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Jacob Konst/Arizona Daily Wildcat
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Stanford junior guard Candace Wiggins blocks Wildcat alumna Katrina Lindner during Stanford's 78-66 win on Jan. 9. Wiggins averaged a team-high 17.5 points per game last year for the Cardinal, who have been predicted for a fifth straight season to win the Pacific 10 Conference.
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Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday, November 17, 2005
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The Arizona women's basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the Pacific 10 Conference this season, according to a preseason poll of media members.
What follows is a breakdown of each Pac-10 team (listed in order of predicted finish):
1) Stanford
2005 record (Pac-10): 32-3 (15-3)
Conference finish: First
Head Coach: Tara VanDerveer, 20th season
Returning players: Nine
Key losses: Kelley Suminski (G): 13.3 points per game, 2.7 rebounds, 3 assists last season
Key returns: Candace Wiggins (G): 17.5 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists; Brooke Smith (C): 13.3 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, .610 percent field-goal shooting
Key additions: Morgan Clyburn (F): Started all four years at Oak Ridge High School in The Woodlands, Texas, finishing as the school's career leader in scoring (2,142 points), rebounding (1,401) and blocks (657), including a school-record 20 in one game.
2) UCLA
2005 record: 16-12 (10-8)
Conference finish: Sixth
Head coach: Kathy Olivier, 13th season
Returning players: 11
Key losses: Sissy Pickett (C): 1.1 points per game, 0.9 rebounds, 0.1 assists last season
Key returns: Nikki Blue (G): 17 points per game, 5 rebounds, 6 assists; Noelle Quinn (G): 16.9 points per game, 7.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists
Key additions: Chinyere Ibekwe (F): Averaged 23.2 points per game, 12.9 rebounds, 3.7 blocks as a senior at Carson High School in Los Angeles
3) Southern California
2005 record: 19-11 (12-6)
Conference finish: Second (tie)
Head coach: Mark Trakh, second season
Returning players: 10
Key losses: Kim Gipson (C): 7.3 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, 49.2 percent field-goal shooting last season
Key returns: Brynn Cameron (G): 9.8 points per game, 2.7 rebounds, 40.9 percent 3-point shooting; Meghan Gnekow (G): 8.3 points per game, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Key additions: Nadia Parker (C): Averaged 15 points per game, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks as a senior at Bethel High School in Spanaway, Wash.
4) ASU
2005 record: 23-10 (12-6)
Conference finish: Second (tie)
Head coach: Charli Turner Thorne, 10th season
Returning players: Six
Key losses: Carrie Buckner (G): 4.7 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals last season; Kylan Loney (G): 9.8 points per game, 3 assists, 36.7 percent 3-point shooting
Key returns: Emily Westernberg (F): 11.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists; Kristen Kovesdy (F): 11.2 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, 61.3 percent field-goal shooting
Key additions: Kate Engelbrecht (G): Averaged 16 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds as a senior at Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson
5) Oregon
2005 record: 21-10 (12-6)
Conference finish: Second (tie)
Head coach: Bev Smith, fifth season
Returning players: 11
Key losses: Cathrine Kraayeveld (F): 14.7 points per game, 8.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists last season
Key returns: Chelsea Wagner (G): 8.8 points per game, 1.7 rebounds, 40.2 percent 3-point shooting; Gabrielle Richards (C): 6 points per game, 3.9 rebounds, 0.5 blocks
Key additions: Tamika Nurse (G): led team at St. Thomas More High School in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to an undefeated season as a senior
6) Washington
2005 record: 14-16 (9-9)
Conference finish: Seventh
Head coach: June Daugherty, 10th season
Returning players: 14
Key losses: Jackie Hollands (G): 1.4 points per game, 0.4 rebounds, .625 percent field-goal shooting last season
Key returns: Kayla Burt (G): 9.6 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists; Cameo Hicks (G): 9.6 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Key additions: Heidi McNeill (F): Averaged 20.7 points per game, 10.6 rebounds as a senior at Oak Harbor (Wash.) High School
7) Arizona
2005 record: 20-12 (11-7)
Conference finish: Fifth
Head coach: Joan Bonvicini, 15th season
Returning players: Eight
Key losses: Dee-Dee Wheeler (G): 17.6 points per game, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists last season; Shawntinice Polk (C): 12.7 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, 52.9 percent field-goal shooting
Key returns: Natalie Jones (G): 9.3 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists; Jessica Arnold (G): 8.9 points per game, 2.5 rebounds, 42.7 percent 3-point shooting
Key additions: Amina Njonkou (F): Averaged 18 points per game, 9 rebounds, 5 steals as a senior at West Memphis (Ark.) High School
8) California
2005 record: 11-18 (4-14)
Conference finish: Eighth
Head coach: Joanne Boyle, first season
Returning players: Six
Key losses: Leigh Gregory (F): 11.2 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists last season
Key returns: Jessica Lawson (C): 10.6 points per game, 5 rebounds, 0.7 blocks; Reneé Wright (F): 7.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Key additions: Devanei Hampton (F): Averaged 20 points per game, 19 rebounds as a senior at Oakland (Calif.) Tech
9) Washington State
2005 record: 6-22 (2-16)
Conference Finish: Ninth
Head coach: Sherri Murrell, fourth season
Returning players: 10
Key losses: Emma Joneby (F): 6.5 points per game, 5 rebounds, 1.1 assists last season
Key returns: Kate Benz (F): 10.4 points per game, 9.1 rebounds, 1 assists; Adriane Ferguson (G): 9.8 points per game, 9.1 rebounds, 0.5 assists
Key additions: Heather Molzen (F): Averaged 18.4 points per game, 12.2 rebounds as a senior at El Capitan High School in Lakeside, Calif.
10) Oregon State
2005 record: 6-23 (1-17)
Conference finish: 10th
Head coach: LaVonda Wagner, first season
Returning players: Seven
Key losses: Shannon Howell (G): 17.3 points per game, 2.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists last season
Key returns: Kim Butler (F): 10.1 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals; Mandy Close (G): 8.5 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Key additions: Mercedes Fox-Griffin (G): Led La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day School to 113-19 record in four years on varsity team
- Tom Knauer
