Miller, Newcomers Fill Gaps for Titan Women

Maryalyce Jeremiah, the Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball coach, is thrilled to have Genia Miller, a 6-foot-3 center who was among the nation’s scoring and rebounding leaders in 1989-90, back for her senior season.

But what excites Jeremiah as much as Miller’s presence is the addition of point guard Michelle Hennessey and forward Claudette Jackson, newcomers who can provide some important ingredients that were missing from last season’s 14-14 team.

Hennessey, a 1987 graduate of Edison High School who played at the University of Utah and Orange Coast College, is an outstanding ball-handler and passer. She’s quick, has a decent outside shot and can be dangerous on the fast break.

Jeremiah thought she would have two top point guards last season, but freshman Cheryl Hightower was ruled academically ineligible, and sophomore Jennifer Beckmeyer was redshirted in early December because of an injury. Shooting guard Jeanine Battaglia moved to the point, but it wasn’t her natural position.

“Miller had a great year, but we were a .500 team because we couldn’t get the ball to her in scoring position,” Jeremiah said. “Jeanine did as well as she could, but we knew we had to recruit someone who could take over right away.”

Jeremiah believes Hennessey, a 5-foot-2 junior, will solve Fullerton’s problems at the point.

“She’s making a real difference in the way we move the ball up and down the floor,” Jeremiah said. “She’s one of the best point guards I’ve ever coached.”

Jackson is a 5-11 junior from Golden West College, where she helped the Rustlers win the community college state championship last season. She’s an outstanding athlete and a good outside shooter, but most of her points come after offensive rebounds.

Jackson should be able to take some of the inside pressure off Miller, who averaged 23.9 points (15th in the nation), 12.1 rebounds (12th) and 3.6 blocked shots (fourth) last season and was an first-team all-Big West Conference selection.

Junior Joey Ray and sophomore Heidi James will share the shooting guard position, and sophomores Aggie Garcia and Stacey Oughton and freshman Kelly McClanahan are competing for the other forward position.

Expectations are high for Fullerton, which opens the season on Friday night against Cal State Northridge in the Titan Gatorade tournament. Conference coaches picked the Titans to finish third behind Cal State Long Beach and Nevada Las Vegas.

If the Titans shoot well from outside, they might be able to challenge the 49ers and Rebels.

“This is the most athletic team I’ve had here in terms of getting up and down the floor, running and jumping--they look good,” said Jeremiah, Fullerton’s sixth-year coach. “But you don’t get points for looking good.

“Our only question is outside shooting. Everyone will collapse on Genia until our outside people show an ability to scare opponents.”