Womens Pac-10 Preview

Stanford

2006 record (Pac-10): 26-8 (15-3)
Conference finish: First
Head Coach: Tara VanDerveer, 21st season

Key losses: Krista Rappahahn (G): Averaged 8.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game

Key additions: Jayne Appel (F/C) four-year starter at Carondelet HS where she helped her team to the state championship in 2004. She ranks third all-time in California with 680 career blocks and fifth all-time in rebounds with 1,707. Won the McDonald’s All-American award and MVP of the All-Star Game in San Diego. Was also named the 2006 Gatorade State Player of the Year, and the California DII Player of the Year three times and the Cal-Hi State Female Athlete of the Year as a senior.

ASU

2006 record (Pac-10): 25-7 (14-4)
Conference Finish: Second
Head Coach: Charli Turner Thorne, 11th season

Key Losses: Kristen Kovesdy (F) Averaged 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game

Key Additions: Kayli Murphy (F/C) 2006 McDonald’s High School All-American and two-time team MVP. Tied school records for most points in a season (770 in 2003-04), most points in a game (41) and most assists in a game (10). Also finished second in career points (2,189); tied for third in career assists (346) and fourth in career steals (350).

USC

2006 record (Pac-10): 19-12 (11-7)
Conference Finish: Fifth
Head Coach: Mark Trakh, 5th season

Key Losses: Meghan Gnekow (G) Averaged 7.7 points and 6 rebounds per game

Key Additions: Morghan Medlock (G/F) Averaged 22 points, 15.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in her senior season

California

2006 record (Pac-10): 18-12 (10-8)
Conference Finish: Sixth
Head Coach: Joanne Boyle, 2nd season

Key Losses: Jene Morris (G) Averaged 8.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game

Key Additions: Rama N’diaye (F/C) A professional player from Senegal, who played in Japan. Averaged 20 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and seven blocks per game as a senior

Washington

2006 record (Pac-10): 19-11 (11-7)
Conference Finish: Fourth
Head Coach: June Daugherty, 11th season

Key Losses: Kristen O’Neill (G) Averaged 8.3 points, and 3.8 rebounds per game

Key Additions: Sara Mosiman (G) 2005-06 Seattle Times Female High School Athlete of the Year. Led her team to back-to-back 2A state titles and was the state tournament MVP in 2005 and 2006. Averaged 18.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.6 steals in her senior season.

Arizona

2006 record (Pac-10): 8-22 (3-15)
Conference Finish: Ninth
Head Coach: Joan Bonvicini, 17th season

Key Losses: Natalie Jones (G) averaged 14.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game

Key Additions: Suzy Bofia (C) averaged 12.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Set school records for rebounds in a season (328) at Illinois Central College and led the squad to a NJCAA Division II national championship.

UCLA

2006 record (Pac-10): 21-11 (12-6)
Conference Finish: Third
Head Coach: Kathy Olivier, 14th season

Key Losses: Lisa Willis (G) Averaged 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game

Key Additions: Erica Latimer (F/G) Averaged 17.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.5 steals, 4.0 assists and 2.5 blocks per game in high school.

Oregon State

2006 record (Pac-10): 16-15 (7-11)
Conference Finish: Seventh
Head Coach: LaVonda Wagner, 2nd season

Key Losses: Kim Butler, Mandy Close, Anita Rivera, Tiffany Ducker. The quartet started all 31 games for the Beavers last season. Butler, Close and Rivera averaged 18.6, 13.3 and 11.9 points per game, respectively.

Key Additions: Julie Futch (G) averaged 18.0 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 4.6 steals in her senior season.

Oregon

2006 record (Pac-10): 14-15 (5-13)
Conference Finish: Eighth
Head Coach: Bev Smith, 6th year

Key Losses: Gabrielle Richards (C) Averaged 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds

Key Additions: Taylor Lilley (G) The (Los Angeles) Times’ girls basketball Player of the Year averaged 18.8 points, 2.7 assists and 3.2 steals as a senior