PREVIEW: Talented Bruins Hoping to Keep Run of Post-Season Success Going in ‘11-12

NEWBERG, Ore. - To say that the George Fox University women's basketball team has high hopes for the 2011-12 season would be a bit of an understatement – after all, it is hard to ignore that the Bruins have 13 letter winners and all five starters back from a team that came within one point and four seconds of its third Final Four appearance in as many seasons. 

Second-year coach Michael Meek won't hide the fact that “obviously we have big goals; we think we can be competitive again on a national level and would love a chance to show it.  But we also want to be realistic; we will get everyone's best game, we face tough competition in an ever-improving league, and we must remember to do the little things it takes to win games every time out if we are going to be successful.”

The Bruins are coming off a 25-6 season that saw them win the Northwest Conference crown for the fifth year in a row (shared with Lewis & Clark College at 14-2), capture the NWC Tournament for the third straight time, make their fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament, and advance to the 'Elite 8' round for a third year in a row.  This year, they are ranked third in the nation in both the D3hoops.com and USA Today / ESPN / Women’s Basketball Coaches Association pre-season polls.

Anchoring the Bruins this season are pre-season All-Americans Hannah Munger (Jr., Newberg, Ore. / Newberg HS), a 6-5 center, and all-purpose wing Keisha Gordon (Sr., Vancouver, Wash. / Heritage HS).  Munger was a Second Team pre-season pick and Gordon a Third Team choice by D3hoops.

Last year, Munger was a Third Team All-American and the West Region Player of the Year as well as a First Team All-Conference performer after averaging 16.2 points (with a school-record 502 total points), 10.1 rebounds, and 3.0 blocked shots per game while shooting .560 from the field.  She was the NWC leader in rebounding and blocks, ranked second in field goal percentage, and was third in scoring.  In Division III national statistics, she was 16th in field goal percentage, 22nd in blocked shots, and 23rd with 14 double-doubles in points and rebounds. 

Halfway through her career, Munger already ranks second in career blocks at George Fox with 200, ninth in rebounds with 566, and is second in field goal percentage at .557.  With 884 points, she appears certain to become the 13th Bruin to score 1,000 career points early this season. 

Gordon earned Second Team All-West Region honors last year and was a First Team All-NWC selection while averaging 15.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.5 steals a game.  She was the conference leader in steals and ranked second in assist/turnover ratio (1.24), third in assists, fifth in rebounding, sixth in scoring, seventh in free throw percentage (.755), ninth in field goal percentage (.464), and 12th in three-pointers per game (1.30).

On the George Fox career lists, Gordon ranks third in steals (207), sixth in points (1,284), ninth in assists (239), and needs 22 rebounds to tie for 10th.  She can become the Bruins’ all-time leading scorer with 375 more points.

“Hannah and Keisha are obviously great players and we are blessed to have them,” admits Meek.  “Hannah is just a dominating force inside, and she gets more comfortable with her game every day.  She is learning how to recognize defenses and pass out of double-teams better, and continues to improve as a back-to-the-basket post player.  Keisha is a do-it-all player who can shoot, dribble, pass, rebound, and she is fully healthy and quicker this year after playing most of last year with a nagging hamstring.  Both of them are good leaders on and off the court as well.”

Arianna Mohsenian (Sr., Yakima, Wash. / East Valley HS) returns at a wing opposite Gordon after earning honorable mention All-Conference honors last year.  She averaged 7.6 points and 4.2 rebound a game while leading the team with 53 three-point field goals.

“Ari is a great on-court leader who puts her whole heart into being a competitor,” notes Meek.  “She is an outstanding defender and ball handler as well as a great shooter, and we look for a terrific senior season from her.”

Also back after fine freshman seasons are point guard Hayley Cusick (So., Beaverton, Ore. / Westview HS) and forward Megan Arnoldy (So., Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville HS).  Cusick averaged 8.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.62 assists, 1.90 steals, and 0.86 blocked shots per game, while Arnoldy scored at a 6.1 clip, pulled down 2.8 rebounds a game, and shot .510 from the field.

“Hayley's improvement this year is obvious after being thrust into a position that was new to her as a freshman,” observes Meek.  “She is confident, has improved her decision-making as a point guard, and is running the offense better.  She will be one of the most athletic point guards in the country.  Megan is a great athlete who plays hard, shoots and rebounds well, and is beginning to find her comfort level as a college player.”

