2011-12 Women's Basketball Preview - Turning the Corner

The CSUDH women's basketball brain trust in head coach Van Girard (L) and assistant coach Brittney Blankenship

CARSON – Just two seasons removed from the program's third CCAA Championship, the Cal State Dominguez Hills women's basketball team is looking to return to the top with an experienced and talented roster to complement its talented and experienced coaching staff after suffering two subpar, un-Toro-like seasons.

Head coach Van Girard is three games into this 2011-12 season after the Toros participated in their first-ever Disney Classic. In the Classic, CSUDH posted a 1-2 record, with the victory giving Girard his 300th career win in the college ranks.

Now, with Thursday's contest at NAIA power Biola University looming and with the CCAA coaches picking the Toros to finish 9th in league play in a preseason poll, Girard and his coaching staff have a better idea of what they can expect from this year's squad, that'll be led by fifth-year seniors in Sherrie Hughes and Nikki Boutte', as well as an influx of newcomers who are expected to see an ample amount of playing time.

“I think we're very different this year for a number of reasons, including our strong recruiting class, our experienced returners, and those who sat out last year for various reasons,” begins Girard.

“We're more athletic, much quicker and very deep, and we have a commitment to working which will allow us to really apply pressure and push the ball up and down the floor.”

Here's a closer look at who will look to bring the Toros back to the league's upper echelon:

LESSONS LEARNED

Last season the Toros found themselves in the hunt for the CCAA postseason until the very last weekend of the regular season.

After beginning the season winless in its first 10 games, the new calendar year provided a breath of fresh air as CSUDH won two of its first three and three of five games with just one contest at home, with three wins limiting their opponents to the lowest point output totals of the season.

As CCAA play continued, arguably the best conference in the nation wreaked havoc on the Toros as CSUDH entered “Senior Day” just one loss away from being eliminated from the CCAA Tournament.

This dilemma inspired freshman Hillarie Perrin-Grant to take matters into her own hands as the Fairfield native kept hope alive by draining a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give CSUDH a heart-stopping 66-65 win over Cal State East Bay and send the Toro seniors out with a win.

A road loss to Humboldt State in their next game, however, ended the Toros playoff hopes and resulted in their finishing in a three-way tie for 10th in the CCAA, adding salt to the previous year's wound that resulted in 14 wins in two seasons.

“I'm hungry,” states Girard, as a matter-of-fact. “Especially the year before last year, that left a bitter taste in my mouth that I personally want to get rid of, and I think this team has the opportunity to do that.

“I think we're going to be somebody that people will have to contend with as the season progresses.”

THE RETURNERS

A pair of five-year seniors highlights a team of seven returners that will be counted on for both on- and off-the floor leadership.

The Chairwoman of the boards, Sherrie Hughes is an athletic and determined post player who set two career rebounding marks in her last two games of the Disney Classic after leading the team in rebounds and steals last year, that including pulling down at least 5 rebounds in 15 games.

At 5-10 competing night in and night out amongst the 6-footers of the CCAA, Hughes averaged 12 boards in the three games played in Anaheim, capped by 15- and 16-rebound efforts that helped the Toros post a 1-1 record over the final two days.

“Sherrie's going to be outsized in the post at times, but she's athletic and heady enough that she's going to present some problems,” Girard says, stating the obvious.

“It's her energy and her effort that's something we can't do without.”

Point / shooting guard Nikki Boutte' led the team in scoring, assists and 3-pointers made last season, boasting nine games in double-figure scoring including career-best 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from down town vs Humboldt State (Jan 22). She also distributed 7 assists against Cal State L.A. (Nov 23) as part of 10 games with at least 4 assists.

“Nikki presents us with a lot of options,” says Girard of his Carson native. “Aside from hitting the 3, the biggest thing for her this year is that she's going to be playing with better players so she can relax more. And when she relaxes more, i think she has an opportunity to be a significant player for us.”

A quartet of fellow seniors also will be looked upon to bring their best in their final season, as well as a sophomore who proved she has a flair for the dramatic.

