2012-13 Women's Basketball Preview: Being the Change

These eight freshmen look to be the present and future of the women's basketball program

CARSON -- “Be The Change.”

That's the mantra for the 2012-13 Cal State Dominguez Hills women's basketball team, whose season is filled with a newness unlike any other.

Beginning with new head coach Molly Goodenbour who was hired in early June, this year's team returns just one player from last season in senior Siedah Wilson, with eight freshmen and five transfers looking to achieve the expectations Goodenbour and her staff have set from day one.

“We have very high expectations despite the fact there are so many young players,” Goodenbour begins. “That's one of the things we wanted to make sure we did was set a tone, and change the culture of the program in how we perform everyday, how we treat each other and how we handle ourselves on and off the court.

“If you want to change how the program is, and the perceptions from the outside and change the results from the inside, then you have to be the ones to perpetuate that change, and initiate that change.”

Having set that tone early, Goodenbour doesn't necessarily equate those goals in wins and losses, but knows that moderate success would lift the program exponentially from where it's been the past few years.

“We have some team goals, and one is to have a winning record,” Goodenbour explains. “If we can finish above .500, which is realistic, it would be a significant accomplishment.

“We also like to finish in the top 8 to make the CCAA tournament, and once you get into the playoffs, everything starts over. So if we could get to the tournament and play a game or two there, that would be a significant turnaround for us.”

Having both a plethora of newcomers as well as a new head coach with a new system, saying the CSUDH women's basketball program has a clean slate would be a huge understatement.

“This team's very young and everything's brand new for them, but they work really hard and they're very competitive overall,” says Goodenbour, as a matter-of-fact. “They're willing to learn, they listen, they're coachable and I've really enjoyed the time that we've spent together so far.

“They're a group that's excited about being college basketball players. They have no basis for comparison at this pint so this has been kind of the only way it's been for them so in a way that's good.

“I can really bring them along at a pace and at a tempo and with a structure we feel is best for them and help them develop.

They've been great.”

Here's a look at the who will help the program make a significant turnaround.

THE RETURNER(s)

Senior Siedah Wilson is the lone returning player from last year, and will be looked upon to provide leadership as the de facto veteran.

Wilson made an immediate impact in her first year in Cardinal and Gold, starting 14 of 18 games played on the year. She led the team in 3-PT FG% and enjoyed a pair of games in double-figure scoring, including a season-high 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting against perennial power UC San Diego (Dec 2).

The Palmdale native also pulled down at least 3 boards against both St. Martin's (Nov 6) and at CSULA (Dec 11), leading the team in points 3 times, in assists 7 times and in steals 4 times.

“We haven't selected captains yet, but Siedah could be our team leader,” Goodenbour begins. “She has all the qualities you look for in terms of being a hard worker who leads by example and vocally as someone who understands what's going on.”

Junior Robynn Cochran also makes her return to the program after a two-year hiatus. As a freshman in 2009-10, the Garden Grove native saw action in 14 games as a freshman, making first start vs Colorado School of Mines (Nov 28). Cochran made her lone field goal of year vs Cal State L.A. (Nov 18) and drained all 4 attempts from free throw line for the year, before a stint at Cypress College.

THE NEWCOMERS

Three players have stood out thus far on a team that doesn't guarantee any starting spots or playing time, with freshmen Julia Poecksteiner and Monay Lee, along with junior Jamie Robinson leading the charge.

Perhaps the most experienced freshman on the squad is Austrian Julia Poecksteiner, who led Parhamerplatz HS to two Austrian School Titles, as well as one Austrian Championship Title. The Vienna native also participated with the U16, U18 and U20 Austrian National teams at the European Championships, as well as the 3-on-3 World Championships in 2011.

“I've been really pleased with Julia,” says Goodenbour. “She's probably our most experienced freshman player because of her international experience in playing in a club program since she was grade school age so she's probably had more experience playing since the international level is set up a little differently.

