The Arizona women’s basketball team was picked to finish eighth in the Pacific 10 Conference this season in the preseason media poll. In one of the top conferences in the nation, the Wildcats must prove themselves against a barrage of talent across the West Coast. The following breaks down the Pac-10, in order of the Arizona Daily Wildcat’s predicted finishes.
Stanford
2006-2007 record (Pac-10): 29-5 (17-1)
Conference finish: First
Head coach: Tara VanDerveer, 22nd year
Key returners: Candice Wiggins (G) – 16.9 points per game, 4.1 rebounds; Jayne Appel (F/C) – 13.2 points, 7.5 assists
Key additions: Ashley Cimino (F) (McDonald’s All-American) – 16.7 points as a senior in high school; Jeanette Pohlen (G) (McDonald’s All-American) – 18.9 points as a senior in high school
California
2006-2007 record (Pac-10): 23-9 (12-6)
Conference finish: Third
Head coach: Joanne Boyle, third year
Key returners: Devanei Hampton (C) – 16.6 points, 8.0 rebounds; Ashley Walker (F/C) – 17.3 points, 8.7 rebounds
Key additions: Kelsey Adrian (G/F) – 11.6 points for Canada’s Senior National team in 2006; Rachelle Federico (G) – 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds as a junior in high school
ASU
2006-2007 record (Pac-10): 31-5 (16-2)
Conference finish: Second
Head coach: Charli Turner Thorne, 12th year
Key returners: Reagan Pariseau (G) – 4.1 points, 2.7 assists; Jill Noe (G) – 8.9 points, 2.9 assists
Key additions: Becca Tobin (F) – 191 blocks as a junior in high school (Arizona state record); Stephanie Wilber (G)
USC
2006-2007 record (Pac-10): 17-13 (10-8)
Conference finish: Fifth
Head coach: Mark Trakh, fourth year
Key returners: Morghan Medlock (G) – 6.4 points, 4.3 rebounds; Camille LeNoir (G) – 12.7 points, 4.1 assists; Jacki Gemelos (G) – 39.2 points, 8.9 assists, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 steals as a senior in high school
Key additions: Kate Henderson (F)
Arizona
2006-2007 record (Pac-10): 11-21 (4-14)
Conference finish: Eighth (tie)
Head coach: Joan Bonvicini, 17th season
Key returners: Ashley Whisonant (G) – 11.9 points; Amina Njonkou (F) – 8.4 points, 6.7 rebounds
Key additions: Sarah Hays (F); Tasha Dickey (G)
UCLA
2006-2007 record (Pac-10): 14-18 (7-11)
Conference finish: Seventh
Head coach: Kathy Olivier, 16th season
Key returners: Lindsey Pluimer (F) – 15.5 points, 5.7 rebounds; Chinyere Ibekwe (F) – 7.7 points, 6.6 rebounds
Key additions: Candice Brown (F); Nina Earl (F)
Washington
2006-2007 record (Pac-10): 18-13 (11-7)
Conference Finish: Fourth
Head coach: Tia Jackson, first year
Key returners: Emily Florence (G) – 5.4 points, 5.2 rebounds; Andrea Plouffe (F/C) – 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds
Key additions: Candice Nichols (G); Kali Bennett (C) – 14.6 points as a senior in high school
Oregon
2006-2007 record (Pac-10): 17-14 (8-10)
Conference finish: Sixth
Head coach: Bev Smith, eighth season
Key returners: Kaela Chapdelaine (G) – 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds; Tamika Nurse (G) – 9.2 points, 3.3 assists
Key additions: Tatiana Thomas (G/F); Nicole Canepa (F)
Oregon State
2006-2007 record (Pac-10): 9-19 (4-14)
Conference finish: Eighth (tie)
Head coach: LaVonda Wagner, fourth season
Key returners: Mercedes Fox-Griffin (G) – 9.5 points, 6.4 assists; Ashley Allen (G) – 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds
Key additions: Alex Mitchell (C); Brittany Eskridge (F)
Washington State
2006-2007 record (Pac-10): 5-24 (1-17)
Conference finish: 10th
Head coach: June Daugherty, second season
Key returners: Katie Appleton (G) – 8.1 points, 2.7 assists; Ebonee Coates (C) – 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds
Key additions: Katie Calderwood (F); Jasmine Williams (G)
