Rebuilding Wolves open season next week against Ducks

Two potential All-Americans and a bunch of newcomers will lead Western Oregon

MONMOUTH, Ore. —With no where to go but straight up, the 2006-07 Western Oregon women's basketball team tripled its win total from the year previous.

First-year head coach Greg Bruce led his squad to a 3-24 record, the rebuilding starting point for a team he inherited that went winless in 2005-06. This year, with a pair of All-American candidates and Bruce's first official recruiting class on the floor, the Wolves look to continue the climb towards being competitive in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

“Last year we started to build the framework that would turn this program around,” said Bruce, who has a 16-year career record of 296-161. 

“This year we have 14 players, each of whom brings into the program a solid basketball experience along with a strong work ethic and a will to win.  Because of the talents of these individuals, along with the return of All-American Leada Berkey and the leadership of Claire Carpenter, we expect to be a much more competitive force in the GNAC than in recent years.”

Bruce is certainly the right man for the job. He has built and turned programs around at Portland State, Northern Colorado, Cal State Bakersfield and Fort Lewis. He has already been inducted into the PSU Hall of Fame.

Berkey, the 5'8” senior from Amity, is a nice pillar to build around. Last season she carried the offensive load for the Wolves, averaging a GNAC-best 21.1 points per game while earning honorable mention All-American honors. The first team All-West Region selection also led the squad with nine rebounds a contest, 82 assists, 42 steals and 56 three-pointers. She has been named an honorable mention pre-season All-American already this year by the Division II Women's Bulletin.

“Leada is one of the toughest players in the conference to guard,” Bruce assessed. “By having a stronger cast of players around her, the opposing teams won't be able to concentrate their defense solely on her.  Leada's offensive presence last year took so much of her energy, it didn't leave much for her defensive game.  We now have other players capable of driving to the basket, shooting the 3, and drawing fouls, so we'll be able to use Leada's skills at both ends of the court.”

One of those players expected to help shoulder the load is senior transfer Vanessa Wyffels, a 5-10 post who redshirted last season at WOU. A former NCAA Division III second team All-American while at Willamette, Wyffels averaged 19.1 points and 9.7 rebounds a game for the Bearcats, and also set an NCAA record for the highest field goal percentage in a season at .742. She was also a two-year starter at Division I Wagner College in New York.

“Vanessa will give us a big-time low post threat, which will compliment our outstanding guard play very well,” Bruce stated. “She is an extremely hard worker and absolutely does not like to finish any place but first. She is a born leader and will be a great role model for our younger players. Vanessa is very enthusiastic about having the opportunity to finish her career at WOU. She has the ability to help us in so many different ways.”

Fellow seniors Alison Crumb (G, 5-7) and Claire Carpenter (G, 5-4) will also add leadership and experience to the roster. Crumb was the team's starting point guard in '05-06, averaging 8.7 points and nearly three assists a game. Carpenter, the libero on WOU's volleyball squad, is a three-point threat that will join the squad when her other court season is complete.

Everybody else in a Wolves uniform this season is wearing the red and white for the first time.

Three of the newcomers are transfers—5'10” sophomore Katie Torlund, 5-8 junior Jessica Goss and 5-10 sophomore Shayla Corder. Torlund was a first team all-state selection at Burns High School, where her squad went 30-0 her senior season. She played last year at Division II Nebraska-Kearney for a Loper squad that reached the regional final. Goss played at Edmonds CC, while Corder is a former Roseburg standout that played her freshman season at The Master's College, a NAIA school that advanced to the national tournament.

The freshman class is outstanding, but they are of course, freshman. Nonetheless, many of them will contribute right away.

Expected to get floor time immediately is Whitney Chase (F, 5-11 Oregon City), Danielle Albus (G, 5-8, Cascade HS), Danielle Wells (F, 5-9, Southridge HS) and Sara Zahler (G, 5-9, Newberg).

Chase played on an Oregon City squad that won three consecutive league titles. She averaged 11.2 points per game last winter. Albus, who originally signed with Colorado State but then decided to stay closer to home, was a first team all-state selection out of Cascade High School. Wells played on three state championship teams at Southridge, while Zahler averaged 17.3 points a game at Newberg.

Other talented freshmen looking for playing time include Sarah Norman (G, 5-4, Bellingham, Wash.), Allison Neussl (C, 6-1, Juneau, Alaska), Orie Gamez (G, 5-2, Oakridge), Danielle Bellando (F, 5-9, Willamette HS) and Sarah Turgeon (F, 5-10, Honolulu, Hawaii).

While there is no question that the Wolves will be improved this year, they will face a stiff challenge night in and out in the GNAC. The league's coaches tabbed WOU to share the bottom rung of the league with Alaska Fairbanks. The poll looks like this: (1) Seattle Pacific, (2) Alaska Anchorage, (3) Western Washington, (4) Seattle, (5) Northwest Nazarene, (6) Montana State Billings, (7) Central Washington, (8) Saint Martin's, (t-9) Western Oregon, (t-9) Alaska Fairbanks.

The Wolves will get their first game action next Thursday night (Nov. 1) in an exhibition contest at the University of Oregon (7 pm), and will also play practice tilts against Concordia at home (Nov. 9) and at Oregon State (Nov. 13).

“We're going to be much more of an up-tempo offensive team, still utilizing the 3-point shot but adding the ability to score in the low post,” Bruce predicted.  “Our increased depth will allow us to put constant offensive and defensive pressure on our opponents throughout the game.  We plan to turn every game into a track meet which is bound to be an exciting experience for our players and especially for our fans.”