Season Outlook
The Sacramento State women's basketball program has a new look for the 2004-05 season, and with a mixture of nine new players, five returning players and three redshirts, second-year head coach Dan Muscatell is looking for this team to get the program out of its current "funk”. "I thought the best way to get us out of it was to bring in kids who already had college experience," Muscatell said. "I like it because we have players who have the experience of playing college basketball and we get their services for two years."
Of the seven newcomers, four are junior college transfers from the NWAAC championship team at Clackamas Community College. "The biggest anxiety I had all spring was the mix of our new players with the returning players," Muscatell said. "It turns out that my anxiety was unfounded. We are so far ahead than where I thought we would be at this point."
The Hornets will look to rebound from last year's 1-26 finish as Muscatell begins to bring in players and create a new structure for the program. His squad consists of three seniors, nine juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen with many players capable of playing more than one position on the floor. "One of the things I like about this group is our increased depth that will allow us to play a real nice mixture of lineups," Muscatell said. "The chess match is match-ups on the court and we have a lot more pieces to the match than we did a year ago."
In addition to puzzle pieces, the team has more experience than last season. In Muscatell's first year as head coach, everything was a first, from games, to road trips, to the Big Sky Conference.
But the 2004-05 season will be a different story. The Hornets played 13 of this year's 19 opponents at least once last season. "From a coaching perspective, it is much more comforting to know what to expect," Muscatell said. "Last year, everything was a first, everything was new. The familiarity with our returning players will be a benefit and it's up to me to educate and prepare the new players for what to expect." But new players and experience are not all the program needs to turn its record around. "There are a number of things you have to do to be successful at basketball,” Muscatell said. “Number one, you have to be very good defensively. Number two, you have to rebound the ball. Number three, you have to take care of the ball. The Hornets were third in the Big Sky last season, averaging 8.67 steals per game, but were eighth in the assist-to turnover-ratio. This season, Muscatell is expecting things to change. "We will have five players on the court at all times who can put pressure on the defense," Muscatell said. "It will take pressure off everybody and that will allow us to move the ball with more of a mindset that everybody on the court can score. We should shoot a higher percentage, our turnovers should decrease and our assists should increase."
THE GUARDS
Returning at the point guard spot is senior Samania Black, who led the team last season with 53 assists. Muscatell refers to Black as the only true point guard on the team, but adds that the team also has many options to fill that position this season. Sophomore guard Kim Sheehy, who redshirted last season after transferring from San Jose State, gives the addition of a point guard who can knock down shots from the perimeter. Also at the point this season could be returning sophomore Stephanie Cherry. As a freshman last season, she knocked down 14 three-pointers and averaged 7.8 points per game against Big Sky competition. "Stephanie is probably our most explosive offensive player," Muscatell said. "She can just plain score. We are working with her on when she needs to attack, and when she needs to settle. That will come with maturity." Freshman Ali Mollet will also be given time at the point guard position as she begins to learn the game of Division I basketball. She played four years at Del Mar High School in San Jose, Calif., and is Del Mar's all-time assists leader. "Ali plays the game to a feel and rhythm," Muscatell said. Like the point guard position, options are plentiful at the off-guard spot. Sheehy's outside shot makes her a match for the position, while senior Tyeisha Brown will see time at both the point and shooting guard positions. Brown led the Hornets last season with 53 steals and also scored a career-high 24 points in the Hornets win over Portland State. "She has quickness and the ability to play on all three levels," Muscatell said of Brown. "She can attack the rim, shoot the pull-up jumper and she can sink three-pointers. She has some very special qualities." Also playing at shooting guard will be junior college transfer Cindy Alldrin. Alldrin, at 5-9, has not averaged less than 16 points per game since her sophomore year of high school. "The advantage to playing Cindy at shooting guard is that she has the height to take smaller guards into the post and score over the top." Also returning is third-year guard Tess Thompson, who recovered from a knee injury that caused her to miss last season. Walk-on Takara Todd will bring defensive intensity as a shooting guard. "The things she brings to the table will really allow us to put some pressure on people," Muscatell said. Walk-on Diana Chavez from the College of Southern Idaho will also be an addition to the team.
THE FORWARDS
Depending on the lineup, Sheehy, Brown, Alldrin and Mollet will all have the opportunity to play on the wing, but junior transfer Lindsay Calmettes is expected to see a lot of time as the team's small forward. "She is a mentally tough kid," Muscatell said of Calmettes. "She has inner toughness and also has toughness on the court. She plays all aspects of the game and plays very physical." As the starting point guard for Clackamas last season, Calmettes helped the team to a 26-4 record and a southern region championship as well as the NWAACC championship. Junior Ashley Storms, who played shooting guard at Clackamas, will redshirt the 2004-05 season, using that time to work on her strength to compliment her ability to put the ball in the net, according to Muscatell. Competing for the starting spot at power forward will be junior Katelyn Ciampi. Ciampi averaged 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season and expectations are high for 2004-05. "Katelyn has demonstrated in everything we have done, from individual work to strength and conditioning, the greatest improvement of any of our returning kids," Muscatell said. Also in the post will be Umpqua Community College transfer Lindsey Heard. The junior will be a force on the boards to assist a team that ranked eighth in rebounding last season. "Lindsey brings the ability to play on the perimeter and shoot the ball effectively from the arc," Muscatell said. "She brings a dynamic we did not have a year ago." Also redshirting this season is freshman Becca Reams. Reams averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game at Placer High School in Auburn, Calif.
THE CENTERS
At center, Muscatell has the experience of senior Kristine Knowlton, who has been with the program for four years and is the only fourth-year senior on this season's squad. Knowlton is also second in program history with 140 career blocks. Last season, she finished third in the conference with 32 blocks. "She is the force inside defensively and is a true shot blocker and intimidator," Muscatell said of the Cornelius, Ore., native. Junior Ashley Cadotte will also see time in the middle. Playing at Clackamas last season, she attempted to take at least five offensive charges per game in the post. "She brings an intensity on the defensive end and will be a tremendous offensive rebounder. She is relentless in those two areas," Muscatell said.
**Information from the Sacramento State Media Guide.