Changes and a few unknowns lie ahead for the Point Loma Nazarene University women's basketball team as they get ready for the 2010-11 campaign. Gone are many familiar faces that have helped the Sea Lions maintain their place among the NAIA's elite.
Coach Bill Westphal brought in eight new players, because the team is facing the loss of eight players, including four starters. Two of these were All-Americans Colleen Planeta and Liah Ector.
“This is a rebuilding year,” said Westphal. “We are in the process of piecing it together, and it's going slowly. Colleen was the leading scorer in the nation, and now she's gone. She can't just be replaced. Everyone will have to replace her scoring, not just one player.”
Also missing on the current roster is sophomore forward Jil Haentges, who is red-shirting due to back surgery that took place before the semester. Three-point specialist Amanda Franz has moved on as well as starting forward PJ Hanson.
According to Westphal, the roster turnover means a change in the game that the Sea Lions will run.
“For the last eight years our offense has been built around low posts because during that time we have had four All-American posts,” he said. “Now we have to build around our point guards.”
Kaitlyn Trotter, who will be expected to step in as PLNU's top-post performer, said team practice reflects this adjustment.
“Coach has been working us really hard in practice,” she said. “We are becoming a running team, and we are passing a lot more. We don't have a lot of size, which will be tough. We are getting to know each other, and the chemistry on the court is a struggle.”
The newcomers are: Erin Andersen, a freshman forward from Green Mountain HS; Kiley Berlinski, a sophomore guard from Dominican; Abby Boorman, a freshman forward from Nevada-Reno; Lindsey Hill, a junior forward from Armstrong Atlantic; Crissa Jackson, a junior guard from Savannah State; Brittney Lewis, a junior guard from Mt. San Antonio College; Kalyn McMackin, a freshman guard from San Dieguito Academy and Callie Rhoads, a freshman guard from Poway HS.
“We got eight new players this year,” said Head Coach Bill Westphal. “There are four freshmen and four transfers. All are pretty good players.”
There are some veteran returnees; however. Starters Trotter and junior guard Brianna Colon head up that list. Also returning are Nicole Anderson (JR, G), Andrea Campbell (SO, F), Renee Crawford (SO, G) and Brittany Stanley (JR, F).
Point Loma posted a 26-5 overall record last year, finished with a No. 8 national ranking and earned another berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament. They Sea Lions open the 2010-11 year ranked No. 17 according to the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Rankings. That puts them behind No. 2 Azusa Pacific, No. 5 Vanguard and No. 13 Biola. Fittingly, PLNU is expected to finish fourth in conference, one slot behind its third-place finish last year.
Westphal knows things will be different this year.
“We are used to winning, but we will have to earn everything this year,” he said. “We can't just show up.”
The basketball season officially begins on November 11 with a road tilt at MidAmerica Nazarene. PLNU takes on Science & Arts in Kansas on the 12th before returning to play Trevecca Nazarene at Homecoming on November 20.
GSAC kicks off 10 days later with a home game against California Baptist. Contests against Westmont, Vanguard, and APU all follow in a two-week span. Four non-conference games in December are on the docket, the final tune up for a conference run that starts on January 4th and goes until February 26th.
Postseason play begins on March 2nd with the GSAC Quarterfinals. Depending on how the year went and the team's rankings, PLNU could be off to Tennessee to compete in their ninth consecutive national championship tournament which starts on March 16.
“We've qualified for nationals eight years in a row, but to do so this year would be a major accomplishment,” Westphal said. “If they take four teams to nationals, it's possible. If they take fewer, then it will really be difficult.”
Trotter feels that the makings of a good team are in place, it's up to the players to get the job done.
“We do have a lot of work ahead, but we will get there,” she said. “We lost a lot of players, but got a lot of fresh new talent.”
