No Preseason Cupcakes Allowed
This week marks the beginning of conference play for most of the women’s basketball teams in the area.
While some coaches litter their non-conference schedules with cupcake opponents to get easy victories, that certainly isn’t the case with the teams around here.
Eastern Washington, Gonzaga, Idaho and NAIA Division II Whitworth went a combined 9-35 in non-conference play.
Washington State (9-3, 1-1 Pac-10) was the only local women’s team with a winning record in the preseason. The Community Colleges of Spokane (6-8, 0-2 NWAACC) had a .500 record in non-conference play.
Gonzaga coach Kellee Barney is hoping her Bulldogs can return some of the pounding to their West Coast Conference opponents that was served to GU in its first 12 games.
“We’ve played some pretty tough teams,” Barney said. “We’re ready for conference play because it’s a clean slate and everybody is 0-0.”
The records of Gonzaga (2-10), EWU (2-9), Idaho (3-8) and Whitworth (2-8) certainly don’t look pretty on paper. But in the long run, tough non-conference opponents often prepare teams for the rigors of conference play.
Idaho, for instance, is coming off a road trip in which it lost to Kansas State, Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine, while beating Wichita State.
“I think we got some good experience (from our schedule),” Idaho coach Julie Holt said. “We gained close-game experience, and I don’t think we have had that in the past.
“Of 11 games, nine have been close right up until the end. Now we’ve got to take what we’ve learned and apply it to conference play.”
This week’s schedule
Washington State: Tonight at 7, the Cougars host Oregon (0-1, 8-3) before hosting No. 11 Oregon State (1-0, 9-1) on Saturday at 1 p.m. Both games are at Friel Court.
WSU coach Harold Rhodes said his team will have to play first-rate defense tonight against the Ducks.
As for Oregon State, Rhodes thinks the Beavers could be ranked in the top five had they played more East Coast teams in the non-conference.
“There’s a lot of talent there. They are a very veteran team and the deepest in the Pac-10.”
Washington State must find a way to contain Oregon State’s 6-foot-2 senior center Tanja Kostic, who is averaging 25.6 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Kostic was last year’s Pac-10 player of the year.
Eastern Washington: Eagles coach Heidi VanDerveer isn’t pushing the panic button. At least not yet.
“I hope we’re ready (for league play). We have gotten better, we just need to start being successful,” she said.
Oddly enough, VanDerveer said her team has been playing harder in practice than it has in games.
The Eagles open conference play Fri day night at 7 against Boise State (3-9) before taking on Idaho State (6-6) at 7 on Saturday. Both are at Reese Court.
Gonzaga: Senior center Amy Jo Silva’s GU career ended when she injured her right knee in an 86-82 road loss to Boise State on New Year’s Eve. This week, Silva’s backup, freshman Tenille Jeffries, will undergo shoulder surgery and will be lost for the rest of the year.
The losses have forced Barney to move sophomore Regan McCliment (Central Valley) to the center position.
“All year we’ve been pretty much dealing with a small lineup, so it’s not something new,” Barney said. “Still, it hurts not having A.J. in the middle.”
The Bulldogs open WCC play tonight at 7 at the Martin Centre against Santa Clara (6-6). GU returns to the Kennel Saturday night at 7 to face Saint Mary’s (10-2).
Idaho: Memorial Gym received a facelift for the holidays, so the Vandals are ready to christen the new floor with a win.
Idaho hosts Idaho St. on Friday at 7 p.m. and hosts Boise State Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Holt is optimistic about the weekend.
“Everybody is contributing for us in some way or another,” she said. “Right now, we still have to make one better decision, hit one more free throw, make one more steal - do that extra intangible at the end of the game that can turn a close one in our favor.”
Whitworth: The Pirates are hoping to keep the momentum going after an overtime upset win over Seattle Pacific University on Monday.
They’ll need it Friday as they take on No. 9 Willamette (5-3) at the Whitworth Fieldhouse at 6 p.m. The Pirates host Linfield (5-4) Saturday at 6 p.m.
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