True freshman Monay Lee, meanwhile, earned four letters en route to leading Edison High School to the 2011 CIF Title, with junior Jamie Robinson begins her first campaign in Cardinal and Gold after earning four letters at Cabrillo HS and leading ELAC to the Elite Eight after being selected 1st-team all-league and 3rd-team all-state.

“Monay has done a really nice job and has been a good surprise,” begins Goodenbour. “She's real strong and can play multiple positions for us and I think she'll see a lot of time on the court.”

Robinson, meanwhile, has “some experience and it really shows as she's head and shoulders above some other kids in terms of physicality and understanding how to play at a college level.

“Those three have probably been the most consistent in terms of what they've provided and I think that if they aren't all-league, they're certainly going to be very consistent performers for us.”

Other newcomers looking to have an impact will be a quartet of freshmen.

“Joi Bertrand has a chance to be a nice player and I think she'll contribute,” Goodenbour begins, while “Kielyn Wilson has great athleticism and is a nice defender and she'll be in the mix.

“We're trying to figure out the point guard position as both Breanne Garcia and Denisha Lundy are going to fight that out a little bit, but the pieces are there. We just have to figure out how they're all going to fit together.”

YOUTH BEING SERVED

“We've been working on a lot of fundamental things and have been moving at a pretty pedestrian pace,” says Goodenbour about the first few practices. “So it'll be interesting to see these first couple exhibitions where we fit in versus similar level of competition, which is kind of where we're at.”

With just two seniors on this year's squad, youth will be the biggest challenge Goodenbour faces as the freshmen crop will experience intercollegiate competition for the first time in their careers.

And with powerhouses such as UC San Diego, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Monterey Bay and cross-town rival Cal State L.A. on the schedule for at least two match-ups per year, the young Toros will get an up-close-and-personal look at what it means to compete at the highest level day in and day out.

“A concern is youth,” Goodenbour says as a matter-of-fact. “We have the potential of playing 5, 6 or 7 freshmen in our rotation, and this will be their first year in college for many of them, and their first college games.

“So certainly the physicality, strength of older players is a concern for me when we face opponents with more veteran teams, and just the understanding of the pace of the game, understanding some of the basketball concepts.”

But with youth now comes reward down the line, and Goodenbour understands both the up and downsides of it.

“They'll be much better a year from now, and they'll be great two years from now,” she says. “But are we quite ready to compete at the collegiate level today? No, not yet.

“What I like best about them is their competitiveness and their resilience,” Goodenbour continues. “We have a little trouble with focus and maintaining focus for long periods of time, but that comes with maturity.

“But I do like that they want to win and they take that seriously, they listen, they try to make corrections and they've handled everything we've thrown at them, which hasn't been easy.

“We've put them through some very challenging pre-season workouts and lengthy practices to this point, and I like the way they've responded and I think they're going to be a team that continues to develop and get better.”

THE RETURN TO THE CCAA

Having coached at Chico State and being named CCAA Coach of the Year as a Wildcat, Goodenbour's return to the CCAA is her own homecoming of sorts. And again charged with leading a struggling program back to national prominence in arguably one of the toughest leagues in the nation, the experienced and proven Goodenbour welcomes the challenge.

“I'm enjoying it so far,” she begins. “I feel like I have a pretty good sense of what the league is like and what to expect, and I'm really happy to be here and thankful for the opportunity.”

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Known for her stoic and business like demeanor, there's a fun side to coach Goodenbour that most won't have the privilege of seeing during game day, one that officially starts on Sunday at Division I San Diego State. However, rest assured, that smile is there, just hidden somewhere beneath her game face.

“I'm having a lot of fun and I really enjoy this group of players,” she says. “They're trying as hard as they can and they're doing everything we're asking them to do. They compete, they like each other and it's fun to go in the gym and be with them every day. “

And about that smile?

“You know, I smile every day at practice,” Goodenbour says, not surprisingly, without a smile. “It's the best 2 hours of my day. I am having fun, I just don't always express it.”

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2012-13 Women's Basketball Preview: Being the Change