Cal Poly Pomona Women’s Team Gets No. 2 Ranking in Division II

Once again, Cal Poly Pomona is starting the season as the consensus favorite to win the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. title.

The Broncos, who have won or shared nine consecutive titles since the conference added women’s basketball in 1981, finished with a 29-4 record and placed third in the NCAA Division II last season.

So it was hardly a surprise when the Broncos were ranked No. 2 in the division in a preseason poll.

Other college division races do not appear to be so clear-cut.

Cal Baptist, Fresno Pacific and Biola rank among the top teams in the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics District 3. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Pomona-Pitzer appear to be the strength in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Here’s a look at the teams by conference.

CCAA

With the loss of three starters from last season, among them all-time scoring leader Niki Bracken at center, Cal Poly Pomona might struggle a little more than usual early in the season. But it should be business as usual for the Broncos once the conference season starts.

Pomona’s front line will include returning forwards Stephanie Coons and Tami Chick and center Danielle Carter, who made the freshman All-American squad last season. The leaders at guard include Northern Arizona transfer Debbie Wagner and freshman Nicole Sanders from LynwoodHigh.

Cal State Dominguez Hills looms as one of Pomona’s toughest challengers. Despite an 11-15 record last season, the Toros should be one of the strongest inside teams in the CCAA with the return of forwards Dionne Vanlandingham and Denise Slater and the addition of center Cheri Bullett from El Camino College.

Despite the graduation of all five starters from an 18-10 squad, Chapman Coach Lindsay Strothers is optimistic. He has two reliable lettermen in forward Jackie Saunders and guard Missy Abraham, although the biggest cause of enthusiasm may be the addition of three transfers, including guard Jennifer Ballenger from Division I Idaho.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which reached the conference tournament at 13-14 last season, has the personnel to make a return appearance, headed by forward Vanessa Hornbuckle and center Aimee Gassett.

It is a transition season at UC Riverside, where Debi Woelke has assumed the coaching chores. Fortunately for the Highlanders, 12-14 last season, there is a familiar face at forward in all-conference selection Becky Geeson. Riverside also has eight other lettermen, among them forwards Trina Hypolite, Shaune Gilchrist and Vivian Perez.

After an 8-18 record last season, Cal State Los Angeles is primed for improvement with returning starters Lori Thompson and Kelly O’Brien up front.

NAIA DISTRICT 3

Cal Baptist has won the District 3 title two of the last three seasons, then lost in the bi-district playoffs. Coach Dave King is hoping the return of four starters from a squad that finished 22-10 last season, including district player of the year Sonja Akkerman at center, will make for a happier ending this time. The Lancers also have back guard Tracie Hildre, forwards Debbie Sparks and Michelle Holloway and a top reserve in guard Julie Hines.

It is a new era at Biola, where longtime Coach Betty Norman has retired and been replaced by former UCLA star Debbie Halliday. Four starters from a 22-7 squad return, including all-district players Donna Pollema at center and Michelle Mitchell at forward.

Azusa Pacific, 18-12 last season, graduated its second-highest all-time scorer and rebounder in center Amy Walters but benefits from the return of forward Christy Pollard and guard Laura Aronson.

Cal Lutheran had its best record last season, finishing 18-10 and reaching the second round of the district playoffs. Unfortunately, with the graduation of school rebound leader Brenda Lee and three other key players, the Regals are rebuilding. Two starters returning are forward Dani Elton and center Leslie Stevens.

Southern California College, in its first year under Coach Dave Smith last season, finished at 11-17, considerably better than the 5-25 of the previous season. Starters returning are Kristen Bevis at forward and Lori Halliday at guard and letterman Suzanne Bakos at center.

With the return of guards Genevieve Graff and Renee Carroll, plus the addition of center Gitte Mejer from the Danish national team, Christ College Irvine should improve upon its 4-23 mark.

The Masters, 3-35 last season, has a new coach, Gerald Thomas.

SCIAC

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps has only two starters returning from a 15-11 squad. But the Athenas, one of the top teams in the conference in late 1980s, still could contend for the SCIAC title with a tall front line that includes centers Adele Alvarez and Nicole Angell and forwards Lauri Taylor and Wendy Sandstedt.

There is a change at Pomona-Pitzer, where Liz Lattimer has taken over for longtime Coach Nancy Breitenstein. However, with three top starters returning from a 15-10 squad, the results figure to stay the same. The Sagehens return forwards Caryn Cranston and Julia Johnson and center Dereka Pederson. They also have two top freshmen in guards Tisa Read and Kathy Finn.

Defending conference champion La Verne graduated two all-conference players from last season’s 19-7 team, but has front-line players Wendy Gibbs, Trish Hill and Latrice Benjamin returning.

Occidental, 10-14 last season, has returning starters Sharon Wada at point guard and Melissa Vander Pol at forward.

In its first season under Coach Mickey McAulay, Redlands struggled to a 7-19 record but expect to show marked improvement with the return of its top two scorers--forward Nikki Douglas and center Bev Mueller--and point guard Hanh Tran in addition to seven freshmen.

After an 0-24 season, Whittier will be content with a few wins.

INDEPENDENT

It is the last season in the NCAA Division III for Cal State San Bernardino, which moves up to the Division II CCAA next season. The Coyotes, 24-4 last season, have experience in guards Laura Beeman, Kris Ballesteros and Veronica Cummings.