Women's Basketball 11/12/2014 4:31:00 PM

2014-15 Women's Basketball Preview: Time Will Tell

CARSON -- Cal State Dominguez Hills women's basketball head coach Molly Goodenbour knows how to win. Now in her third year, she inherited a program that posted a 7-48 record in the two seasons prior to her arrival, and all Goodenbour has done was win more games in her first season than those previous two combined, and complete a remarkable turnaround that saw the program win the CCAA Tournament Championship last season en route to a 20-10 overall record, only the fourth time in its history the program has won at least 20 games.

This year, the Toro community is rife with high hopes and greater expectations as CSUDH returns nearly its entire roster and was picked to finish 2nd in the CCAA this season following a preseason vote of league coaches yesterday, giving Goodenbour the knowledge that this team has as good a chance as any to be the first in program history to earn an NCAA West Region Championship, and one that could set the program record for most wins in a season (1994-95: 22 wins).

"I'm excited about each new season and am looking forward to this season especially because of the people we have on our team," Goodenbour begins. "We have forged strong relationships and bonds over the past few years and created a really positive atmosphere and culture.

"I enjoy being with them and I think, for the most part, they enjoy being challenged in new ways each day. We have a nice core and I look forward to watching their growth and seeing what they are actually capable of as a group this year.

"It's a fun environment," she says, with a smile.

THE CORE

Monay Lee, Tayler Champion, Talia Rayford and Breanne Garcia comprise the fantastic core four who will look to continue making this year and program a fun environment.

"It is such a luxury to have so many returning players" begins Goodenbour, still smiling. "This is a group that has helped shape the culture and values of our program; they have taken ownership and I trust and rely on them to guide the team this season."

7078 — The Toros return nearly their entire roster this year, looking to make this CCAA banner the first of many this year

Monay Lee established herself as one of the league's premiere players as a sophomore, earning 2nd-team Daktronics All-Region and 1st-team All-CCAA before earning MVP honors in the CCAA Tournament. She scored in double figures in 23 game with at least 20 points four times, eclipsing the 30-point plateau twice en route to a career-high 34 point outburst against CSUMB while making 28 starts in 30 games played.

The Huntington Beach native also finished 4th in the league in free throws made, 5th in field goals made and 7th in points per game.

A threat from anywhere on the court, Tayler Champion earned 2nd-team All-CCAA honors after making 27 starts in 30 games played as a shooting guard/small forward/power forward/center combo who gave opponents fits with her size, quickness and deft touch from long range.

A legitimate 5-11, she posted 21 double-figure games including five with at least 20 points and a season-high 27 coming against perennial power Chico State, pulling down at least 10 boards in 7 games, including 16 against AAU.

Despite seeing most of her action off the bench, Talia Rayford is as valuable as they come, as evidenced by tallying 19 points off the bench in the 88-86 exhibition loss at Division I Loyola Marymount in early November.

The Inglewood native finished 5th in the CCAA in 3PT% and 7th in boards, boasting five double-doubles with eight games of 10 or more boards. In fact, she pulled down 13 rebounds twice last year while scoring at least 10 points in 14 games, including a season-high 27 against cross-town rival Cal State L.A. in the season opener for both teams.

Breanne Garcia, meanwhile, continued her role as a slashing facilitator whose main goal is to drive, either through the lane or defenses crazy, usually accomplishing the latter by doing the former with impunity.

An All-CCAA Tournament Team selection, the fearless 5-2 point finished 3rd in the CCAA in steals and 4th in free throw percentage and assists after starting 26 of 30 games played. Her toughness was never more evident than in the CCAA Title game against Cal Poly Pomona when she was taken down on a flagrant foul, bounced up and dusted her shoulders off before calmly draining both free throws en route to the CCAA Title.

Not afraid to put up and pull down the rock, Garcia posted 12 games with double-figure scoring and grabbed at least four boards in 7 games.

