 27 games as a sophomore, starting 25. She missed the first seven games of the season with a broken finger but came back with a vengeance. Frieson averaged 8.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and had a team-leading 21 blocks. Her best contest of the season was against the University of Tennessee, the 2008 National Champions. She had a team-leading and career-high 21 points against the Lady Vols.
"Vivian is probably our most athletic player," Graves said. "She has grown into a tremendous rebounder and shot blocker. Last year she showed what she can do offensively. She will be counted on this season as one of our go-to players. Her versatility is her biggest strength. She often acted as a point-forward bringing the ball up versus full court pressure defense."
Both Shives and Bekkering provided a spark off the bench for Gonzaga in 2007-08. They both will be looked upon this season in more prominent roles though. Shives, a sharp-shooting specialist, who also can run the point position, will take over the role Elliott left. Shives hit 52 three-pointers in her first season as a Bulldog, and closed out the season scoring double-figure points in six-straight contests. Bekkering, who saw her first action as a Zag last season after recovering from knee surgery in 2006-07, saw action in all 34 contests.
"Tiffanie will take on a greater role this upcoming year," Graves pointed out. "She can score from everywhere, and like Courtney, sees the floor well and is a great passer. There is no reason she can't have a breakout year and be considered one of the league's best players. We will count on her to stretch the opposition's defense. "Janelle is really explosive and, if her knee is completely healthy this season, we will see amazing things from her. Janelle can definitely score and is one of the best attackers of the basket, but I think she can be our next defensive stopper because of her strength and instincts."
Also returning to the mix is Raap and Lorenzo. Raap, who has a knack for rebounding and can scrap for the ball, played in 25 contests as a freshman. The forward hit 51.2 percent of her shots and closed out the year averaging 2.1 points per game. Lorenzo, also returning to the floor last season after knee surgery, added depth to the guard position, especially when senior Rachel Kane went down with her own knee injury during the middle of the season.
"Claire and Tatri will both add depth to our squad," said Graves. "Claire gives us another option down-low. She is a strong athlete who, after a year of college basketball under her belt, is ready to do great things for us. She is so athletic and can be a monster on the boards.
"Tatri has returned to form after recovering from major knee surgery. She is quick and makes great decisions on the court. Tatri is so important for us and will be asked to make significant contributions in our up-tempo system."
Joining the veteran driven squad is Redmon, Standish, Reader and Bowen.
Redmon, a transfer from the University of Washington where she garnered All-Pacific 10 Freshman Team honors, will have to sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules. Standish, a 6-2 forward from Ellensburg High School, finished her career scoring 2,076 points and led Ellensburg to four state appearances. She was named All-Central Washington Athletic Conference four times.
"With the ability Kayla has to play from inside and out, she should have an immediate impact on our team, along the lines of a Heather Bowman, Janelle Bekkering and Courtney Vandersloot," explained Graves. "She is such a versatile player as she can shoot the three-pointer as well as kill you at the block, all of which should make her a matchup headache for our opponents."
Reader, a 6-2 center from Lake Oswego High School in Oregon, averaged 12.7 points and 13.2 rebounds as a senior. She was named first team All-League as a senior and Metro All-League as a freshman and sophomore at Century High School.
"Shannon is a hard-working post player who will give us added strength and depth and a physical presence inside," said Graves "As do all our post players, she can also step out and knock down the perimeter jumper and she has the determination to improve her game."
Rounding out the newcomers is Bowen, a 6-0 forward from Victoria, Australia. Bowen played for Frankston Blues; a member of the Youth League Women's Division of the Big V League. She averaged 14.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game with the Blues. Bowen also averaged a double-double playing for the Melbourne Roos All-Star High School team in its nine-game American Tour versus different colleges, many of which were NCAA Division I.
"Kelly is extremely versatile with the ability to play both inside and outside and is extremely strong physically. She is a tireless rebounder who has the ability to shoot the 3-point, create for herself off the dribble and score at the block." Graves said.
With a veteran crew of returnees and a solid newcomer class, Graves and Gonzaga may end up on top again, winning its fifth-straight WCC crown and appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years.
