2008-09 Women's Basketball Season Preview
Pacific
has grown.
In her first year at the helm, Head Coach Sharon Rissmiller had to make the most of what was arguably one of the shortest lineups in all of NCAA Division III women's basketball. With only two players over 5-foot-7, the Boxers struggled to find success in the win/loss column.
Despite that, Rissmiller calls her first season with the Boxers a success. "We competed every game and there was never a question as to whether they would play hard," Rissmiller said. "I feel like the foundation was set and laid last year and now we can build with each season making improvements."
And like a shrewd contractor, Rissmiller has found a great deal of height to build upon the foundation of guards Christine Kim (Sr., Federal Way, Wash.), Kalei Frank (Sr., Federal Way, Wash.) and Mallory Goldammer (Jr., Tigard, Ore.). She recruited eight post players to join the Pacific program. This year, 10 of the Boxers' 15 players are over 5-foot-7.
While Pacific will have the new kids on the blocks, Rissmiller is confident that she has found game ready players, particularly in the arrivals of Erica Schultz (Fr., Medford, Ore.), Brittany Anderson (Fr., Missoula, Mont.) and Julianne Erbe (Fr., Canby, Ore.).
"Where we finish in league play is going depend on if we can stay healthy, how our freshmen adjust to this level of play and how freshmen in the other conference programs adjust this level of play," Rissmiller said. "A majority of the teams in our conference have more youth this season and it is going to be exciting to see where teams finish."
If the new players can adjust well to the pace of the collegiate game, Rissmiller believes that Pacific is capable of more growth than the eighth place finish that has been projected by conference coaches.
"Realistically, I think we could finish anywhere from fourth to seventh," Rissmiller said. "It's really going to depend on if we stay healthy, how our freshmen adjust to this level of play and on how freshmen in other conference programs adjust to this level of play."
GUARDS
The foundation of the Pacific program lies in a corps of four guards who
return with significant experience. Frank will lead the Boxers much of
the time at point guard after making the transition from junior college
basketball to the Division III game. Frank used her knowledge of Rissmiller's
system at Tacoma Community College to lead the Boxers, and averaged over
seven points per game. She also finished as one of the team's top rebounders,
pulling down nearly six boards a contest.
Both Rissmiller and Frank have high expectations for the senior season. "We expect a lot from her as a player, a point guard and a captain," Rissmiller said. "She has been dedicated to doing whatever it takes to make this team successful as well as turn this program around like she helped me do at Tacoma."
Goldammer,
a third-year starter for the Boxers, will split her time between the point
guard and shooting guard, providing some valuable versatility. Goldammer
finished the year as the Boxers' second leading scorer, averaging 10.9
points per game. She was capable of some outstanding offensive efforts,
including a 36-point performance last year against Puget Sound.
Goldammer will have to be a strong presence at both positions. "At point guard, her style and Kalei's style is a bit different, which is good because it will force teams to make an adjustment," Rissmiller said. "That will be and added strength that we weren't able to utilize last year because of a lack of depth."
The presence of more height should allow Kim to flourish even more in her role at shooting guard. Kim was a bit limited in her opportunities in the small lineup, averaging 8.3 points per game while offenses keyed on her outside abilities. "We are working on making sure she has better opportunities to get her shot off," Rissmiller said. "She is a lot more aggressive and having a post presence will give her the ability to shoot the three more."
Kayla Akers (Jr., Richland, Wash.) is ready to step up after seeing spot time off the bench as a sophomore. Akers averaged 10 minutes per game, but Rissmiller expects her to have an enhanced role. "She is a very smart basketball player that truly understands the game," Rissmiller said. "She does a great job of taking advantage of what the defense gives her."
Of the newcomers, Rissmiller expects to see immediate contributions from Rochelle Reeves (Jr., Gresham, Ore.). A junior transfer from Clackamas Community College, Reeves averaged 15 points per game and earned first team all-league honors twice while leading the Cougars to the 2006 NWAACC Southern Division championship. Reeves also earned all-state honors as a prep player.
"Rochelle does a great job of running the floor," Rissmiller said. "She also finishes well and she's very aggressive. We're looking for her to make an immediate impact."
Tianna Homad (Fr., Seattle, Wash.) and Kandice McArthur (Fr., Post Falls, Idaho) round out the depth at guard. Homad joins the team after playing soccer for the Boxers and was her conference's most valuable player as a senior in high school. McArthur was a dependable high school guard that averaged eight points and four steals per game as a senior.
FORWARDS
While a young group, the Boxers' forwards have already made an impression
on the team before their first game. The presence of the height the group
brings has dramatically changed how the team practices and will prepare
for games. "Due to the added height and depth on our team this year, we
are practicing each day against the type of competition we will be facing,"
Rissmiller said.
Schultz is expected to provide an immediate impact for the Boxers after a standout prep career. A four-year first-team all-conference selection at North Medford High School, Schultz was the 2008 Southwest Conference Player of the Year, a Second Team All-State pick and a nominee for McDonald's Prep All-American after averaging 15 points per game as a senior. She left the school as the Black Tornado's all-time scoring leader.
"Erica is a fundamentally sound player," Rissmiller said. "She is a solid offensive threat, both inside and out, and there isn't a lot that she can't do. Gaining experience this year is going to be great for her and the future of our program."
Anderson brings to Pacific a keen eye for the floor as a solid passing forward. She averaged 12.4 points per game as part of a powerhouse program at Montana's Loyola Sacred Heart High School. Her team won the Montana state title her sophomore year and finished fifth her senior season.
Rissmiller sees Anderson adding the vision of a point guard down low, creating even more scoring opportunities for the Pacific guards. "She sees the floor well and makes her teammates look good on the court," Rissmiller said. "She does a great job of posting up and either finishing or passing it out to her teammates."
Erbe, meanwhile, also excelled on the blocks as a prep player. She used strength and work ethic to score over 16 points per game as a senior, was named the Pacific Conference's Player of the Year and was selected for all-state honors. Like Schulz and Anderson, Erbe is expected to provide an immediate impact.
"She is aggressive and relentless both offensively and defensively," Rissmiller said. "She is a great rebounder and a physical presence defensively. She is going to add a lot to our program."
Brandi Palmer (Fr., Sisters, Ore.) and Leah Gustafson (Fr., Gresham, Ore.) add even more depth on the blocks. Palmer helped lead the Outlaws to a state playoff berth last year, while Gustafson excelled as an outside threat, shooting 48 percent from three point range.
At the post, the Boxers are now flush with plenty of players to clog the lane. Andrea Jones (Fr., Orland, Calif.) averaged nearly 11 points per game while leading her high school to two California sectional championship game appearances. Cristina Wilson (Fr., Astoria, Ore.) brings experience as both a wing and post player while Kayleen Mitchell (Jr., Nyssa, Ore.), the tallest player on the team at 6-foot-3, joins the program after playing four years of volleyball for the Boxers.