Lamb Will Transfer To Fullerton

Tricia Lamb, who has been without a basketball team since quitting the Washington State Cougars in January, has made an oral commitment to Cal State Fullerton, the former St. John-Endicott star said Saturday.

Lamb will be reunited with former Cougars assistant coach Barbara Ehardt, who was named head coach at UC Fullerton after the 1999-2000 season. The Titans were the worst team in the Big West Conference last year, finishing 2-25 overall, 1-14 in the West Division.

Ehardt coached WSU’s guards during Lamb’s freshman and sophomore years then was replaced when Harold Rhodes was fired in March 1999. Lamb, a shooting guard, averaged 16.4 points per game her sophomore year and was named All-Pacific-10 Conference after starting in all 27 games. Her production tailed off her junior year under first-year coach Jenny Przekwas. Lamb quit the team before the conference season began.

“That’s pretty much how I made my decision, since I played for Coach E. before,” Lamb said. “You need a coach you can get along with.”

Lamb, living in Kennewick this summer, will have to redshirt next season. She has one year of eligibility left.

Jackson picks Gonzaga

Rikki Jackson, who left the University of Idaho program at the end of her sophomore season, said she is transferring to Gonzaga.

Jackson will fill one of four scholarships available to first-year coach Kelly Graves. The Central Valley High graduate will have to redshirt next season. She has two years of eligibility left.

“Idaho wasn’t the place for me,” said Jackson, a starting guard there for two seasons. “I wanted to be back home. Kelly recruited me out of high school, but I didn’t want to go to California. Now I’m playing where I want to play and who I wanted to play for.”

Graves took over at GU in April after three seasons at Saint Mary’s in Moraga, Calif., where he compiled a 66-26 record.

The 37-year-old coach said he’s picking his old team to finish first in the West Coast Conference. As for his new team, well, let’s just say that Graves expects the coaches will predict the Zags to finish in their usual spot, at or near the bottom.

“But that’s what makes the job so much fun,” Graves, who moved his family from California last week, said with a smile.

Gonzaga was 9-19 overall last season, and 2-12 for last place in the WCC. The team lost five seniors and could be down a sixth player, depending on the health of Holly Bruno, the team’s second-leading scorer with 10.8 points per game last winter. She suffered a season-ending ankle injury in February.

“We don’t know yet (if she’ll be back). Her fate is in the hands of the doctors.” Graves said. “I think she would like to come back, if healthy.”

Graves said he’s still looking to fill three scholarships. He confirmed he’s looking at Division I transfers but did not name names.

Aside from Jackson, it appears Graves would love to land Chassie and Cherrith Wiersma, the twin sisters who quit Oregon State after their sophomore seasons.

The Wiersmas were in Spokane within the last month. However, Gonzaga is one of many schools courting Chassie, a 5-foot-11 guard, and Cherrith, a 5-9 guard. According to their father, Bart, the twins, who want to play on the same team, have not made a decision.

One player who will not be attending GU this fall is Mead’s top player, Courtney Ferguson. The 5-5 guard signed early at Saint Mary’s and was not granted the release she asked for when Graves took the job in Spokane.

Ferguson will play under Michelle Sasaki, who had been the top assistant under Graves. Assistant Travis King, who played college basketball at Eastern Washington, was promoted to No. 1 assistant.

Sasaki, previously a WSU and Gonzaga assistant, inherits a team that finished 20-10. Aside from Ferguson, the incoming freshman class includes 6-2 forward Triola Alexander, one of the top players in California. She, too, looked into transferring to GU, but Saint Mary’s wouldn’t budge.

No mas for Nieman

Alli Nieman, who once considered returning to the University of Idaho volleyball team, has decided to finish college with a sports-free semester. The Sandpoint star, who played four years of college basketball and one of volleyball, will be back in Moscow this fall to complete her education.

The 6-1 All-District VIII player had offers to play basketball overseas but had no desire to follow up.