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2009-10 Women's Basketball Team

Women's Basketball

2009-10 Women's Basketball Preview: Back on Track

Back on Track
Picked to finish eighth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association for the 2008-09 season, last year's squad not only exceeded expectations but blew them out of the water, pulling a three-game sweep in the CCAA Championship Tournament to grab the program's second CCAA Tournament title and third overall conference title.

The vote of the CCAA's coaches in the preseason did little to hold back head coach Van Girard and his squad; in fact it only motivated them. “We have no targets on our back,” he said at the beginning of the season.  “Now we have a target to go for and the team needs to understand how hard we need to work to get there.”

Starting with three-straight non-conference wins, the Toros entered the first week of conference play against Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino only to be handed two losses.

Rebounding in the new year, CSUDH rallied with a four-game win streak to quell all preseason doubts.  A final six-game push, resulting in five straight wins, secured not only a spot in the CCAA tournament, but hosting rights in the first round as well.

The Toros proved worthy of their seeding, taking a close 62-59 win over San Francisco State at home after two freebies by Brittney Blankenship sealed the first round win.  The real test came in game two against perennial power Chico State, who proved to have no answer to 1st-team All-CCAA selection Neka Mixon, who finished with 13 points in the Toros' 74-61 win.

Continuing their stellar play, the Toros next faced Humboldt State for the CCAA title after dropping both of their regular season games to the 'Jacks.  CSUDH replaced the bitter taste in their collective mouths with sweet success after rallying from a 33-30 first-half deficit to hold down HSU and grab the tournament title in a 74-69 win after Aujanee Baldwin clinched the win with a lay-in as time wound down.

After only a one-year hiatus from participating in the NCAA West Region tournament, CSUDH saw its season come to an end as UC San Diego snuffed the Toros' hope of advancement in a 66-65 buzzer-beating loss.

The 21-10 overall record marked a near milestone for coach Girard as it was the team's best finish in 13 years and just one win away from the most in a single season.
Picked to finish fourth going into the 2009-10 season, the Toros will start CCAA play hosting Cal State L.A. after grabbing two wins from the Golden Eagles last year.

The Toros continue conference play against Sonoma State and Humboldt State, looking to duplicate last year's sweep over the Seawolves while hoping to take down the Lumberjacks from the start before entering the rest of CCAA play in 2010.

Garnering a No. 4 ranking in the CCAA preseason coaches poll gives coach Girard and his team a point of pride to follow throughout the season. “I do think that we are one of the top four teams in the conference and we have a good chance to get into the tournament,” he says with confidence.

“Last year's ranking meant more to the players than to me.  In this conference, it is where you finish, not where you are picked to finish.”

Protecting their home court proved to be the biggest accomplishment in 2008-09, with eight wins and four losses the Toros held a total +92 point margin in the12 games, with three of the four losses decided by less than 10 points.  A true testament to home court advantage, the Toros averaged a 15-point margin in the eight wins, capped with a 72-35 blowout of Cal State L.A.
The Returners
Even after losing five seniors last year, Girard remains undaunted by the season that lies ahead as he looks at who is in fact returning to the hardwood.

“We are returning four of our top eight players from last season,” he says of his 2009-10 squad.  “They know what it is all about.”

Back in action is four-year senior Whitney Gantt, seniors Barbara Houston & Kayla Montalvo, and sophomore MacKenzie Mathias.

After a stellar freshman season, Gantt has continually improved in the guard position under the tutelage of Girard, looking to earn her keep in the starting line-up in her final season in Carson.  Gantt shot just under 40% from the floor (45-of-113) while going 13-of-31 beyond the arc, fifth on the team.  Gantt also saw action in all 31 games last year with four starts, a number Girard hopes she will improve.

“Whitney is going to have to carry a bigger load from last year,” he says.  “She is capable of it since her mentality is more of a team leader.”

Proving her worth after only one year, Mathias will be looked upon to lead as a shooting guard, a spot she filled nicely in the 2008-09 season after grabbing 24 starts in 31 games played.  Mathias was dominant in three-point shooting, going 37-of-105 to lead the Toros, and place her 10th in the CCAA.  Mathias was joined at the top in long-range shooting by fellow freshman Montalvo, giving coach Girard plenty of returning skill beyond the arc.

“Mac is a little bit of a gunslinger,” states Girard. “There is not a shot she is afraid to take and she is a very good shooter.”

Another senior, Houston will return in her final season to start in the power forward position, anchoring her team's defense after grabbing 167 boards in her junior year, a vast improvement over 33 rebounds in her first year in Cardinal & Gold.  Houston also put her 6'0'' frame to good use, tallying 16 blocks, good for second on the team.

“Barbara is going to play huge for us, and she needs to,” Girard says optimistically.  “Her post position needs to give us double points and double rebounds.  We think Barbara is going to really emerge this year.”

Not wasting her 67 offensive rebounds last year, Houston shot 47.1% from the floor, draining 56-of-119 attempts from the field.

Making only one start but seeing action in all 31 games last year, Montalvo hit the floor as the team's go-to 'sixth man,' creating opportunities and following through with 139 points and 25 steals.

“Kayla will have to play a bigger role this year than she ever has before,” says Girard.  “She is the man on the perimeter and in the past has been more of a sparkplug off the bench when we needed scoring.”
New to the Game
With four strong additions in Brandie McCann, Aundria Anderson, Leniece Arevalo and Jessica Cannon, Girard will rely on the depth of his team to carry to success.

“This year's team has a good mix to them.  We are as deep, if not deeper off the bench than we have been in the past few years, and it is this year's true strength.”

Girard will use the versatility of his newcomers on an as-needed basis, placing Anderson at post for her rebounding acumen while utilizing Arevalo's skill in a shooting guard spot.  Cannon will combine the skill of both positions to add to the team's jump shot while boosting the defense while McCann, who made an impact in the pre-season, will contend for time at the point after a successful junior college stint.

With the point guard position a question mark in Girard's mind entering the season, he will look to a true freshman in Kala Amico to guide the team.

“Kala is a really tough-minded player, but she is a different kind of point than we've had in the past,” says Girard. “She is more of a set-up passer than a scorer, so she will have to mature into the position.”
Closing Thoughts
Content with the team's defensive improvement in the 2008-09 season – the Toros bested their opponents in steals, blocks and rebounds – Girard now sees the offense as the team's true test in the upcoming season.

Constantly fielding teams that are guard-oriented, this year's team is no exception, with 17 players able to fill the role.  In stark contrast to years past, this year's offense will be more about creating opportunities than being creative on the floor.

“We don't really have offensive creators so we really need to be precise in the offensive execution,” says Girard.  “If we do that, we will be good.”

Returning to his coaching roots, Girard is still unsure what his team will be known for this year, but knows how they need to play to get wins.

“I don't know if we are going to score 80 points a game,” he says.  “It would be nice to see but I don't mind playing 'ugly' basketball.  And by 'ugly' basketball, which is my brand, I mean low scoring, solid defense and making every open shot.”

Opening the 2009-10 season with a CCAA conference game, Girard and his team are ready to go, with the head coach believing he has found a perfect mix of players.

“I am looking forward to the wars,” closes Girard.  “Any given night any team in our conference from one through 12 is capable of winning.  As always, it will be interesting.”
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