Ashley Hudson saw 15 starts in 26 games last year, leading the team in blocks, finishing 2nd in rebounds and 3rd on the team in scoring, posting 2 double-doubles at Notre Dame de Namur (Nov 20) and at Grand Canyon (Nov 27), while Tiffany Smith boasted 9 games in double-figure scoring that included a career-best 18 points vs Chico State and CS East Bay.

Lancaster native Brittni Hulsizer 11 starts in 26 games and boasted the highest 3-point and free throw shooting percentages on the team (min 11 3s and 25 FTs made), with guard Meghan Duron returning after starting 6 games in 26 played and tallying 9 points at perennial power UC San Diego (Jan 15).

The lone returning sophomore, Hillarie Perrin-Grant enjoyed a solid freshman campaign with 13 starts in 24 games played en route to posting double-figure scoring totals in 6 games that included a season-best 17 coming against Chico State, with five 3s. The Fairfield native also showed her clutch persona after draining a 3-pointer as time expired to send last year's seniors out with a win on “Senior Day.”

NEWCOMERS

A total of nine new faces will don the Cardinal and Gold, with three familiar faces seeing action after utilizing redshirt seasons in 2010-11.

Siedah Wilson willl push for continued playing time at the point, with Porcha Davis being tabbed early as one of the team's best hawkers on defense. Long Beach State transfer Lyndsay Heard and true freshman Cwynnci Lobaugh, meanwhile, look to make impacts with her respective inside and outside games.

“Siedah gives us an element at the point that we haven't had in a big,” begins Girard. “She has good quicks and the ability to guard, but she has to get integrated into what we do.

“The other player who will have a significant impact will be Porcha Davis, who is without a doubt one of our best on-ball defenders,” he continues. “She has a pretty good deep shot and can also get to the rack whenever she wants to, but again, she's new and has to integrate into the system.”

A sophomore after averaging a little under 12 minutes per contest last year in which she averaged 2.3 points and 1.1 boards a game, Lyndsay Heard is expected to make life tough on opposing defenses throughout the season.

“We expect Lyndsay to be a major player for us,” Girard says. “I recruited her heavily out of high school so I know she's good. She's a legit 5-10, 5-11 who will present match-up issues.”

Two other newcomers in Cwynnci Lobaugh and Nicole Zugasti are expected to compete for playing time as Girard calls Lobaugh “probably our best shooter from the 3” and Zugati “probably the best young prospect we've had in the post position in a while.”

As for the familiar faces getting their chance to play this year, CS San Bernardino transfer Zipporah Brown is featured as someone who “will give us versatility with her rebounding and defensive presence.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Although faced with a plethora of newcomers, head coach Van Girard can't help but be optimistic in the talent he's seen in practice and in the first three games of the Disney Classic.

While not making any guarantees considering where the team ended up its past two seasons, he does have hope that brighter days are coming … possibly as soon as in February 2012.

“I like the team's chances of being in the mix for a seeding in the CCAA Tournament,” he says confidently. “That's really what my goal is at this point and time, and anything that occurs after that is gravy.

“I think we're capable of getting to the NCAAs, but the key is getting a good seed in the CCAA tournament, and then getting hot in the tournament.

Getting back to the immediate, however, Girard's game face again surfaces while mentioning that this team is a work in progress, and that progress will take time.

“A lot of the development will be in applying what we do in practice to games, and there are certain things that have to happen for us to get to that spot,” he begins.

“We have to stay healthy, connect the dots a little quicker, and get some breaks, which good teams create for themselves.

“But this is a team that's going to get better,” Girard continues.

“When I look at our guard play and versatility as being real strengths for us this year, I also think of our being a solid defensive team as something that stands out. When our defense is set, we are not an easy team to score against.”

Anticipating Thursday's match-up at Biola that will test CSUDH's zone offense against one of the NAIA's best, Girard can't help but look into the future of what this current team will become.

“The bulk of the key players are young and will be back, and if we are able to add pieces to the puzzle like I think we will, we're going to be a really nice program down the road.”

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2011-12 Women's Basketball Preview - Turning the Corner