Oct. 20, 2008
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - For the Western Washington University women's basketball team, a "normal" season would be a nice change.
The 2007-08 campaign was anything but normal. An injury epidemic took away the top two returning scorers before mid-November, and by the end of the year, some nine players had missed either all or part of the season, taking away a total of over 100 games.
It wasn't a surprise, then, that the Vikings slipped to 9-21 overall and 8-10 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, missing the NCAA Division II National Tournament for the first time since becoming a full NCAA member and having their first losing season since 1992-93.
But there are plenty of reasons to believe Western should return to its "normal" level in 2008-09. The Vikings return nine letter winners from last season for head coach Carmen Dolfo (18th year, 356-143), and two who missed the entire year after being key performers in 2006-07.
Back after a year's absence are two forwards - senior Liz McCarrell (Ferndale) and junior Willow Cabe (Elma). McCarrell was a second-team all-GNAC pick in 2006-07, averaging 10.9 points and 3.8 rebounds, before missing last season with a foot injury suffered in pre-season drills. Cabe took a year off from school after averaging 7.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 2006-07.
The Vikings did finish strong a year ago, going 5-5 over the last 10 games. Two players who averaged double figures are the key returnees - senior forward Claire Pallansch (Redmond) and sophomore guard Amanda Dunbar (Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck).
Pallansch was a second-team all-GNAC pick last season, contributing 12.7 points a game and leading Western in rebounds (7.4) and blocked shots (1.4). She ranked fourth in the conference in rebounds, fifth in blocked shots and sixth in scoring.
Dunbar was the GNAC Freshman of the Year, ranking fourth in the conference in scoring at 14.1 points, and also led Western in free throw percentage (80.3, 110-of-137). She averaged 19.3 points over the last six games.
Two other starters also return. Senior guard India Soo (Kamuela, HI/Kamehameha) has started most of the last two seasons at the point, last year averaging 6.4 points and 3.1 assists. Junior forward Gabby Wade (Lacey/River Ridge), who started 18 of the last 19 games, averaged 4.3 points and 6.5 rebounds, leading the team in offensive rebounds (85).
Junior center Tara Holgate (Everett/Snohomish County Christian), sophomore guard Marelle Moehrle (Lynnwood/Meadowdale), and sophomore center Lauren Hefflin (Ridgefield) were all key reserves last year. Holgate averaged 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, Moehrle 6.8 points and Hefflin 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds.
Another top reserve from last season, sophomore guard Kristin Schramm (Chelan), is expected to redshirt.
Western's returning depth is bolstered by a pair of transfers. Senior forward Jessica Summers (Blaine) was a three-year starter at NCAA Division I Idaho, twice leading the Vandals in rebounding. She averaged 8.7 points and 7.7 rebounds as a junior prior to leaving the team at midseason.
The other transfer is sophomore guard Megan Pinske (Coquitlam/Port Moody), a transfer from British Columbia who has extensive international experience in the Canadian junior national team program, including in the Under-21 World Championships in 2007. Pinske is recovering from summer knee surgery but should be ready by the opening of the season.
Completing the roster is the lone freshman, guard Aly Stewart (Lakewood), twice a first-team all-Cascade League pick for Lakewood High School. She will redshirt this season.
The Vikings open the season with 11 non-conference games. Eight of the first 10 are in two-game tournaments, the exception being Western's first-ever trip to Hawaii to play BYU-Hawaii and Hawaii-Hilo at Kona on Nov. 28-29.
GNAC play begins Jan. 8 as the Vikings visit Seattle Pacific.
