With arguably the best recruiting class to ever join the California State University, Sacramento women's basketball program along with a talented corps of returners, head coach Sue Huffman and assistants Angie Miller and Sarah Stapp have a quicker, more athletic and well-rounded team on their hands in 1999-2000.
Coming off last season's 3-23 record, the Hornets have their work cut out for them this year if they want to get back to respectability. However, Huffman feels that with this year's roster, featuring seven newcomers and seven returners, the Big Sky Conference
playoffs are a reasonable expectation. "We have the ability to go .500 and make the conference playoffs this year," Huffman said. "The returning group has displayed more leadership and are more skilled this year. We also have more depth and better quality
athletes than last year. Our three-point shooting is very strong and our improved rebounding should spring a very good fast break. Our offensive output will be better this year and our improved three-point shooting will open up the inside game."
The Returners
The Hornets return seven members from last season's squad including three starters that accounted for 22 of the team's average of 57.8 points per game. Leading the way are co-captains senior Kerri Dunn and junior Michelle St. Clair who both started the last 18 games last season and finished first and second, respectively, on the team in
three-pointers made.
"We need the returners and newcomers to blend well and I think the leadership of Kerri and Michelle will make that happen," Huffman said. They both work hard and set good examples for other players on the floor."
Dunn, a 5-8 guard from San Jose, Calif., finished second on the team in points,
field goals and field goal attempts. The senior scored in double-figures 12 times
and finished fifth in the conference in three-pointers made and three-point
percentage (50-135, .370). Dunn will be the quarterback of this year's squad according to coaches.
Equally imporlant to the Hornet attack is St. Clair, a 5-5 guard who started all 26 games last season while leading the team in free throw percentage (.833) and finishing second with 31 assists. The 1997 Bear River High School graduate recorded double-figures in each of the last five games and led the team in scoring four times
during the 1998-99 season.
Centers Kelly Smurzynski and April Ranney head a list of four formidable returning sophomores who coaches are looking for to come out of their freshman shells this season. Guard Tracey Kenyon and forward Kelly Hodges - both of whom received substantial minutes last season - are the other two returning
underclassmen .
"The sophomores have improved tremendously this year and we're really relying on them to step up," Huffman said. "They will each get their share of minutes while being pushed by the newcomers."
Smurzynski, a 6-2 center who can also play power forward, started the final 11 games last year while leading the squad in field goal percentage (.444) and converting on 80 percent of her free throws. The Palo Cedro, Calif., native hits the medium-range jumper with consistency and could get some looks behind the three-point line this season.
Ranney, a 6- 2 center who started six games last year, can also play at power forward. Along with Smurzynski, Ranney has shown the most improvement among the returners and is expected to be a force in the low block this year. "April's confidence and movement is much improved this year," Huffman said. "Teams will have trouble moving her around in the paint on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball."
Hodges is trying to make her way back from offseason knee surgery and, if healthy, completes a trifecta of Hornets who can play at both power forward and center. The
Elk Grove, Calif., native started nine games last season for the Hornets while averaging 18 minutes per game. She was second on the squad with 36 offensive rebounds and converted on 73 percent ( 19- 26) of her free throws.
Kenyon, a 5-8 guard from Citrus Heights, Calif., returns for her second season with the Hornets after averaging almost 20 minutes per game last year. Kenyon can play at both small forward and shooting guard and coaches are looking for her slashing style of play to get her to the free throw line more this season.
The only other senior on this year's squad besides Dunn, Raquel Dominguez, returns for her second season with the Hornets. The 5-6 native of Stockton, Calif., received
action in 13 games last season and will back up the guard position again this year.
The Newcomers
This year's recruiting class - spearheaded by Miller - consists of five freshmen and two junior college transfers who each have the opportunity to produce for the Hornets immediately. "I think each of the new players has the potential to contribute this year," Huffman said. "Practices have been real competitive as the newcomers are finding their comfort zones and settling into their roles. The competition has made the returners play with more toughness and intensity."
Featuring four forwards, one center and two guards, the first-year players should allow the Hornets to make improvements in every facet of the game.
The impressive list begins with freshman Rexanne Rodriguez, a 5-7 point guard who
led Nevada Union High School to a Div. I section championship last season and was named
the Capital Athletic League MVP for the second year in a row after setting the national
high school record with 273 three-pointers. The only true point guard on this year's squad, Rodriguez is also a tenacious defender who coaches expect to be the spark plug of this year's team.
The other first-year guard, Sydney Gatson, played at both point and shooting guard at Clayton Valley High School in Concord, Calif. The 5-9 freshman was named Bay Area Athletic League MVP last year when she averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals per game.
Imani Mayes, a 6-1 freshman from Oakland, Calif., comes to the Hornets after leading Castlemont High School to an Oakland Athletic League championship and a 26-3 overall record. Listed as a center, Mayes can also play power forward and coaches love her rebounding ability. The quartet of forwards beginning their Hornet careers this year include PreShice Carter, Nichole Hardaway, Sephora Scoubes and April Woodson.
Carter and Scoubes, the only junior college transfers on this year's roster, are each expected to pay quick dividends. A 5-10 junior, Carter attended Mesa College in
San Diego last year where she averaged 14.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Scoubes, a 6-0 sophomore from Redding, Calif., comes to Sacramento State after being named First Team All-State and Golden Valley Conference Freshman of the Year at Shasta JC while averaging 22.5 points and 6.6 rebounds for the Knights.
Woodson, a 5-9 freshman who was a late addition to the Hornets' roster, was a three-time Sacramento Valley League selection at Capital Christian High School and averaged 17.6 points and 10.4 rebounds last year which garnered her league MVP honors.
Nichole Hardaway, a 6- 2 forward from Berkeley, Calif., is expected to bring quickness in the post and a nose for rebounds to the Hornets. The freshman helped guide
Berkeley High School to a pair of North Coast Section
Div. I championships in 1998 and 1999.
The Schedule
The Hornets' schedule, which has been traditionally tough, doesn't get any easier this year. On the slate for this season includes non-conference dates with three schools ranked in the preseason top-30 by the Basketball News including Duke (No.11 ), Saint Mary's (No.24) and Santa clara (No.30). Duke advanced to the Final Four last year before falling to Purdue in the championship game.
Defending Big Sky champion Cal State Northridge along with Montana and Portland State return as league favorites this season. Huffman, however, believes the rest of the Big Sky including the final three conference playoff spots are up for grabs.
Northridge will be tough again this season, Montana should bounce back from last year and Portland State returns nine players from last year's 12-4 team, Huffman said. Only two or three losses will probably separate the top teams but the rest of the conference is pretty much up for up grabs and we hope to slide into the picture.
***Information taken from the Sacramento State media guide.