SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State women's basketball team begins its 2016-17 campaign on Saturday when the Gators travel to Monmouth, Ore., to participate in the Western Oregon/Hamptons Inn D2 Shootout hosted by Western Oregon. The Gators will take on Western Oregon on Saturday and wrap up the tournament against Saint Martin's on Sunday.
The Gators were recently picked to finish sixth in the CCAA Coaches Preseason Poll, it is the highest the Gators have been picked in the
Dennis Cox era, which enters its third season. SF State returns three starters from last year's squad that went 10-17, one of the nation's most improved programs. The Gators went 5-2 down the final seven games. The top returners for the Gators in 16-17 ins senior guard
Felicia Villarruel and sophomores
Lauryn Catching and
Kiara Ginwright.
The Gators have a wealth of new talent joining the Gators returners. Transfers
Jasmine Black,
Kaitlin DaDalt,
Imani Smith,
Erika Nilsen and
Donae Moguel will all be counted on to play serious minutes for SF State this year.
GAME NOTES
The Gators went 10-17 last season, and were one of the nation's most improved teams. SF State improved eight and a half games from the 14-15 season. The NCAA determines games improved by adding the difference in victories between the two seasons in losses and then dividing by two.
Where To Catch The Action
Saturday's game against the Wolves is slated for a 4:00 p.m. tip-off time, there will be live stats available for the game which can be accessed on the volleyball schedule page. Sunday's game against the Saints is slated for a 12:00 p.m. start time. There will be live stats for that game as well which can also be found on the women's basketball schedule page.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
The San Francisco State women's basketball team was picked to finish sixth in the latest CCAA Preseason Coaches' Poll. SF State garnered 75 points. First place went to UC San Diego with 141 points, followed by Stanislaus State with 124 points. Cal Poly Pomona came in third with 117 points, followed by Chico State with 91 and Cal State East Bay with 82. The sixth place vote is the highest the Gators have been under head coach
Dennis Cox.
Coach Cox's Thoughts On Exhibition Season
"We learned a lot about ourselves in the exhibition segment of our schedule this year. We have eight new players, and it was good to see them in a competitive situation and give them an opportunity to show what they can do in some extremely adverse conditions. It was an opportunity for growth as a team for us, and we are excited for the lights to come on for real this weekend."
Roster Break Down
SF State has 13 players on hits 2016-17 roster, the Gators breakdown like this: three seniors, five juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen. Senior
Laura Lawson will redshirt this season.
Key To Victory
In the 2015-16 season, the Gators key stat in their 10 wins was shooting percentage. In all 10 games, the Gators outshot their opponent, connecting on 41.3 percent on their shots from the field, whereas their opponents connected on just 31.7 percent of their shots. On the flip side, in the Gators 17 losses last season, SF State was outshot by their opponents 15 of the 17 times.
Gators To Appear On Comcast Hometown Network
For the third-straight year the Gators will once again have two of their games televised on Comcast Hometown Network. The Gators first game will be on Friday, Dec. 2 when SF State hosts Cal Poly Pomona. Then second game will come on Friday, Feb. 3 when SF State hosts Stanislaus State. The Gators are 1-3 so far in their television appearances. Their one win was a thrilling 49-47 win over Chico State on Dec. 4, 2015.
About Western Oregon
Western Oregon returns six players, including two starters from last year's team that went 4-24 overall. The Wolves went 3-17 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. This season, WOU was picked to finish 11
th in a pre-season coaches poll. Last year, the Wolves shot 35.5 percent from the floor, while averaging 52.1 points per game. Their opponents shot 42.4 percent from the floor while averaging 65.0 points per contest.
Player To Watch
The top returning player for Western Oregon is junior guard Sydney Azorr. Azorr started all 28 games for the Wolves in 15-16. She led the team in scoring, averaging 8.1 points per game. She shot 38.6 percent from the floor, and 39.8 percent from long range. She was also second on the team in rebounds, averaging 4.3 rebounds per contest.
Series Versus The Wolves
This is the second meeting between the Wolves and Gators. The first time these two teams faced each other was on Nov. 1, 2009 when the Gators fell to the Wolves 75-67 at the 2009 Disney Division II West Coast Tip-Off Classic in Anaheim, Calif.
About Saint Martin's
The Saints return three starters from the 2015-16 squad that went 7-20 overall and 5-15 in the GNAC. SMU is returning 10 letters winners and added seven freshmen to the year's team. Saint Martin's lost second team All-GNAC member Megan Wiedeman and honorable mention All-GNAC Krista Stabler. SMU is under the direction of Tim Healy, who has a 251-282 record and is in his 24th season with the Saints. Last year, the Saints shot 35.2 percent from the floor, while averaging 58.4 points per contest. Their opponents shot 41.3 percent from the floor, while averaging 68.2 points per contest.
Who To Watch
Junior forward Elin Johansson was named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's basketball preseason All-Conference team as announced by the GNAC last week. Johansson from Gothenburg, Sweden, is the teams returning point scorer with 7.8 points per game. She also collected 18 blocks, 40 assists and 84 rebounds. The forward is just one of 15 players named to the team and Montana State Billings' Alisha Breen was named the GNAC Preseason Player of the Year.
Series Versus The Saints
All-time the Gators are 1-1 against Saint Martin's. The series began in 2003 when SF State defeated the Saints 63-57 on Nov. 21. The last time these two teams faced each other was at the Lynda Goodrich Classic hosted by Western Washington in Bellingham, Wash., on Nov. 24, 2007. In that game, the Gators fell to the Saints 63-49.
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
