Stanford Matchup to Test Fullerton

Maryalyce Jeremiah has a hard time even saying the Z-word.

But when the Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball coach considers the matchup problems Stanford will pose in tonight’s NCAA West Regional second-round game in Maples Pavilion, she might not have any choice but to play some zone defense.

The defending national champion Cardinal, 23-5 and ranked second in the region, starts three 6-foot-3 players--senior Julie Zeilstra, who averages 20.0 points and 6.9 rebounds a game; sophomore Val Whiting, 14.4 points and 9.5 rebounds, and senior Trisha Stevens, 13.6 and 4.4.

The Titans (25-7) have one of the nation’s top centers in 6-3 senior Genia Miller, who is averaging 29.6 points and 12.3 rebounds, but the rest of the front line slides down the height chart. Claudette Jackson is 5-11, and Cheryl Hightower 5-7.

Miller is a superb defensive player who averages 4.5 blocked shots, but she can’t guard three players.

“We’ve played zone for about five minutes all season,” Jeremiah said. “You’ve got to go with what you know most, and it’s hard to change at this point in the season. But we may try a different type of defense. We’ve got to do something to keep them away from the basket.”

The Titans can’t afford to sag off Stanford’s guards. Cardinal senior Sonja Henning has made 42 of 105 three-point shots and averages 15.8 points and 7.4 assists. Reserves Christy Hedgpeth and Molly Goodenbour also have three-point range.

“They just have great balance,” Jeremiah said. “Personnel-wise, they’re bigger, deeper and more physical. They have so many more weapons than we do. But they can be beaten. We just have to figure out how to do it.”

For Fullerton to stay with Stanford, the Titans will need another strong game from Miller, who made all 10 of her shots and all eight of her free throws in Wednesday’s 84-80, first-round victory over Louisiana Tech.

They will need Jackson to reach her averages in points, 16.1, and rebounds, 8.7, and Hightower and guards Joey Ray and Michelle Hennessey to have solid outside shooting nights.

Most of all, they will need to keep turnovers to a minimum in the face of Stanford’s pressing defense.

Causing problems for Fullerton’s guards will be 5-6 sophomore Angela Taylor, whom Stanford Coach Tara VanDerveer calls “my secret weapon.”

Taylor replaced Hedgpeth in the lineup after the Cardinal, playing without the injured Zeilstra, lost to Oregon State in the regular-season finale, 87-61.

Zeilstra, who had an Achilles’ tendon injury, and Stevens, who is nursing a knee injury, have not practiced much this week, but VanDerveer says she expects them to be near full strength and in the lineup tonight.