Notebook : Healthy Star Gives Waves Women Bright Prospects

The Pepperdine women’s basketball team, paced by All-American forward Maureen Formico and five top freshman recruits, may be on the brink of a renaissance this season.

After 13-18 and 10-19 records in his first two seasons, Coach Ron Fortner will begin this year with a healthy Formico, who got off to a slow start last year, recovering from a broken collar bone. Fortner also has five newcomers who received honorable mention for prep All-America recognition from USA Today last year: Margaret Clark, Kari Christensen, Diane DeSantis, Stephanie Meneze and Michelle Stevens.

Formico, a 6-footer from Los Gatos, began slowly but finished fast last year as the Waves got off to a 1-15 start and then won nine of their last 13 to finish at 10-19. For the season, she scored 713 points to break a school single-season record. She averaged 24.6 points and 13.2 rebounds, scored 30 points or more in eight games and finished ninth in the nation in scoring and 12th in rebounding.

Other returning players are 6-0 senior forward Shawn Sturgeon, who averaged 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds last year; senior guard Robin Dorsey and sophomores Shannon Boyd at guard and 6-0 Trish Maley at center.

The Waves, who open their season Nov. 23-24 at the Indiana Tournament, will be playing in the West Coast Athletic Conference for the first time after competing as an independent since the team was established in 1975. Other teams in the new women’s league are Loyola Marymount, Nevada Reno, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara and U.S. International.

Fortner said the Waves are “a good combination of experience and youth. We have four returning starters and some talented newcomers who could account for a considerable amount of playing time.

“The team’s No. 1-goal is to win the conference championship. Our preseason schedule will prepare us for the league race.