"Our job as coaches becomes really enjoyable when we can count on players to give their best each day, and that is what this group does," Goodenbour says. "They have matured and grown each year—playing in the CCAA Tourney and NCAA Tourney has sharpened their focus by opening their eyes to possibilities that in prior seasons seemed distant or vague.

"We hope to be a team that continues to improve over the course of the season so that we are playing strong, healthy and confident basketball in February and March."

PIECES TO THE POSTSEASON

"Our goals this year include winning the CCAA regular season and repeating as CCAA Tournament Champions, but we know the league is extremely competitive and the Friday-Saturday format of games makes depth and staying healthy a priority."

Luckily for this year's squad, depth is one of its biggest assets as three seniors and juniors also make their return this year, providing both talent and that all-important depth.

Shomari McCorkle provided unbridled energy in her 27 starts and 30 games played, finishing 3rd on the team in blocks and 4th in steals and rebounds per game, including a career-high 13 boards against Chico State in the CCAA Tournament.

Ashanti Sweezer and Kerah Natividad combined for 37 games off the bench last year, with Sweezer nailing 47.2% of her shots from the floor and 80.0% from the foul line, tallying season-high marks for both points and boards against CS East Bay. Natividad, meanwhile, scored eight points and pulled down 12 boards in limited action.

"There seems to be more of a sense of urgency as we have a number of players who will be competing in their last season of collegiate basketball, and I don't really have to spend a lot of time motivating this group," Goodenbour says of her seasoned veterans.

"They are mature enough to understand that the process is just as important as the end result, and the fact that so many of them are seniors and juniors has a lot to do with this understanding that time is running out on their individual basketball careers," she continues.

A trio of juniors also makes their return this year, with each providing key minutes and contributions in last season's tournament run.

Kielyn Wilson proved to be one of the more athletic players on the team and in the league after 26 games off the bench. The two-sport Toro scored 10 points twice and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds against CS San Marcos to close November, also finishing 2nd on the team in blocked shots.

Jenee Gooden and Julia Poecksteiner also contributed while seeing action in 20 games each, with Gooden scoring a season-high 8 points against Dixie State and sharp-shooting Poecksteiner draining 10 points against Humboldt State.

"I don't know that the team feels pressure, but I believe they do have expectations of themselves and the program that are higher than they were at this time last year," Goodenbour surmises.

"I think there is a collective sense of making the most of the moment that we still have together, and because of this, for the most part they come prepared and give a great effort each day while holding themselves accountable."

THE NEW FACE(S)

Welcoming back 92% of the team that experienced winning a CCAA Championship first hand, Goodenbour brought in one "true" newcomer, with three players set to see action for the first time as Toros in intercollegiate competition after redshirting last year.

That recruit, Femi Hamilton, will look to provide an immediate impact at the point guard position, bringing international and Division I experience to a team primed to take that next step.

"Femi has been a fantastic addition to our team, and brings excellent intelligence, athleticism and an exceptional work ethic," says Goodenbour. "She is an outstanding student who is diligent and focused on and off the court, and will play an important role for us this season."

A 5-11 forward, Anandi Jimenez teamed with 5-10 redshirt Jade Hudson to lead Santa Rosa JC to two-straight league titles before joining the Toros last year, including a Final 4 appearance as a sophomore in 2012-13 and an Elite 8 appearance one year prior, when she was named all-league.

Kaaron King, definitely not the least of the redshirting trio, averaged 10.5 points and 7.6 rebounds at Long Beach City College, and scored in double figures 15 times that included a 20-point outburst in a win over LA Southwest College. The Long Beach native also pulled down at least 10 boards in 8 games, including season-high 14 at Pasadena College.

"Long and oddly athletic, Nandi Jimenez benefitted from a redshirt year after maturing and getting more comfortable in our system, and will provide a rebounding and scoring presence to compliment Monay in the low post," begins Goodenbour. "She is excellent at attacking the basket from the high-post position and is a very versatile player who's a great fit and will be counted on to contribute significantly.