In addition to Gordon and Mohsenian, wing Carrie Myers (Sr., Townsend, Mont. / Townsend HS) and post Breezy Rinehart-Young (Sr., Kirkland, Wash. / Juanita HS) remain as the last members of the Bruins' 2008-09 national championship team, providing key contributions off the bench.  Myers averaged 4.0 points and 3.9 rebounds a game, while Rinehart-Young averaged 5.0 points, 3.7 boards, and ranked seventh in the conference in blocked shots (0.69).

“Carrie provides mature leadership for our team as well as big plays when she goes in,” says Meek.  “She is a non-stop, aggressive player who is looking more poised in her low post play while still being able to step out and hit the long-range shot.  Breezy will play big minutes at the 5, where she will help with our low-post defense, and make things difficult for the offense at the 4 because of her length.  Only the health of her knee may slow her down.”

Also back along the front line are forwards Jordin Ketelsen (So., Gresham, Ore. / Centennial HS) and McKenzie Wolfe (So., Newberg, Ore. / Newberg HS).  Ketelsen produced 1.6 points and 1.1 rebounds a game, with Wolfe adding 1.5 points and 0.8 rebounds each time out.

“Jordin is probably our best-shooting post,” states Meek.  “She is also a good passer with a high basketball IQ.  McKenzie has come back in much better condition and it shows; she is developing on the block and will get many more opportunities this year.  She and Jordin are probably our two most-improved players.”

On the wings, Katie Morse (Jr., Star, Idaho / Greenleaf Friends Academy) and Kelsey Khaw (Fr., Gresham, Ore. / Centennial HS) will provide some offense as backups this year.  Morse averaged 0.9 points in limited action, while Khaw appeared in six early games without scoring before missing the remainder of the season and receiving a medical hardship year. 

“Katie is one of our better outside shooters and brings a great team attitude every day,” notes Meek.  “Kelsey is getting stronger after undergoing surgery for an ACL.  She is an inspirational player who is like a 'coach on the floor'; she sees the floor well and has a superior basketball IQ.”

Kylee Parker (So., Graham, Wash. / Graham-Kapowsin HS) and Carly Towne (Jr., Tualatin, Ore. / Wilsonville HS) provide depth at point guard and will both see significant minutes.  Parker averaged 2.0 points and 0.8 rebounds a game, while Towne was at 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds a game.

“Kylee has moved back to the point after spending most of her freshman year as a wing and has done a great job,” says Meek.  “She is one of our best athletes and is playing with a lot more confidence.  Carly is a stabilizer, the glue, a calming influence on and off the court for our team.  She is good at running set offenses, and is one of our better shooters if the defense backs off.”

Expected to provide a quick offensive spark when needed are two new guards, Jami Roos (Fr., Salem, Ore. / Sprague HS) and Dacia Heckendorf (Fr., Marysville, Wash. / Marysville-Pilchuk HS).

“Jami was the leading scorer in the state at the 6A level last year at over 24 points a game and should help satisfy our need for more scoring,” Meek asserts.  “”She is a great shooter with great range, an excellent driver with either hand, and a smart player who has quickly acclimated to our system.  We can use her at the 1, 2, or even 3 positions if necessary.  Dacia is one of our better shooters and is a tremendous athlete who plays super-hard.  She is also a good on-ball defender and will be expected to contribute on a nightly basis.”

Completing the roster is 6-3 post Megan Hays (Fr., Oregon City, Ore. / La Salle HS).

“Megan gives us great length at the post and runs well for her size,” observes Meek.  “She just needs to get used to the physicality of play at the college level, but she works hard and is constantly improving.”

With anticipation about the upcoming season so high, Meek and his coaching staff have worked hard to keep the team on an even keel, saying that “we have tried to focus more on the process of improving than looking ahead.  Our goals are to improve from day to day, and to make each day the best it can be.  The results will take care of themselves.”

Meek is also enjoying the benefit of no longer being a first-year college coach, noting that “there is a different comfort level with the team this year.  It is one thing to come into a new situation that is not good and try to rebuild it, with no expectations; being the new coach under good circumstances can potentially be difficult.  Last year, our kids never wavered when we introduced some new things, but it did take time to adjust.  This year, we have been able to focus on the effort, and not on learning new plays or new positions.  Our goal as always will be to keep improving and playing our best basketball on into March.”

The season gets under way for the Bruins as they open at home on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:00 p.m. against Corban University.