Oct. 27, 2006
BELLINGHAM, Wash. --- The 2006-07 Western Washington University women's basketball team appears to be a unique blend of old and new. Over half the roster is new, but there's also a very experienced core of players back who have seen major playing time and major success.
Success is a centerpiece of the Viking program. Western has reached post-season play in all but one year of its history, and has reached the NCAA Division II National Tournament all eight years it has been a full NCAA member. Last year, the Vikings were 27-2 overall, won the Great Northwest Athleic Conference with a perfect 18-0 mark, and reached the semifinals of the West Regional of the national tournament.
Four letter winners return from that squad for coach Carmen Dolfo (16th year, 329-112), who ranks in the top 15 among active NCAA Division II coaches in career winning percentage (.747). They include one starter and another player who started most of the 2004-05 season. They'll be joined by three NCAA Division I transfers and a strong group of freshmen.
"The newness is exciting," said Dolfo. "You can get a little spoiled with a lot of players who have been in the program a long time. We still have some solid returnees who have been stepping up in leadership roles, it's something we've been working on since the day after last season ended."
The lone returning starter is 5-11 senior guard Mollie Stelmack (New Westminster, BC), who was the 2005-06 GNAC Newcomer of the Year. She averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 38.2 percent (47-of-123) on 3-pointers.
"Mollie started for us last year after transferring here, and she's a great shooter," said Dolfo. "She has a really positive vibe to her. She loves playing, you can see it on her face, and it brings everyone up around her."
The other player back with extended time in the starting lineup is 6-1 junior forward Krystal Robinson (Kent/Kentridge). Robinson was granted a medical hardship last season after knee problems limited her to two games, but in 2004-05, she was a starter for the last half of the season, averaging 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds and ranking 14th nationally in blocked shots at 2.5 a game.
"She looks strong," Dolfo said of Robinson. She's always been a good defender and I think she's improved at the offensive end. She's an upbeat, competitive person, and that's something she passes on to other people."
Three more letter winners are back, and all saw extensive time last season, led by sophomore 6-1 center Claire Pallansch (Redmond), who averaged 7.0 points and team-highs of 6.9 rebounds and 0.9 blocks while coming off the bench last season.
"She's going to play the five spot (center) this year," said Dolfo. "She's worked really hard on back-to-basket moves, and by being in the post more, it should help us with rebounding. She has a lot of ability, the more confident she becomes, the more she can become a real impact post player."
Junior 5-11 forward Liz McCarrell (Ferndale) averaged 5.8 points last year, and is the most experienced player in terms of games as a Viking, having played every contest the last two seasons.
"Liz has really stepped into a leadership role," Dolfo said. "Her expectations for herself have gone up and she's playing with a lot more confidence. She's a great slasher, her issue last year was consistency, and I think her new confidence helps that."
Completing the returning letter winners is sophomore 6-1 forward Willow Cabe (McCleary/Elma), who averaged 3.4 points and 2.9 rebounds as a freshman.
"Willow is very talented, a very good driver and ball-handler," said Dolfo. "I think last year she held back, but now she's learning to create her own role. I think this will be her emergent year."
The other player with experience in the program is 6-2 redshirt freshman center Krista Lersch (Lynnwood/Blanchet).
"Krista has lots of potential and has made big strides," Dolfo said. "She's strong and has good back-to-the-basket moves. It's just a matter of how quickly she'll develop."
Two of the three transfers are point guards. India Soo (Kamuela, HI/Kamehameha), a 5-6 sophomore, averaged 5.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists at Idaho State in the 2004-05 season, starting 21 games, before sitting out last year. MacKenzie Flynn (Redmond), a 5-5 sophomore, averaged 4.2 points at Idaho, making seven starts.
"Both are very determined, feisty players, but in different ways," said Dolfo. "India plays very up tempo and has great spead. MacKenzie is more controlled, and safe with the ball. They complement each other well, and both will have to step up and lead the team."
The other transfer is 6-0 sophomore forward Sarah Schramm (Chelan), who saw action in 13 games for Gonzaga last year.
"She's very athletic and very strong," Dolfo said of Schramm. "She can play either inside or outside for us."
Rounding out the roster are three freshmen.
Amanda Dunbar (Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck), a 5-9 guard, averaged 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a high school senior, earning first-team Everett Herald all-area honors, and was MVP of the East-West all-star game last spring.
"Amanda is a great shooter who can pull up from anywhere and she's very athletic," said Dolfo. "She played for (Western grad) Julie Walker in high school, so she knows something about how we play and the transition should be easier for her than most freshmen."
Gabby Wade (Lacey/River Ridge), a 5-9 forward, averaged 12.5 points and 12.0 rebounds, earning second-team Class 3A all-state honors from the Associated Press.
"Gabby is an amazing rebounder," Dolfo said. "She's making a transition from being a post to playing on the perimeter, so there are a lot of new things for her to learn."
Chelsea Bilskemper (North Liberty, IA/Iowa City West), a 5-6 guard, is expected to redshirt this season.
Dolfo indicated getting the newcomers adjusted to doing things the Western way will be important. Eight of the first 11 games are on the road, including tournaments in Gunnison, Colo., Rohnert Park, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nev.
"We definitely feel we have good potential, and the players are very coachable and seem to be fitting well together," she said. "How fast the new players learn our expectations and we jell as a team will be huge. It might take awhile, but we hope to right there at the end."