"We are hoping Jade can stay healthy this season, as she can be a consistent and reliable performer for us," she continues, while Kaaron "is an exciting prospect and has the potential to be an outstanding player for us after showing instances of being able to be a rebounding force.

"She is very tough and loves playing a physical and assertive style of game, and we are optimistic that she will become more consistent over the course of the season."

THE TIME IS NOW

The biggest difference for the Toros this year is having a roster filled with known commodities, and that experience is welcomed by Goodenbour and her staff.

"Going into last year we had so many new players that we didn't really know what we would be able to accomplish, and it took us most of last season to learn enough about one another to kind of figure out that we could be a very competitive team in our league and in our region," she explains.

"By the end of the year, I was not surprised that we were able to win, but it was only because I was able to see us improving over the course of the season and see the type of competitive spirit that the group displayed."

While this familiarity will be a huge asset this season, it still will take a concerted and unified effort to fire on all cylinders, and maintain the hunger and drive displayed during the league title run.

Like all Goodenbour-coached teams, getting to that point will mean that the team will have controlled its effort, attitude and concentration each day in practice, staples of all championship teams.

"I think everyone always wants to win or be in position to compete for championships, but we cant always control that," she says, as a matter of fact. "We can control these things, though, so we try to focus on that as much as possible."

Doing her best to avoid the inevitable questions that arise from being the defending CCAA Tournament Champions and returning nearly her entire roster, Goodenbour puts on her best poker face when asked how far this team can go.

"Right now, we look like a team that needs practice and repetition, pretty much like everyone does at this time of year," she begins, still dodging the question.

"It has been fun to watch the new people assimilate to the group as each brings different strengths to the table, and we are still trying to determine how to best utilize our personnel."

Pressed one final time about whether this group can win the program's first NCAA West Region Title as well as the NCAA Championship, Goodenbour finally relents and offers the most definitive, without-a-doubt answer she's ever given when asked to predict the future:

"Only time will tell."

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Players Mentioned

#03 Tayler Champion: F; 5' 11"; Junior

#15 Monay Lee: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#20 Kielyn Wilson: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#14 Talia Rayford: G; 5' 6"; Junior

#03 Tayler Champion: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#01 Breanne Garcia: G; 5' 2"; Junior

#11 Jenee Gooden: G; 5' 6"; Junior

#21 Jade Hudson: F; 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

#22 Anandi Jimenez: F; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#15 Monay Lee: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#23 Shomari McCorkle: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#33 Kerah Natividad: F; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#03 Tayler Champion
: 5' 11"; Junior
: F

#15 Monay Lee
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#20 Kielyn Wilson
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G

#14 Talia Rayford
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G

#03 Tayler Champion
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#01 Breanne Garcia
: 5' 2"; Junior
: G

#11 Jenee Gooden
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G

#21 Jade Hudson
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#22 Anandi Jimenez
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#15 Monay Lee
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#23 Shomari McCorkle
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#33 Kerah Natividad
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

Cal State Dominguez Hills Athletics

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2014-15 Women's Basketball Preview: Time Will Tell

Players Mentioned

#03 Tayler Champion

#15 Monay Lee

#20 Kielyn Wilson

#14 Talia Rayford

#03 Tayler Champion

#01 Breanne Garcia

#11 Jenee Gooden

#21 Jade Hudson

#22 Anandi Jimenez

#15 Monay Lee

#23 Shomari McCorkle

#33 Kerah Natividad

Players Mentioned

#03 Tayler Champion

#15 Monay Lee

#20 Kielyn Wilson

#14 Talia Rayford

#03 Tayler Champion

#01 Breanne Garcia

#11 Jenee Gooden

#21 Jade Hudson

#22 Anandi Jimenez

#15 Monay Lee

#23 Shomari McCorkle

#33 Kerah Natividad